new purchase of "Display Item"

C

cpaharley2008

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I'm purchasing a new revolver and shotgun. While shopping @ Gander's yesterday I picked out a S/W model 10 38special and a Remington 870 marine shotgun. When I went to pay for the items I was told that all that were in stock were the "Display Models" and that there were no new items in stock. Having never purchased a gun before I walked away. Now I'm wondering, are Display guns ok to purchase or should I order a new gun that has never been played with? Thanks for any opinion.
 
Push really hard to get a 5% or 10% discount. My wife paid absurdly low price for a Rem. Model 7 .300RSAUM that way. Gun was perfect once I cleaned it up.
 
Now I'm wondering, are Display guns ok to purchase or should I order a new gun that has never been played with?
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Buy what you like most. I bought a .54 Cal. TC Renegade years ago. After being shown 2 more in the box, I chose the one with the beautiful wood hanging on the wall. The store owner stated he had no box for that one. I told him I wasn't going to shoot the box anyways...he gave me $10 off the price. Display guns are just fine as long as somebody hasn't scratched it up or damaged it, in which case most dealers will take them out of stock...or reduce the price.
 
Most gun stores only have one of each item and usually all guns in stock are "on display". An exception would be a store like Dick's (never been in Gander's) where they have the display rifles/shotguns, and if you want one, they get a NIB out of the back for you.

Smaller gun shops have everything available in the display case. These guns are usually sold NIB, although that's really borderline. They've often been handled a lot, opened and closed a lot, magazines have been dropped and reinserted a lot, and sometimes they've even been dry-snapped a lot. That's not saying they're bad, just "well-handled".

Most of the guns I've bought have been from the showcase and come with the box and all paperwork.

If a store that keeps back stock offers you the display model, be sure to get a discount.
 
Every single gun I have purchased since the mid 1970's has been the one that was on display. From factory brand new to pawn shop purchases. I have never had a gun counter person say they needed to get me mine from the back room.
 
well a display gun will still have the new factory warranty,and I'm definitely gonna handle it myself after I get it home,and they knock some off of the price too,I say go for it!:)
 
Now I'm wondering, are Display guns ok to purchase or should I order a new gun that has never been played with? Thanks for any opinion.
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Should be fine, unless there's some possibility of damage from normal handling.

The one thing I can think of from the two you mentioned, was if someone had "flicked" the cylinder closed on the revolver, which can possibly damage the crane.
 
you could even get a factory lemon or something from a box setting on the shelf. In any case I would examine the gun carefully before taking it home from the dealer. Then if there is a problem, they can't say you did it. Like scratches or damage or something obvious. Generally a new gun in the case will get wiped down, if blue, before they put it back in the display case. That is my usual experience. Most of the time the person just holds it and looks it over, it is bad juju to dry fire a gun in the store, most dealers don't want you to do it, some fool might get away with it once, but the dealer should stop him. Used guns might not be babied as much. Dealers don't want their display guns scratched or mishandled, etc. as it might obviously reduce saleability of the item to picky buyers. Just make sure that they have all the paperwork and the box, and give it a good eyeball. Any gun with a flaw should be discounted IMO
 
As posted above, ask for a discount. I'm sure they'll give it to you. I do when I'm looking at a display model and am ready to buy it. We all want a "virgin" gun, but you can't always get what you want.
Hey that sounds like it could be in a song.;)
 
I purchased my FNP-40 as a display gun. I wouldn't have a problem purchasing a display gun at full price, however mine had several small scuffs and scratches. I fought really hard and talked to the manager's manager and managed to get about $50 knocked off. I was going to buy it anyway, but I figured they owed me a little for the scratches. Turned out they weren't scratches, they all dissappeared after the first cleaning :) I'd rather buy a display gun than a used gun, and a used gun than a brand new nothing.
 
I was concerned about this at first too...

But the gun shop owner explained to me (and it makes sense) that one firing of a live cartridge puts a LOT more stress on the gun than hundreds of hand cycles.

Most modern centerfire guns are not harmed by dry firing. Rimfires can be different. (Ruger rimfires are OK to dry fire)

I wouldn't worry about it, but what the heck, do go for the discount. What they don't know won't hurt them. Act like your a bit upset that they don't have "a fresh one" and see if you can get a discount. If you can't, maybe you can get a free accessory. I always try for it, there's nothing to lose and something to gain.
 
Jeez,you should have seen the Smith 617 stainless revovler I handled about six months ago at Gander Mountain.

It looked like thirty people with runny noses had had their sticky hands on it.

I asked the guy behind the counter to clean the gun so I could see what the stainless looked like,he used a dry rag to smear the goop on it.:rolleyes:

Worse gun care for a sales product in that particular store I have ever seen.

However,like others have said,with the exception of rimfire handguns that can be damaged by repeatedly dryfiring them,a display gun once you've checked it out should not be any different than a new one.

The 617 Smith however has a unique lockwork that allows dryfiring I believe so it should be safe too.
 
I have to handle and examine an individual pistol before I buy it, and then I buy that particular one, not one from the back room that I havent examined.
 
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