Gun show purchase - definitely new?

[Jack1106]

Had my first firearm purchase today at a gun show, an M&P shield. Lots of research done on the shield before I bought it, but I never watched any unboxing videos or checked to see what should be in the box. Now I'm second guessing cause of a couple things...
1) both mags had some black markings in them (which came off)
2) it's minor enough I didn't notice it at the time, but there's a little bit of scuffing on the top of the slide and if I look really really close with a flashlight, what looks to be a couple small rust spots inside
3) now that I've watched a couple videos of people opening a new one, I usually see the gun inside a bag or some plastic and a test round included in an envelope. There was no test round in mine and the gun was not inside any sort of plastic.

My guess is because it's a gun show it probably had been unpackaged and out for other shows, but does this sound normal? I bought from a dealer, not individual, so would hope it's on the up and up

Thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

Yes it's normal.
That's why you take a pocket LED flashlight to carefully inspect a firearm at a gun show before buying it.

The lighting is always poor at best where they hold them.

The minor scuff marks are normal, because as you said, that probably wasn't the guns first show, or dealer show case back home.

The fired case in an envelope used to be required by a couple of states.

But it gradually fell by the wayside and is no longer the norm.

Tiny rust spots inside the slide is probably just finish residue, or dried out preservative oil from the factory.

Clean it off, move on, and Bee Happy with your new gun.

rc

 

[MaterDei]

Welcome to THR!

Good choice for a first gun by all accounts. The gun is test fired at the factory which would account for a bit of wear here and there, not to mention the normal pre-sale handling.

Enjoy it, we look forward to your range report and some pics.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Pardon - not to hijack the thread.

Are there other things to bring besides a flashlight and other things to check when considering a gun show purchase?

Big show in Minneapolis/Saint Paul this weekend.

Swanee

 

[bannockburn]

Jack1106

Typically guns at a gun show are put on display and get moved around (and handled), a lot before they are sold. Things inside the box get misplaced or thrown away, sometimes you don't even get the right display box, if the dealer has more than one of the same gun. Take your time, check things out, and make sure you're getting everything you're supposed to have with your new gun.

And welcome to THR and enjoy that new Shield!

 

[jad0110]

Are there other things to bring besides a flashlight and other things to check when considering a gun show purchase?

For revolvers I bring a set of feeler gauges to measure barrel to cylinder gap and end play. Some times I bring a bore snake in a zip lock bag if I encounter a used gun with a filthy barrel, but of course I always ask before doing any sort of inspection or cleaning.

 

[txblackout]

when I buy used guns they all seem to be in pristine condition (even with rounds through them). A couple trips out to the range by me and there are dings all over it. I have no idea how people keep their guns pristine while actually using them.

I think of my guns as tools and dont worry about scratches, dings, rubs etc.

I generally throw away everything in the box. All I need is the gun.

 

[Jack1106]

Great info all, feeling much better and learned a lot so now just looking forward to getting out on the range!
Appreciate all the help!

 

[Kp321]

My new Shield was definitely NIB and had the black marker on the magazine followers. The extra magazine I bought separately was not marked. Don't know why but that seems to be what S&W does.

 

[Sniper66]

Those minor scuffs are why "floor models" are often marked down a little and placed on the "clearance" rack. Some of my best buys happened like that. Don't worry about it, you bought a new gun.

 

[rcmodel]

I once tried to buy a new S&W 329 PD Arlite Ti .44 Mag at Cabalas about a year after they came out in 2003.

By 2004 when I tried to buy it?
It had been in & out of the glass showcase and dry fired so many thousand of times the finish looked like a silver dinged spotted grey snake skin.

I offered them the $800 asking price on one new in the box with no finish damage.
They declined, and so did I.

So I offered them $200 off, thinking I could send it back to S&W and get it refinished.
They declined that offer too.

I never did get a 329 PD, which I'm thankful for now!!


rc