How to Be Sure it's Brand New?

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I will be purchasing a brand new hand gun soon. How do I make sure I receive a new, unfired (other than factory test rounds), non-returned gun besides taking the sellers word? No I don't trust people in this capacity. I pay for a new gun, I want a new gun end of story no exeptions. I do not want a gun from the display case that other customers have possibly molested / mistreated. I have seen customers drop guns or dry fire them when they aren't supposed to be dry fired or they slam the wheel/mag closed etc etc . Do hand gun cases come sealed from the factory? Would I order my gun and tell them to not open the case until I was there to open it myself and purchase? Is this an unreasonable or odd or impossible request due to gun store logistics or laws? Perhaps the gun store has to open each gun case to record/confirm a serial number or something? How do I make sure my gun is brand new?
 
technically they can be ordered and everything taken from the outside of the box if you trust that the terrible human full of flaws who was supposed to put the gun in the box did in fact put the correct gun in the correct box. IMO.. it is a bit unreasonable and extremely odd.. I cannot imagine going into a shop seeing a NEW gun on the shelf, for these purposes we'll say a Kimber 1911, and saying, "man I like this gun, but I dont want this one. Could you order me this exact gun? New like this one, same finish, same caliber, same size, but not open it when it gets here because honestly, I dont trust that you havent abused it or allowed it to be abused while it has been sitting in your showcase."
 
Maybe I'm easy to please, but I don't think it's that important. Even a new, 'unfondled' firearm may require a return trip to the factory for some manufacturing flaw. Be sure the firearm you buy was made by a manufacturer who has a reputation for good CS.
 
Anyone actually know any gun stores that would take a gun back? I sure don't - gun sales are final every place I've ever purchased from. Problems will be dealt with by repairs or OEM warranty service, but once you walk out with it, they are not signing it back onto their FFL sheet in exchange or refund.

Also, almost all the stores I frequent, often the only available gun in a specific make and model IS the one in the display case. I suppose some big chain stores may have tons of duplicate inventory in the back, but most private gun stores do not keep a bunch of duplicate guns in inventory since it's cheaper and more cost effective to order in from distributors as inventory moves out, not keep it all piled up on the premises.

I've bought lots of used and new, and ordered some in too when what I wanted wasn't in stock. Bottom line is just check it out thoroughly before you accept it and pay for it.
 
look for wear and powder residue

On a semi, look for wear on the rails, and inside the mag well, also for powder residue in the nooks and crannies.
 
Quite frankly, if you can't tell that they're not new or unfired then it makes no difference. You can occasionally find guns that are used but unfired and the store will advertise them that way.

Its bad business and generally illegal for a gun store to sell product by misleading or defrauding the customer. Firearms have a paper trail from the first buyer to any subsequent sales by a licensed firearms dealer. Gun stores will buy back guns that they originally sell but they will never just take them back, restock and put it back on the shelf without indicating its a used or pre-owned pistol. Like a car, once its had the required paperwork done on the first sale any subsequent sale makes it used.
 
You're the customer, and if you don't trust you're buying a new gun, ask if they can order another. For me, I see nothing wrong with it, and it doesn't seem like a hard thing to accommodate.

Now I don't know the laws and whatnot about a store receiving the gun and if people have to open a sealed case. So unless someone is required to look at it before you, this should be something they could do with little problems.
 
Anyone actually know any gun stores that would take a gun back? I sure don't - gun sales are final every place I've ever purchased from.
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Virginia Arms in Manassas always says that the sale isn't final until the customer is satisfied.
 
I don't think it would be a big deal for most dealers to hand you an unopened box if that is what you want and order it that way. However I would MUCH rather have a gun that had been shot and handled before I got it that I could examine thoroughly myself before being obligated to buy, rather than be obligated to buy a New In Box gun that I ordered which I wasn't able to examine beforehand. The manufacturers put out poor specimens. Maybe not "defective" but poorly machined and/or fit. Virtually all of them. And not that infrequently.
 
Now I don't know the laws and whatnot about a store receiving the gun and if people have to open a sealed case. So unless someone is required to look at it before you, this should be something they could do with little problems.
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i don't know too many FFLs who would risk their license on not checking serial numbers and logging in a handgun when they receive it
 
Loosen up a little. If you can't tell that it's not new then what difference does it make? Unless maybe it's a collectible that you don't plan to shoot, then OK, but if you intend own shooting it then what difference does it make? I do not compute.
 
NIB in the box isnt always good of all the lemons ive owned theyve been all bought new !!! on average most my rifles are 50 years old or more....Some been threw wars and still better then the average new guns ive owned. If the riflings sharp and bright i wouldnt care if it was used or not.
 
If I'm buying a new gun in a store I usually tell them I don't want the display model and ask if they have one NIB in the back. Then I'll look it over real well, cycle the action, etc. before saying "I'll take this one." I've had a couple of clerks roll their eyes but they still comply. Worst case, they'll say the display model is the last one they have. Then you have to decide how badly you want that gun.

Having said that, some of my most favorite guns are ones that I bought used.
 
by a ring being peened in on the bolt face. could spend a million words trying to poorly describe this, so the best way is look at one of your well used guns, and compare to a new one at the store. it doesn't take many rounds to do this, less than a box for any load, high or low pressure.

gunnie
 
You could ask to see the log entry from their receiving the gun to see the source. It should be from the manufacturer or wholesaler if new.
 
How to be sure it's brand new? Ask 'em. They could get in trouble for lying about that. Look it over carefully and/or have the dealer show you enough of its internals to convince you.

Even at that, you have no guarantee of perfection. I bought a new Ruger GP 100, and when I got it home, it was filthy from the factory. I cleaned it, and it seemed to work perfectly when I dry-fired it. Took it to the range, loaded up, and found the cylinder sticking quite a lot, so it had to go back to the factory for rework. It came back perfect, though.

Think about buying a new car -- they all have a few miles on the odometer, don't they? Someone may have test-driven it. Still, it has full warranty in effect.
 
Anyone actually know any gun stores that would take a gun back?
Click to expand...

I've only had to take one gun back to a dealer. They gave me a full refund, no questions asked.

Do they do that for everyone? I have no idea. They did it for me and I doubt they think I'm anything special. I told them what was wrong, they looked at it, agreed with me, and gave me a refund.

And that was a used gun. I see no reason at all to think they wouldn't do it for a new one.
 
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