Would you buy a new-production S&W revolver online (sight unseen)?

[bigggbbruce]

Agreed by the time you pay to have it shipped to your FFL for transfer you may have easily found it locally for the same money, for older out of production guns it's a different story.

I was browsing one day and saw a used gun on GB I wanted at a very good BIN price.

It happened to be from a seller 80 miles away. I sent an email asking to pull the auction sell direct to me(AZ FTF is good) he agreed at even less than BIN, he also drove and met me in the middle saved over $100

 

[CajunBass]

I wouldn't but only because I don't want to buy online. I'm fortunate to have a dealer I've worked with for years and I'm quite satisfied with them. I would and did just buy a new S&W from them.

I have purchased Com-Bloc military surplus online when I had a C&R license. No problems.

 

[HeyJoe]

i would and i have, but not that often.....three times in the last 7 years. i have bought used smith and wessons online much more often.

 

[Rpg]

I wouldn't buy a new production Smith without being able to handle and inspect it.

Sure Smith has a good warranty, but who wants to send your gun in for a fix it needed out of the box? If I can inspect it before I buy it, I don't have to go through the hassle of getting a brand new gun fixed.

Additionally, Smith won't fix things it determines are within spec. That means they won't fix, for example, many clocked barrels because the barrel isn't terrible enough.

If I inspect before buying, I get to decide if I can live with a problem instead of having Smith decide I HAVE to live with it.

I'm much more comfortable buying a used gun sight unseen than I would be buying a new, current production Smith gun.

 

[16thVACav]

Absolutely!

 

[iouri]

Yes, all of mine were bought that way.

 

[subtly]

Yes, I would, and I have.

Purchased four brand new, sight unseen, Smiths over the last nine years or so. From most recent to oldest: 640 pro (no-lock). 625 performance center 45. Model 18 "classic". 442 no-lock. No issues. None. Sold the 625 as my old hands can't take the pounding they used to. Ownership change on the others will happen after I'm gone.

I've eyed the "classic" 19 4" and the "classic" 27 6.5", but will settle for an old 27 or the new Ruger blued GP100 5". I'll not have a serious use revolver that comes with the IL.

Subtly

 

[HamHands]

Would and have. Next question?

Same here... I bought a 629-6 and a 625-8 sight unseen. Both were NIB and from the same seller that had almost 2K thumbs up sales so I had no worries. And if something is jacked up with it when it reaches your FFL you don't have to accept it.

I picked up my M29 last week that was used. It had 2 previous owners I believe but she's in 90+% condition... Same deal, if something that wasn't shown in the pics was amiss I would have declined the transfer as it is my right to do if anything shady was going on. Buy with confidence especially if it's a NIB purchase!

ETA: The only major online vendor that I won't do business with is Buds... Long story short, they pulled a bait and switch on a Remmy 870. The shotty they sent wasn't the one in the pics provided, it didn't match the written description, hell, it didn't even hold the amount of shotshells/capacity that was provided in the description. That was the first. The second issue was with a Ruger Mark III with a severely canted Picatinny rail. That was the last straw with them.

I've had great experiences with JG Sales and GunBroker's various sellers.

 

[sdb321]

I don't buy firearms online. I am fortunate to have a local gun shop I deal with. He is honest and his prices are fair. I like spending my money at a small family owned shop. His dad started the shop 45 years ago. They must be doing something right!!! To each his own.

 

[Smithbug]

I have and will continue to do so. I have a 29-10 on layaway at Buds right now and bought a 66-1 off of gunbroker. I've bought 2 other brand pistols from buds with no problems and about a half dozen rifles of various sorts off of gunbroker with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Watchdog]

Would you buy a new-production S&W revolver online (sight unseen)?

No.

 

[lrrifleman]

It depends on the seller. I have purchased 3 new handguns over the last few years online. One was a Ruger 1911 CMD, the other an ATI 9mm 1911 Commander, and a Smith 686+ DeLux 3". These were purchased because the seller offered an extended layaway plan which helped since I am on fixed income.

In selecting a seller that I may buy from, I look at buyer feedback, layaway terms, and their inspection period. No inspection period, and I move on!

 

[one eye joe]

Same here... I bought a 629-6 and a 625-8 sight unseen. Both were NIB and from the same seller that had almost 2K thumbs up sales so I had no worries. And if something is jacked up with it when it reaches your FFL you don't have to accept it.

