Do you break down and inspect before you buy?

B

boykinhntr

New member
A couple of threads got me thinking. Some folks post pics of new guns that have obvious machining issues. I just saw a slide that looked like a meat grinder was taken to it. The guy went to the range and it malfunctioned. That was the first time he noticed anything.

I always break down the gun and inspect it BEFORE I buy it. I have found 2 that were not up to snuff. Do most people not do this?
 
you had better have a awfully good relationship with the dealer you buy from. i for one would never allow anybody off the street to start ripping apart guns at the stores i worked at.
...the potential for damaged, gouged, chipped, missing or irreplaceable stuff far out way the loss of a sale that day. fwiw, bobn
 
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Almost always.
At least one of the times I didn't I really regretted it when I got home because the gun was just FILLED with leftover shavings and crap from the machining process and was also kinda rusty inside where you couldn't see.

These days I tend to have a good bright flashlight with me and at least a basic knowledge of how to "take down" the gun I'm looking at.

you had better have a awfully good relationship with the dealer you buy from
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I do :) (but it keeps my wallet really skinny <sigh>)

I did, a while back, have a used "but in fantastic shape" SIG 229 field stripped and was examining the barrel and rails before the sales guy could even react. Sales guy was NOT happy with me but then again it turned out the SIG looked great outside, but was HEAVILY used and showed the battering that results from a weak spring that should have been replaced many rounds ago so I wasn't happy with them either.

No skin of my nose, never went back to that shop anyway.
 
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Good question. I'll cycle the action and look it over closely but don't normally field strip unless something doesn't look or feel right. Some sellers won't let you do this so I ask first and watch the reaction. If the answer is "no" sometimes it's because they have doubts you'll re-assemble it properly or they know there's an issue. If you watch closely you'll know the answer. If the answer is "yes" I'll do so carefully, in most cases I'll clean and lube it when I re-assemble it. It usually works better when I'm done, whether it goes home with me or remains for sale.
 
I wish...

When I have asked to strip one or asked them to take one down (because of concerns around a nick on an edge that might be emblematic of a larger problem, etc.) I've just gotten the thousand mile stare--as if I was speaking a foreign tongue...

I've since had two cases wherein I purchased used guns with internal problems after the sale. One, (.357 Taurus) I had suspicions and got the price down accordingly (allowing for time and parts to repair). The other--a lever action Marlin--was sold as in "great shape" with the words "I stand behind my guns." Carried it back with problems....nothing. After years of purchases and an amazing amount of business sent his way...nada. So, no--and I've never seen it done in any of the many gun shops I frequent regularly. More than a few times, I've found that I've taught the gun shop owners a bit about a gun or guns they have. So many on the market now, I suppose this is to be expected...
 
I don't get into the trigger housing or anything but I always inspect the slide, barrel, mags, etc... I buy most of my guns at 2 places. One of them will disassembly and reassemble for me but let's me look the components over. He says he likes it bc he would send the gun back to the manufacturer instead of selling a bad one to a customer and dealing with it later.

Academy is the other and they don't have a clue about guns so they don't care.
 
I don't remember ever stripping one down, but I do at least take them out of the box and look at them, work the action and such. From a lot of posts I read, apparently a fair number of people don't even go that far..
 
you had better have a awfully good relationship with the dealer you buy from. i for one would never allow anybody off the street to start ripping apart guns at the stores i worked at.
...the potential for damaged, gouged, chipped, missing or irreplaceable stuff far out way the loss of a sale that day. fwiw, bobn
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Well, when we talk about "guns" we can talk about used 250 dollar .22s or new 4 thousand dollar works of art.

I have no relationship with any dealers at all. I ask "my I field strip the pistol?" and if they don;t like that, I follow with "can you break that down for me?"

If they say "no" to both questions, I say "Thank you. Goodbye" and leave. Don't forget, my money is supposed to be as valuable as your gun. In my opinion, if you won't show me what you're selling, you might be hiding something. Don't forget- I don't know you and the buyer must beware. I am a little old-fashioned. I pay cash on the spot and like to look at my firearms in detail.

That doesn't seem unreasonable to me; my 100 dollar bills can't come apart and smash into your face, don't forget ;)
 
I always field strip an autoloader and if they won't let me do it, I ask the them to do it in front of me. Never had a problem one way or the other, but then I've never bought from a chain store. The gun stores I shop in are private shops, and all have a gunsmith either on staff or he's (or she in one case) are one of the owners.
 
To be perfectly honest, until this thread, I never thought about it. Interestingly enough, the very first thing I do after I purchase a new gun is put it on my desk along with the owner's manual. I go thru the manual and when it comes to the part of how to disassemble the gun (even if I know how to do it), I take the gun apart at that time. That's when I do the inspection.

When at the gun shop, I do an inspection without breaking it apart and work the action for feel. I may have to rethink my way of buying. That's what I love about this Forum; people with interesting and thought provoking ideas.
 
Absolutely! Only on used firearms and I am not the one to do it. When I bought my last used gun I handled it out of the case, worked the action and then handed it back to the salesman and requested it be broken down. I figure that it's no big deal, it's not like theres many parts to lose (last gun was a Glock). If they have a problem breaking it down, I have a problem buying it.

If I am buying a new gun I will have them show me how to break it down. I'm a visual learner and if you show me once I'm set for good. I see nothing wrong with asking them to break the gun down.
 
On a new gun I just work the action and trigger. Most places frown upon you taking apart a new gun. Uses guns I will inspect closer.
 
On a new from the manufacturer gun, No. I have never bought a low end gun. As a result, I can be pretty sure I have a good warranty.
On a used gun, Yes. I politely ask if I can strip the gun. If that is a problem, I ask the guy behind the counter to strip it. If that's a problem, I walk.
 
I do, and more

HI,
I have only bought guns at shops where I trust the staff. even then, I strip and inspect. When I bough 2nd hand guns (from these shops) I had them first checked out by a gunsmith that I know and trust.

Brgds,
Danny
 
I prefer to field strip if I can, nothing that involves removing screws or serious "individual component"-level disassembly. But frankly, I have not found a shop yet that will let me do this to a new gun. I have never thought to ask for them to do it. On used guns that are out on the rack, I have asked a few times and the counter guy just kinda gives me a, "knock yourself out" reply. I will not buy a used gun I can not look at in detail.
 
I haven't purchased any used firearms yet but if I were to I'd field strip them and check them out first.

I'm not to worried about it when I order a firearm new. If there's something wrong the factory will take care of it for me.
 
I usually pull a gun apart, and if he has a number the same have him pull them out so I can compare timber.

I buy quite a bit from the local gun shop so he puts up with my particular ways..
 
I have a few good places I frequent that they trust me and I trust them, I try to go in when it isn't busy and if I am really interested me and the sales guy take it apart (auto loader).

When I buy a wheel gun I bring my feeler gauges, range rod and I measure b/c gap, end shake, and b/c alignment. Every time I have failed to do the above I have caused myself headaches.

My new rule is if I can't check those things on a revolver I give a nasty look and walk away.
 
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