Buying Dept. Issue Guns?

[Ethereal]

Would anyone here be more likely to get a pistol if it were labeled or stamped with a specific department's name or government organization? The reason I ask is because every now and then at two local gunstores in my area I see police buybacks that float in. (Nothing special like a 1st gen Glock 22, or an old Berretta.) The Glocks say Walla Walla Police Dept. on the slide and I've seen Wash. State Patrol Model 92's before. But yesterday I saw a Sig Sauer P226DAK in 9mm with the Dept. of Homeland Security's barcode/name on the side. I wasn't aware that they bought 9mm, only .40/.357 between the 226,229, and 239. Does this add value in anyone's mind, detract from the gun, or do nothing at all to you. I usually hate anniversay models, or promo guns like Glock's Homeland Defender package, but this one seems different. What do you guys think?

 

[Coronach]

It all depends. Value is what the gun will sell for. If you find a guy who collects guns used by government agencies and you have the one missing piece of his collection, I'd say it would sell for quite a bit. Beyond that rare event, though, the only thing that would influence value (besides the usual things of base cost, condition, etc) are the rarity of the combination of issuing department and the model in question. For instance, if XYZ Department only issued the Glock 17 for two years, and went to Sig P226 after that, a XYZ-marked Glock 17 might command a bit of a premium to anyone interested in collecting such guns. I have no idea how big of a premium that might be, though.

Long answer short, unless I knew that I had a rarity before me in the guncase, I would never offer any more for a dept marked gun than I would a plain one in similar condition. But I also would not offer any less- issue guns often have more surface wear than internal wear. If it looks good, it probably is good.

Mike

 

[Omaney]

I was at a local shop today and there in the used case were nearly a dozen S&W model 66. After wiping my mouth and chin I caressed the $400 in my pocket and almost bought one...hope they're there next month!

 

[10-Ring]

It would really depend on the dept. & the firearm -- a big department and an older abused pistol, NO. A smaller department in a more affluent area w/ a pistol that was carried more than shot, YES.

 

[gudel]

Some people like that, but I'm not interested in anything that says x PD.

 

[Pilgrim]

I bought a very nice Smith & Wesson Model 66 for $200 that supposedly belonged to a probation department in Louisianna. It had very little wear, which led me to believe it spent a lot of time in a desk drawer.

In my limited experience, law enforcement departments replace guns long before they are 'worn out'.


Pilgrim

 

[Steve C]

IMO police trade ins are just used pistols. If you can get a good deal on one then they're worth purchasing. The police dept marking isn't worth 2 cents more to me or to most people. I have one former .38 spl. police pistol a S&W model 67 purchased for $175 that's one of my favorite shooters. It has a fine trigger and smooth tight action but it came with some carry scars and dings. The grips that came with it when I bought it looked like they'd been dragged down the sidewalk a time or two.

Most police pistols don't get shot all that much except for qualifications. Generally their wear is from being carried and banged around in the course of normal police duty.

As a collectors item a modern pistol won't be one for many years until the supply of them begins to dry up though they'll likely increase in value as guns go up in general.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Just another used gun.

 

[Ala Dan]

Lot's of times, you may find a used departmental "gem" with a little bit of
history behind it; which would make it more valuable. Just recently, a lad
picked up a used Smith & Wesson model 36 "Chiefs Special" that had ties
to ex- (now deceased) Birmingham, AL police chief Bull Connor; a weapon
that he carried during the "Freedom Rider" days, and all the turmoil that
followed the bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church~!

 

[OH25shooter]

I hate when some manufactures print, WARNING THIS GUN...on the side. So, PD markings just add to useless print on the barrel.

 

[armoredman]

I wouldn't mind finding a Ruger Service Six with my Dept markings on it - we sold them all about 6/7 years agoreplaced with the Combat Tupperware. Worst was when we sold off the Ruger Mini-14s and Winchester 30-30s, (don't know exactly what model), for dirt. And I missed it. Dagnabbit.

 

[araiford]

I saw an ad once for a Glock 19 formerly of the Virginia Beach PD. I thought it looked pretty cool, with a facsimile of the VBPD badge/star on the slide.
Didn't sway me to buy it though.

 

[jeepmor]

The private citizen may be dumping a good gun. But there are the ones that are dumped from an unsuccessful factory repait visit. I don't think any of these will come from .gov departments as they maintain them as needed through factory service contracts of some sort. When you handle that many firearms, you know the company reps by name.

Some just look rough because they have been there, day in and out. I suspect the actions on most of them are particularly tight over a used private enthusiast's pistol. The markings are a personal dislike, but function is function, and if the price is right, you should be plenty pleased with it.