I picked up my M29 last week that was used. It had 2 previous owners I believe but she's in 90+% condition... Same deal, if something that wasn't shown in the pics was amiss I would have declined the transfer as it is my right to do if anything shady was going on. Buy with confidence especially if it's a NIB purchase!

ETA: The only major online vendor that I won't do business with is Buds... Long story short, they pulled a bait and switch on a Remmy 870. The shotty they sent wasn't the one in the pics provided, it didn't match the written description, hell, it didn't even hold the amount of shotshells/capacity that was provided in the description. That was the first. The second issue was with a Ruger Mark III with a severely canted Picatinny rail. That was the last straw with them.

I've had great experiences with JG Sales and GunBroker's various sellers.

I HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A NIB, CURRENT PRODUCTION FIREARM, FROM AN ONLINE VENDOR. I PREFER TO SUPPORT MY LGS, AND ALLOW HIM TO STAY IN BUSINESS, AND FEED HIS FAMILY. IN FACT---I HAVE ONLY PURCHASED 2 NEW PRODUCTION S&W REVOLVERS---A 642-1 (NO IL), AND A 4" 617........

THE REST OF MY MANY S&W REVOLVERS, WERE PURCHASED FROM VARIOUS VENDORS ON GUN BROKER. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THOSE PURCHASES. I AM ALSO A GB VENDOR. ALL WE HAVE TO REPRESENT OURSELVES AS HONEST, AND TRUSTWORTHY, IS OUR CUMULATIVE FEEDBACK. ALL OF US VALUE OUR REPUTATIONS HIGHLY, AND DO OUR BEST TO DEAL HONESTLY, AND RESPONSIBLY---AS EITHER A BUYER OR A SELLER. WITHOUT AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, THAT IS EASILY CHECKED, NO ONE WILL DO BUSINESS WITH US.......

I AM ACTUALLY SHOCKED, TO READ OF YOUR 2 BAD EXPERIENCES WITH BUD'S ! ! ! I HAVE NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH BUDS, BUT HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE WHAT YOU REPORTED. REST ASSURED, I WILL NEVER PATRONIZE THEM---THANKS TO YOU......

 

[Execpro]

Some good comments here !!!
I bought 2 new revolvers from my LGS. (Have purchased many from them over the years). Sent both back to factory for repair/replacement. One shot 2+ inches to the left. I inspected this gun very carefully but found no problems until I shot it ( bbl to frame fit not right but could not see by looking at it).
The other was a S&W model 360J I got last Friday. I checked this one over also and found no problems until I opened and closed the cylinder about 25 times. It went back to S&W today and was never fired. ( cylinder binding on forcing cone on opening and closing only, putting scratch marks on cylinder face. Easy fix).
I got both guns at REALY good prices. In over 50 years I have never had to send any guns back to the factory for any reason until now. Even if you know a lot about guns,you can't always catch problems.
For what I paid, I don't mind waiting to get them back repaired or replaced.

Be SAFE and shoot often! To answer your question, if the price is right,the seller has a good reputation and it has a life time warranty, then I would not have a problem.

 

[TTSH]

Would you buy a new-production S&W revolver online (sight unseen)?

Tough question.

First, for the most part, I have near zero interest in buying any new production S&W revolvers. I'm traditional and as old as dirt and Lord knows I prefer my S&W revolvers the same way. I've already got all I really need (in older stuff) so unlike the youngsters here, I have no real pressing need for new. If I did have a pressing need for new, I'd certainly prefer to buy locally if at all possible because I don't trust S&W factory quality control anymore.

But wait! There is one possible exception!

A while back, I found a very slightly used Model 442-1 for cheap in a newly-opened shop and I liked it a lot. Sadly, it sold before I could return with enough cash to buy it, but I made a mental note to myself to pick one up when the next good opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, no such "good opportunity" has come along since.

I could see myself ordering one for cheap off the 'Net in lieu of finding myself another really nice used one. They are too expensive for me to justify buying a new one locally, but doing the Internet thing and paying the shipping & transfer fees comes to roughly the cost of used. So mothership QA/QC be damned, when the stars align properly again, I might just do that.

 

[GunnerMichael]

I have purchased a few new pistols online. A reliable company will accept returns as long as you haven't legally taken possession. Inspect the pistol carefully before completing the transfer. Once the pistols been transferred it's technically "used" and can't be returned except to S&W for warranty repair.

