How does the condition of this revolver look?

[lharrell79]

I've got the opportunity to get this 617 for a decent price with a soft case, hogue grips, and some ammo. The owner said he's only shot 50 rounds of 38 through it. However, it looks awfully dirty to me. He said he did a light cleaning with a brush and some clp, and that it could clean up better. So what do y'all think, is this a 50 round revolver or not?





Thanks, Lucas

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on if he used it as a daily CCW. If he did, then it is possible it has only 50 rounds down the pipe. However, the pitting on the inside of the chambers tells me he may have more through it (especially if it was not a CCW).

I could very well be wrong.

- The_Next_Generation

 

[Black Knight]

I have seen some ammo that was so dirty it would make a bright stainless gun look like black parkerized after 50 rounds, so it could have only 50 rounds through it. My concern would be the pitting in the cylinder and if the pitting has had any adverse effect on the strength of the cylinder. If it were me I would pass on this one based on safety issues.

 

[Hong Kong]

It probably does have fifty rounds. I don't know to many guys that like to sit and plink hundreds of rounds through a snub nose revolver. If it's the sellers only gun however it could have a high round count.

 

[exavid]

Hard to tell in a picture but that 'pitting' in the cylinder looks more like too much oil to me.

 

[mj246]

Hard to tell in a picture but that 'pitting' in the cylinder looks more like too much oil to me.
--exavid

That's what I was thinking. I once had a little too much oil left over in the chambers of my S&W model 36, and I thought it had rusted and pitted like crazy since I shot it a couple days before cleaning it that day. Another dry patch through each chamber showed it was not so.

If that is pitting, I would only buy it at a very reduced price.if it's extra oil, it looks kinda worn, but probably functional (assuming there isn't a problem with barrel alignment, timing, or lockup. Even if it is pitting, it is probably still perfectly functional, given where the pits are and that they are well behind where the bullets should be, but again I would only buy it then if the price were well below the norm.

 

[Old Shooter]

From the looks of the face of that frame I'd agree that is a low round count revolver. Not much wear showing from the ejector moving in and out and no really defined print from the fired cartridges on the face.

50 rounds? Mayby.

 

[788Ham]

Looks to me like he fired a box through it and threw it under the truck seat. Might take some serious cleaning Pard! If there is pitting in the chambers, I'd pass on it, or offer 1/2 of what he's asking.

 

[Kiln]

Doesn't look like pitting to me either. Looks like oil and those little pieces that come off of the cotton cleaning tool (not sure about the actual terminology here) when you run them down the barrel or through the cylinders.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I think it looks so-so. The killer for the deal for me would not be condition but the name.

 

[Fishslayer]

Stainless shows dirt really well. Those black rings on the front of the cylinder show up with 1 firing.

Not much wear showing from the ejector moving in and out and no really defined print from the fired cartridges on the face.

I would agree.

 

[Old Fuff]

Judging by the turn ring on the cylinder (or more so the lack of one of any consequence) I don't think this revolver has seen much use in either shooting or dry firing. It might be more then 50 rounds, but not enough more to matter.

I am one of those that's had good luck with Taurus revolvers, and if the price was right I'd probably jump. The fact that it needs a good scrubbing is inconsequental. That's something I do with any new purchase, new or used.

 

[Sam1911]

Those are some pretty detailed pictures. Closer than I've looked at a Taurus before.

Is it common for the castings to be left that rough?

 

[Old Fuff]

Is it common for the castings to be left that rough?

I would say so, but it doesn't seem to make any consequental difference in how they work. I have some Ruger's that are close to the same. Unlike forgings, investment castings are seldom machined on internal surfaces. It's the price we pay for being "modern."

 

[Sam1911]

Understood. The last Taurus I handled was blued, and while a little rough in the fit, was polished to a smooth finish.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

Wow. Amazing detail in your pix! Made me look at my .38 S&W a lot closer.

Mine has a relatively low count, 150ish. My "turn ring" from the cylinder is WAY more pronounced. The face of my cylinder is cleaner, but it gets cleaned right after I shoot it. If the blemishes in the cylinder are just oil, I'd say it looks to be in pretty good shape.

My Taurus is one of the good ones, nothing bad to say about that.

 

[Guillermo]

I concur that it appears to be a darned near new gun.

 

[Mr.454]

A few minutes with a lead away cloth and it will look perfect. And I have to agree with the others probably oil in the chambers. The forcing cone looks good so if the action is good buy it.

 

[sugarmaker]

Low rounds count. Zero gas erosion around cylinder washer, mouth, and top strap, clean ratchet, cylinder pin hardly made a mark

 

[Frank V]

I agree with Old Shooter. A gun that has been fired a lot will develop rings on the recoil plate from the setback of fired cartridges. This photo shows no marks.
I also think the debries in the chambers is a bit too much oil, it looks slick.
From just seeing the pictures shown I'd say it hasn't been fired a lot. Carbon will build up on the face of the cylinder of a stainless gun in just a few rounds. I've seen a newly cleaned stainless gun look like it's fired a hundred rounds on the face of the cylinder after just 20 shots.
Frank

 

[Dnaltrop]

looks clean, cylinder ring is there but light, not seeing any of those spidery "such is life" scratches (the ones from just walking around, not dropping down a 300' rockslide)

Locks up tight I'll guess or you wouldn't be concerned with the appearance.

Wipe it down with a few patches and a drop or two of oil... otherwise just looks like a range trip to me.

 

[Pyro]

Looks fine to me.

 

[jhco50]

Just looks a bit dirty to me.

 

[GP100man]

Nice sharp corners & lite turn ring .

Looks as if it`s fairly new , that`s just by looks though.

Lock -up & end shake ????

 

[Creature]

Looks nearly new to me. The breech face looks hardly touched and the cylinder turn lines look very faint.