Buying black powder guns on gunbroker?

[TruthTellers]

There's a cap and ball I've been mulling over for a while. I concluded a few weeks ago I'd only get it if I saw it for a good price. Well, one showed up on GB and I'm hesitant to buy a black powder gun online. I can't see the bore or the chambers, but I can see on the outside and it's well used. Nicked grips, boogered spots on the metal finish, but what concerns me the most is the rear of the cylinder:



I'm not sure I should pull the trigger and make a bid, but I figured I'd ask what do you guys do when you see a used bp gun on the internet that you're interested in?

PS- the seller has multiple A+ ratings over the course of several years. 81 to be exact.

 

[Jimster]

I would pass. Brand new reproductions are cheap enough.

 

[bannockburn]

TruthTellers

Unless it's a really great price I think I would also pass on this revolver. It doesn't look to be in the greatest shape judging from the exterior; kind of makes you wonder what condition the rest of the gun is in.

 

[Will5A1]

Ask the seller about your concerns, see how he responds, and then bid or not accordingly. Is he offering an inspection period?

 

[Crawdad1]

TT, that one picture would be enough for me to never consider buying that revolver.

All I do is look at the pictures, then sign in and ask the seller a couple of questions concerning its condition.

 

[4v50 Gary]

It better be cheap. Ask questions, ask for photos and an examination period.

 

[TruthTellers]

I don't mind the look of the cylinder, they're easy enough to replace, but I do think that what's visible on the outside is also an indication of what it's like in non-visible parts like the bore. In the discription the seller made notice of the rough spot on the back of the cylinder and said that it's the only spot like that. Also said that the front post is missing and the pics clearly show that but says it's mechanically sound.

Included is a display box that I'm never going to use to display something in this less than optimum condition.

Asking price is 175 for this Pietta that normally sells for $120 more.

 

[swathdiver]

That looks like one of them pocket models. Looks beat up and some yo yo fanned and kept letting the hammer down from half cock. Definitely a project gun; one that will likely need a new hand and cones at the minimum.

 

[Jim K]

Why would you pay $175 for that beat up Pieta when Cabelas has them new for $219?

Jim

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

If the outside condition is poor, chances are the inside guts will be the same. By the time you replace the cylinder, you will be coming close to a new Pietta, price-wise.

If a 3-day inspection is not available, I'd pass on it.

 

[Crawdad1]

Look at the drag line on that cylinder, the way it was grounded out around the nipple and also the frame around it. That revolver is beat. I wouldn't bother sending the money or asking anymore questions. Move on.

 

[TruthTellers]

Look at the drag line on that cylinder, the way it was grounded out around the nipple and also the frame around it. That revolver is beat. I wouldn't bother sending the money or asking anymore questions. Move on.

Yeah, I'm thinking the same. Just wanted to know what questions to ask for buying used bp guns online.

It's guns like this why I tend to just buy only new black powder guns. I don't think I'm ever going to buy a used one unless it's from someone I know and can handle in person.

 

[Crawdad1]

Or buy 2nd or 3rd Generation Colts knowing that no one has ever used it.

Or you can always ask for more pics. I see that a lot on Gunbroker.

 

[TruthTellers]

I guess I could always ask for more pics...

I think with the condition I'm seeing this gun in, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for it. Will see if there are any bids a few hours before the auction closes. If not, I'll send the seller a PM and make an offer.

 

[Jim K]

The questions for buying percussion guns on line are the same as for buying any guns on line; the difference is that antiques and muzzle loaders (including percussion revolvers) don't have to go through an FFL dealer.

First, get good pictures; if the seller does not provide them, there may be a reason. Do your homework on value. If the gun is an antique, find out what guns of that model are selling for in that condition. If it is a repro or a modern gun, same questions on pictures. A good question also is simply "why". Why is the gun being sold? Pictures should be good enough to show buggered screw heads, signs of rebluing (rounded edges, dished screw holes), and signs of tinkering (battered parts). Know the gun well enough to spot trouble. For example, a trigger sticking too far forward on a Colt Navy, 1860 or SAA means something is broken, either the trigger or the hammer.

Don't buy stories and use common sense. No one is going to put Jesse James' gun on Gunbroker with a $200 reserve. And maybe that Hy Hunter SAA with the fake pearl Franzite grips really was carried by Patton. Maybe.

Jim

 

[Crawdad1]

I agree. There are some great revolvers on the auction sites I view. I always look at the cylinder to see what condition its in and that will tell me how good the action of the revolver is. If the outside condition of the revolver is sound, no rust or pitting or evidence of removal of rust or pitting I may ask to see the bore or I may not.

However, a friend just bought a real clean '58 Remington imported by Stoeger, built by Pietta, off of Gunbroker. By its condition it looked like it was never fired and we now know why. What a POS it was. Pure junk as a shooter but a beautiful revolver just the same.

 

[44 Dave]

The cylinder back was opened around the nipples to be able to use a caper, other marks, as mentioned, nicks from hammer. Cylinders are cheep and many Remington shooters want more than one. If the bore is good and the price is cheep enough I would buy it for a project gun.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

They are cheap enough at Cabelas why even waste the time looking at that auction? For not alot more money you can get a new one. I've bought BP guns in that kind of condition for 50 bucks.

 

[ROAshooter]

buy it...its cheap

 

[swathdiver]

The pocket guns come up regularly, hold out for a better one. Even an old ASM would serve you better than that one.

Course, you could just buy new and be done with it from Dixie Gun Works.

They're fun to shoot but it wears off after a while as they are a pain to load. I had custom adapters made for my Tower of Power to load the cylinder off the gun and on the stand to make it easier and not risk messing up the loading lever assembly.

There's a couple more for sale right now, $250 is not bad at all for an all steel gun but they are in New Jersey and will only ship to another FFL. Then there are two CVA brassers, one a beat up ASM and the other a Palmetto not too many serial numbers away from mine own.

The Palmetto's are shooters because their chambers are over groove diameter, whereas the Pietta's are way undersized.

 

[[email protected]]

Buy new for 175$ you might use it to bang nails and hang pictures ask him to pull out the nipples and take a picture

 

[grter]

I find this a lot more often than with modern cartrige guns. Why do people sell used muzzleloading revolvers at clearly unreasonable prices.

In fact I see quite often the asking price to be even more than you would pay for a brand new one made on CNC machines without the fit and finshish problems of the older used models being offered for sale.

I won't even get into parts availability if you need to extensively overhaul it. Even if it needs a minor part/parts.

 

[TruthTellers]

I find this a lot more often than with modern cartrige guns. Why do people sell used muzzleloading revolvers at clearly unreasonable prices.

In fact I see quite often the asking price to be even more than you would pay for a brand new one made on CNC machines without the fit and finshish problems of the older used models being offered for sale.

I see the same thing, black powder revolvers selling for $20-40 more than prices I see at retail websites and that doesn't include the shipping some of these sellers charge which is also more than retailers.

 

[swathdiver]

Buy new for 175$

Merry Christmas. I'd sure like to know where you fellas buy the Remington Pocket revolvers, brand new, for less than $200.

As for the silly prices asked, well in my real estate days we called this the "greater fool theory". They held their high price waiting for the fool, their love of filthy lucre being greater than fairness and turning inventory more often.

I have seen guns for sale on GB for several years, which tells us that they really aren't for sale, they're just dreaming for that fool.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Now wait a minute, you all know that putting several hundred rounds through a bp revolver is "value-added." Besides you are getting the privilege of owning one of these seller's fine pieces. I think I would hold out for an unfired one at that price or slightly more.