I just cannot buy a revolver.

Well, the OP learned a valuable lesson.

We all make mistakes (in some area or another) - - its all how we react to them. If youve been around guns for awhile, you've likely made some kind of mistake that now may seem obvious to you after having built up some experience. The best we can do is review our mistake, learn from it, and not make the same one again.
Like many others here - - - I have purchased quite a few guns from gunshows through the years. None of the sellers refused to remove a zip tie on a gun that a serious buyer was considering. (Except with high priced Colt SAA).

Another pointer: Inspect any gun you buy, including a new gun that you order - - very carefully - - just like you would a used gun. In the excitement of getting a new gun, its sometimes easy to be talking to the gunshop guys or others in the shop about it, & not be as thorough as possible. You may assume that 'its new, so it must be o.k.'. That can be a big mistake. The gun isn't yours until its transfered to you. Check it out first. Dont be afraid to take a copy of the revolver check list with you and go over it as you check out the gun. If they won't let you check it, leave. Good luck.
 
A couple of key points to share. You tried to check it out and could not. MOST gun shows allow the zip tie to be removed during the purchase. They may require someone be with you when you do it. Show them the money, card, etc and ask them to remove the zip tie.

Did you get a business card or number? As a buyer, I always want contact info, or we are meeting at a range with 50 rounds at the seller's expense. Also, most gun show sales men go to the same shows over and over. I would have stopped back by the show the next time with the gun and ask him to make it right. If he doesn't I just stand there with my sign which says this guy sold me a broke gun!

Last, a gunsmith is where I take a broke gun. Reselling it is a bit dishonest to me. Sounds like you told the buyer and lost some money.

Just live and learn. I just bought a M19 from pictures. It can work out, but when it doesn't, be in a position where you have discussed recourse with the seller. . .even if it is a rather one sided discussion.
 
Sometimes we really want a particular gun. Some years back I was anxious to buy a 20 ga vintage side-by-side shotgun from this guy advertising on the internet. Some of the guys emails replys were 'fishy', but I really wanted that fairly rare gun and he had it at a good (but fair) price. Thankfully, during the 3 day inspection period, I took it to one of the leading doublegun smiths in the country, who lived about 2 hours drive from me in the next state over. I had the gunsmith check it out and he said that it was unsafe to shoot. (And some of the claims the owner made were untrue). It ended up costing me some money in gas, gunsmith fees, etc but I returned the gun and got my money back. I told the seller my findings. When he reposted the gun on the website, I emailed the owners of the website and told them that the gun was unsafe and the findings of this well known gunsmith expert on vintage damascus guns. The sales listing was immediately off the website. (Didnt want some poor soul to get injured or killed by that gun).

Bottomline - - - its easy to get causht up in the moment. Many of us have done it when we really wanted a gun at some time in our 'careers'. Sometimes you get lucky when you do this, and sometimes you don't.
 
Sorry to hear that you are "revolver shy" and that you had a bad experience. I have purchased "used" from several LGS that I go to - each of them offers a 1 year warranty - i.e. - if there is a problem, their gunsmith will fix it. I have a number of handguns and am pretty much a 'revolver person". I have purchased new as well as used. I have never had a problem with any of the used handguns i''ve purchased as far as function goes. When I check them out prior to buying, if I have a concern, I walk away.

I'm wondering what your stance is on semi-autos. Used ones can have just as many problems as a revolver can - FTF issues, FTE issues, trigger issues, etc. Gus are "mechanical" and thus are open to having problems - not unlike cars. The trick is to buy from a reputable dealer/individual which will bcd it up with a return policy or repair policy.
 
A good single action shouldn't be to hard to find• Rugers sa and double actions are good chooses a black hawk or redhawk is a good large frame revolver or you could buy another security six they are good meduim frames. Of course you could buy a good size small frame if you wanted•
 
What do I do?
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Just go buy one! :p

If you're serious about shooting only magnum loads, stick with the S&W L and N frames or anything Ruger made. Tho' truth be told the little J frame model 60 in .357 is a well built handful and fun as all get out... to a point.

Just buy one. It'll only be your first of many, you just have to get over the inertia of that inaugural purchase.

Let us know what you do get.
 
sorry to here you got aken

sorry about this creap. Check out your local gun stores for a revlover you like. Get back on the horse.
 
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Bob I have seen many of your post, and you have outstanding revolvers. How about you take me under you wing and teach me your ways? :D
 
You loss troubles you. Don't let it ruin you.

I think you have received some excellent advice that has covered just about all the bases.

Quick review:

If a seller will not allow you to properly examine the gun (car, table saw, whatever) get a SUBSTANTIAL discount or walk away.

If you don't feel confident to perform the examination, bring trustworthy friend who is.

Many have missed the detail that your seller was not an exhibitor at the gun show. BIG red flag there. Not a deal-breaker, to be sure, but RED FLAG.

First, the reason I did not keep the broken Ruger is because I could not trust it anymore.
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Finding out that you have a broken gun is disheartening and cause for an emotional reaction of distrust. This is EMOTIONS talking and irrational (if understandable). Get over it.

Buying new reduces your risk somewhat, but buying from a reputable, licensed dealer is an even better assurance.

I really have experienced as bad an experience as you have, so I can sympathize. The best advice I can give you (and has been implied in every post in this thread) is that you have to accept your lumps and press on.

The loss you have had is troubling you, it is clear. Don't let it ruin you. That would be a MUCH greater loss.

Lost Sheep
 
I would have asked if they could remove the zip tie so you can properly check the gun out. If they say no they I would walk away. I am sure they have plenty of ties so that should not be an issue. BTW was it a Metcalf show ?
 
Yep, you bought a gun from a shmuck, I second that one. There are plenty of good reliable gun shops around with good used guns hardly ever fired. I just picked up a Smith & Wesson 586 in mint condition for $300.00 bucks. They are out there, keep looking.
 
It's like used cars. You have to just decide to buy when the right one comes along and not take a lesser one, even though you're tempted. I looked and looked for a Dan Wesson 715 for quite a while, passing up several to buy one that appeared to be in nearly mint condition on Auction Arms. It was even better than it looked in the pics and I got it for an insanely low price. A friend of mine had his custom and very quick Chrysler 300SRT stolen a while back, and he decided to find a Challenger SRT to build into a 700+ rear wheel horsepowered rocket. He looked and looked locally, but couldn't find a car that wasn't a lot more than he wanted to pay for it. Finally, a car turned up 2000 miles away with a wounded engine in it, but otherwise in great shape (It had been stolen and the thieves drove it very hard when it was a couple of quarts low on oil. He and his son drove out there and he took it to a garage and had an inspection done, and the only problem was the motor. He drove it back and then took it to have the new 7.7 Liter motor, supercharger, and driveline upgrades done. He made a few cosmetic changes and now it looks like a normal 2010 Challenger R/T, not an SRT8. The blower whine kind of gives it away though. It's a lot of fun to drive.
 
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