RainDodger
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My NIB Colt, is not so NIB
- Thread starter CarbineKid
- Start date
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ALWAYS inspect ANY gun before you sign the transfer paperwork. Once you sign, you own the gun - period.
I always inspect the gun and verify the serial number before signing. Twice, that has saved me headaches later - one was a rifle that had a defective magazine floorplate catch, the other was a shotgun that the clerk transposed digits in the serial # on the paperwork. Easy fixes - before the sale is completed.
Bud's reminds you to inspect the gun before completing transfer paperwork. I've never ordered except from them, so I don't know if everyone does.
I always inspect the gun and verify the serial number before signing. Twice, that has saved me headaches later - one was a rifle that had a defective magazine floorplate catch, the other was a shotgun that the clerk transposed digits in the serial # on the paperwork. Easy fixes - before the sale is completed.
Bud's reminds you to inspect the gun before completing transfer paperwork. I've never ordered except from them, so I don't know if everyone does.
Not looking to hijack this thread, but since I'm expecting a new Stag Arms AR anyday, this thread made me wonder: what should I be looking for before signing the transfer paperwork? I know how to check a revolver and a semi-auto pistol, but this will be my first AR. What would bet is a reasonable inspection in a gunstore (besides cosmetics) that won't piss them off?
JustinJ
Member
This. Nobody can offer good advice here without an actual idea of how bad it is. Also, many blemishes and marks aren't noticeable when a gun's finish has a heavy coat of oil so some things may not be noticeable until after its wiped off. I wouldn't care about a few minor marks but if its severe i'd want a new one.
dagger dog
Member
It's not that big of a deal, call let him know what you found after the gun was inspected, he'll have you bring it back then order the new one, the paperwork can be changed without hassle. DON'T SHOOT IT, if you do it's a used gun ,right now it can be claimed as transit damage, and Colt or the shipping company will accept it and file a insurance claim.
I went through a similar situation with a LGS and they came through with flying colors.
I went through a similar situation with a LGS and they came through with flying colors.
kwelz
Member
I know I am going to regret commenting on this thread...
But so what? You bought a weapon. Colt, BCM, etc are not marketed towards people who want aesthetics first in the guns they buy. Should it be more bare metal than finish? Of course not? But if we are talking about a few scratches from being stacked int he factory, shipping, etc then just grab a black sharpie and call it done.
I used to be concerned about these kinds of things. And if I was buying a collectors grade M1 Garand or something similar I probably still would. But when I am buying a weapon I look for 1 thing and 1 thing only. Reliability.
Honestly if you are worried about the finish, or how tight the upper/lower fit is, or anything else like that then you should just buy a RRA. But if you purchased that gun to shoot then go shoot the gun. Take the time and effort you would in talking to the gun shop about exchanging it and put it towards some range time.
If it REALLY bothers you then talk to them about it and use it as a way to get a deal on some ammo. But shoot the gun and stop worrying about things that don't matter. Colts are not safe queens. They are shooters.
But so what? You bought a weapon. Colt, BCM, etc are not marketed towards people who want aesthetics first in the guns they buy. Should it be more bare metal than finish? Of course not? But if we are talking about a few scratches from being stacked int he factory, shipping, etc then just grab a black sharpie and call it done.
I used to be concerned about these kinds of things. And if I was buying a collectors grade M1 Garand or something similar I probably still would. But when I am buying a weapon I look for 1 thing and 1 thing only. Reliability.
Honestly if you are worried about the finish, or how tight the upper/lower fit is, or anything else like that then you should just buy a RRA. But if you purchased that gun to shoot then go shoot the gun. Take the time and effort you would in talking to the gun shop about exchanging it and put it towards some range time.
If it REALLY bothers you then talk to them about it and use it as a way to get a deal on some ammo. But shoot the gun and stop worrying about things that don't matter. Colts are not safe queens. They are shooters.
JustinJ
Member
Which AR makers do market on aesthetics?
Micro
Member
Horse**** on the "they're tools," "they're meant to be shot," "don't worry about it" responses. Colt's ability to put together a rifle without damaging it is is highly suspect these days. I bought a NIB LE6920MP-R and mine has scratches on the lower where the Magpul trigger guard was installed, scratches on the delta ring from the battle rail installation, a boogered screw on the battle rail, and various other knicks and dings. Others have had the same experience on other websites.
This is damage from assembly. It is nothing less. Some ham-fisted ass with a meat hammer must be assembling these rifles. 100% carelessness.
Somehow, some way, Sig managed to assemble my M400 without so much as a ding. S&W, Stag, RR and others I've looked at were put together without damaging the guns. Are these manufacturers more competent? It seems so.
Colt needs to get its act together in this respect. They are no longer a brand I would buy sight-unseen.
