Maybe porting is done after the test fire?
Unfired? How would you really know, since…
- Thread starter Model29-26.5
- Start date
Maybe porting is done after the test fire?
The Gun Shop I worked at parttime finally had to put plastic ties on the inventory to avoid the "Gun Trolls" from making new guns look used. Working the actions numberous time and slamming the cylinders shut like they saw in the movies and TV. We had "Trolls" waiting at the door for opening time to come in enjoy the coffee and doughnuts and then want to play with the guns. Their purchases were normally at other shops but bring in Their purchases to show off. Finally the coffee and doughnuts were moved to the back employee area along with the chairs and couch.
I may be wrong, probably am, but I was under the impression that S&W DIDN’T clean their revolvers after being test fired at all. I remember many folks being shocked that their “brand new” gun was so dirty.
Larry
Larry
Nickel Model 58 unfired outside the factory.Telltale carbon ring on every other chamber.
In the "Past" Smith and Wesson final inspection was to test fire every other chamber. If the revolver passed it was shipped. If there was a issue then the other three chamber were fired. Somewhere the Factory creased cleaning before shipping (a cost cutting item?)
Wow, I guess I lit the fuse the other day. I am aware that Smith & Wesson test fires all guns at the factory before shipping. By 'Unfired", I mean that it appears (to me) that it has not been fired since it left the factory. This was based on the fact that it has a very fine turn line on the cylider and no marks on the recoil pad, other than the drag line from the cylinder catch.
My initial question was, is it worth more if it was unfired? I did not buy it to sell it and make money. I will keep it and enjoy putting a few rounds through the gun. I just wanted to know how much I would devalue the gun if I did shoot it.
I also recently purchased a 29-2 nickel finish with a 4" barrel. Although this gun also has no handling marks on it, I can clearly see that it has had a few rounds through it. Thanks again for the insight.
My initial question was, is it worth more if it was unfired? I did not buy it to sell it and make money. I will keep it and enjoy putting a few rounds through the gun. I just wanted to know how much I would devalue the gun if I did shoot it.
I also recently purchased a 29-2 nickel finish with a 4" barrel. Although this gun also has no handling marks on it, I can clearly see that it has had a few rounds through it. Thanks again for the insight.
I bought several "new" S&W K frames during the 70's and every one had the 3 burn rings. My answer is YES it's worth more unfired if you are selling it to a collector who wants a safe queen. I just sold a "new" 2.5" 66-1 that had the three burn rings, original box, papers, tools, etc. that sold for 7 times what it cost new. I prefer gently used revolvers with or without the box at a tremendous savings.
Nickel Model 58 unfired outside the factory.
If I owned it that condition would not have lasted long!
Beautiful 58!
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
I have been known ask, " Well, how do you know it works, then?"
How do you know a hand grenade will explode without pulling the pin?
I've bought two S&W revolvers that were unfired since the factory, a M58 and a M520. This claim is based on the sellers, who knew the gun's history since it was new. Both sellers were the second owner, and both knew the original owner of each gun. I've bought three more that I strongly suspect were unfired, or at most not more than a couple of rounds each, based on the lack of a visible turn line, no evidence of burn marks on the cylinder face, a perfect finish and all the original things like the box or presentation case and wrapping paper and tools/paperwork.
When Dick (dimonback68+) convinced me to buy this 25-5 at the Jan 2010 Lakeland show I got the seller to come down $100 because it was "just the gun." Out in the bright sunlight of the Lakeland Center parking lot it was obvious only every other charge hole had been fired. That ain't unfired but about as close as it gets. Why anyone throws away the "accoutrements" of a brand new gun defies logic. And yes, I have put maybe 5 boxes through it since, but I can't afford the quadruple $$ for ammo today. Joe
I knew of a guy who would clean excellent condition (especially stainless ones) up, then fire every other cylinder to show folks that they were unfired outside the factory. I heard the same crook bragging once about putting saddle rings on lever guns so the buyer would think it was a saddle ring carbine. The world is full of crooks. They used to call this guy “Sam the scam”
About a year ago, my buddy and I ran into a dealer at a show that had three Ruger 77/22 rifles that my friend had traded him. Both my friend and had shot all three rifles. I walked up to the table and noticed the rifles. The dealer immediately told me “Those guns are unfired. The bolts have never even been in them!” When I told him that I knew the rifles had come from my friend, and we’d shot all three, he got mad and said “well it really doesn’t matter if they’ve been fired or not”. If it didn’t matter, why tell the lie
About a year ago, my buddy and I ran into a dealer at a show that had three Ruger 77/22 rifles that my friend had traded him. Both my friend and had shot all three rifles. I walked up to the table and noticed the rifles. The dealer immediately told me “Those guns are unfired. The bolts have never even been in them!” When I told him that I knew the rifles had come from my friend, and we’d shot all three, he got mad and said “well it really doesn’t matter if they’ve been fired or not”. If it didn’t matter, why tell the lie
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UH-----I believe ALL the fitting and testing (other than final inspection and test firing) is done prior to finishing. At that point, it is disassembled and sent to finishing---then reassembled and on to final inspection---and test firing (and final inspection includes cycling the action-----which will create a (faint) turn line).
Now "I believe" translates to I don't KNOW it for a fact because I wasn't there. What I believe is what I've been told by what I regard as a reliable source----a prior S&W management level employee. Now all this was back when S&W's philosophy was to achieve success by building the best possible product for the price. I have no clue as to the procedure since they have come to believe success will be achieved by building the product at the lowest possible cost.
As an aside, it's been published there were over 500 inspections performed along the way to building a revolver. (This in the 1950's. There's no telling how many are performed nowadays, but based upon the moaning, groaning, fussing and fuming we read here on a daily basis, it's a pretty good bet that number has shrunk---more than a little!)
Ralph Tremaine
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THE PILGRIM
Member
I drive over to look at a Beretta 21a.
He’s got two!
One is his, been fired.
The other is his EX wife’s, unfired.
I want his! EX sounds like bad Mojo!
I avoid bad mojo whenever I can.
We are unable to determine which is which.
So I pick one.
It’s turns out to be a jam queen!
He’s got two!
One is his, been fired.
The other is his EX wife’s, unfired.
I want his! EX sounds like bad Mojo!
I avoid bad mojo whenever I can.
We are unable to determine which is which.
So I pick one.
It’s turns out to be a jam queen!
Attachments
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austintexas
Member
Unfire
When a firearm is presented to me as "unfired" I don't care, I look at the overall condition and if the price is right I buy it. Unfired doesn't mean I'll pay a premium for it. As soon as it gets home It not going to be an unfired firearm anymore.
SWCA 892
When a firearm is presented to me as "unfired" I don't care, I look at the overall condition and if the price is right I buy it. Unfired doesn't mean I'll pay a premium for it. As soon as it gets home It not going to be an unfired firearm anymore.
SWCA 892
OP
Sure, but that’s the point. How would you know? I’d it’s been fired at the factory, it’s been fired.
How would you know if someone out one extra round through it or not if it was well cleaned?
ACORN
Member
A friend traded in a 20ga Citori at a shop that I considered a friend.
The gun had a blonde stock with an English grip. Kind of unusual.
I went to the shop and asked about it.
The shop owner told me it was unfired.
I knew he was lying because I’d been with my friend when he fired it.
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A friend of mine once joked about doing the same thing. i don't think he ever actually did it though.
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