I would agree with this reply. You get the chance to inspect the firearm at the LGS before you take ownership. If you return it you should only be out the shipping cost, maybe the background check fee.

I admit I have never purchased a firearm online. I live in California and it is often not cost effective.

I don't buy guns online but not for the reason of worrying about the manufacturers QC. You could pick out what you think is a perfectly good gun from a gun store, purchase it, but then go to the range and have malfunctions.

When I was shopping for a Big Bore revolver I put my hands on a lot of S&W revolvers. I did not see any noticeable defect on any of them. Ended up purchasing an M69 and it's my favorite firearm I own.

A lot of people will say no because they think S&W makes **** guns, but this is far from the case. Other have had bad experiences but it was because they did not inspect the firearm until they got home. Those people might disagree with me, people are entitled to their opinions, even if they are close minded and their ideas are based not based on facts.

 

[touchoneoff]

I have bought only one rifle online, and that was a Type 99 (1941 Nagoya Manufacture) Arisaka. It had all the pics online, and the seller was highly rated, so I took the chance. The rifle was exactly as the pictures showed, and was very happy with the purchase.

I tend to want to look at whatever I am buying, so only buy, online, something that is hard or impossible to get in a store.

 

[jwk]

I try to buy locally because it's my neighbors. Don't always have that choice though. Only problem gun in last few years was bought locally. Because of importers test firing couldn't see problem when I bought it. Barrel had really bad tool marks under the crud from test firing. Local seller handled problem w importer (ATI). Much as I like a good deal I now live in a small town and if folks don't buy locally my small town won't be here. I have asked a local if he can come close to an online price with some success. The tax is the State's money so a local cant help that. I live in a state w no state income tax so sales tax is how state and local government runs w the benefits that it provides. Daddy was a professor at a state college. Mama taught at a public school. I went to public schools and state colleges. My kids go to public schools etc. I dont like taxes but they are necessay. That said I've bought guns on Gunbroker without problems. I'll probably do so again.

 

[Practical]

The biggest cost of a handgun is the ammo.

I would recommend buying from a Smith & Wesson Stocking Dealer.

Buy what you want. If the dealer does not stock it doesn't matter YOU have to order anyway.

NEVER buy from a big box gun retailer unless they support your rights 100% and assume they are buying in bulk and will not get the best finished guns.

They go to stocking dealers.

 

[HamHands]

I HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A NIB, CURRENT PRODUCTION FIREARM, FROM AN ONLINE VENDOR. I PREFER TO SUPPORT MY LGS, AND ALLOW HIM TO STAY IN BUSINESS, AND FEED HIS FAMILY. IN FACT---I HAVE ONLY PURCHASED 2 NEW PRODUCTION S&W REVOLVERS---A 642-1 (NO IL), AND A 4" 617........

THE REST OF MY MANY S&W REVOLVERS, WERE PURCHASED FROM VARIOUS VENDORS ON GUN BROKER. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THOSE PURCHASES. I AM ALSO A GB VENDOR. ALL WE HAVE TO REPRESENT OURSELVES AS HONEST, AND TRUSTWORTHY, IS OUR CUMULATIVE FEEDBACK. ALL OF US VALUE OUR REPUTATIONS HIGHLY, AND DO OUR BEST TO DEAL HONESTLY, AND RESPONSIBLY---AS EITHER A BUYER OR A SELLER. WITHOUT AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, THAT IS EASILY CHECKED, NO ONE WILL DO BUSINESS WITH US.......

I AM ACTUALLY SHOCKED, TO READ OF YOUR 2 BAD EXPERIENCES WITH BUD'S ! ! ! I HAVE NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH BUDS, BUT HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE WHAT YOU REPORTED. REST ASSURED, I WILL NEVER PATRONIZE THEM---THANKS TO YOU......

Agreed! GunBroker is the way to go for online sales. I got turned onto them because after searching the local stores for a year looking for a 3" M625 to no avail... GB seems to always have what I'm looking for 98% of the time. I've bought maybe 10 firearms off of GB and my experience with GB and their Top 100 Vendors has been great. I like to leave positive feedback for the vendors there as in every experience, every vendor, has been stellar, fair, and they seem to be held to a higher standard.

Buds, pft… My FFL was so mad at their blatant bait and switch he threatened to stop accepting their transfers in the future I heard him say on the phone. Apparently, my transfer was the third bad experience my FFL had that month with them pulling something.