This is damage from assembly. It is nothing less. Some ham-fisted ass with a meat hammer must be assembling these rifles. 100% carelessness.
Somehow, some way, Sig managed to assemble my M400 without so much as a ding. S&W, Stag, RR and others I've looked at were put together without damaging the guns. Are these manufacturers more competent? It seems so.
Colt needs to get its act together in this respect. They are no longer a brand I would buy sight-unseen.
Nothing ventured nothing gained...maybe his dealer will be more accommodating.
As to whether it is "no big deal" or not...since it was CarbineKid's $1000 that was spent, that is his call to make.
Bigkrackers
Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2011
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- 68
If you're going to put it under glass then fight to get it fixed. If you're going to use it, use it. My BCM lasted about a month before it got scratched and dinged up. Just take it to one carbine class.
Bigkrackers
Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2011
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- 68
Umm...let's see. I know that there must be at least one company that does this but, which one is it? It's right there on the tip of my tongue. Thorn? Splinter? Nail? Sticker? No, wait...two dongs crushing a bug...SPIKES!
jerkface11
Member
Yeah he only paid $1000 for it why should he expect it to not have scratches.
Bigkrackers
Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2011
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- 68
I understand. Some people are more about the cosmetics. If i had put down a couple grand on a custom 1911 and it was scratched up I'd be pissed. I'm just not that vain about my working guns. If the OP isn't satisfied and can't get a little compensation from the dealer then try to take it back or have Colt fix it. But since position was taken of the rifle I don't see how the dealer or Colt can be held liable unless it's so obvious that the damage occurred at the manufacturer. Pics would help.
If it's "normal" handling wear that could have come from inspection and boxing up, I'd just shoot it and be happy.
If it's a ten inch long deep gouge in the upper receiver that looks like someone took a cold chisel to it after running over it with a forklift, then I'd complain about it.
That will have to be your call.
If it's a ten inch long deep gouge in the upper receiver that looks like someone took a cold chisel to it after running over it with a forklift, then I'd complain about it.
That will have to be your call.
madcratebuilder
Member
First we need to define
If it is indeed marked up and used, you should not have left the gun shop with it. You are going to have a hard time returning it now. This isn't a new pair of pants or other fashion statement. It's a clone of a military weapon.
How about some pic's?
If it is indeed marked up and used, you should not have left the gun shop with it. You are going to have a hard time returning it now. This isn't a new pair of pants or other fashion statement. It's a clone of a military weapon.
arthury
Member
You need to inspect goods before you take it out of the store, not after.
Did you not see those cosmetic issues when you looked at it in the store?
Your store probably does not have another one for you to exchange.
Did you not see those cosmetic issues when you looked at it in the store?
Your store probably does not have another one for you to exchange.
kwelz
Member
Funny, Colt is one of the only brands I would purchase Sight unseen. I find it kind of funny that all the other brands you mentioned are questionable at best. Of them only S&W is what I would consider even for a hobby gun.
So what do those finish scratches do to the gun? What negative do they have on the function of the weapon?
Once again if you want a Safe queen then inspect the weapon with a magnifying glass before you take it out the door. If you want a weapon then the OP has already made the perfect choice.
DM~
Member
Well, my S&W came to me without even one scratch on it, but it's a "user" gun, and i wouldn't have cried if it did have a few MINOR dings on it.
DM
DM
Then why on earth did you buy it? You chose to accept the gun in the condition it was in... had you not done that, you might have an argument.
Gordon
Member
The "new" release of M4's Forgeries from Colt I have seen shocked me with their overall roughness compared to my "old" Colt Hbars and such. They have a completely different and cruder finish but of course have all the latest features, including a bullet button and a 10 round mag for Kali sales . They weren't as pretty as the new S&Ws that are cheaper. I'd complain to Colt that it came out the box with finish issues, good luck!
SilentStalker
Member
I agree with both sides of the camp. To me a gun is meant to be used and will get scratches and whatnot in them over time, especially if it is a service weapon. It sounds like this is not a service weapon though so you might be a little more concerned about it than someone else. In any case, like I said it is a tool but so is your car. Your car will get you from point A to B and hopefully be reliable for many years but I guarantee you that if you are looking at a brand new $60,000 Mercedes and it has a scratch down the side you are either going to bypass that one or have them fix it. Will it still run and drive like one that does not have the scratch? Of course it will but this is $60K here. If Mercedes became unable to deliver cars without scratches and stuff in them new from the factory then I can guarantee you they would lose sales dramatically, even if they still were mechanically sound. So, apply that to your new rifle. I probably would not live with it either. I have $4000 in one rifle alone and this is without the addition of a sling, muzzlebrake, suppressor, extra mags, scope rings or a scope. So, I can probably say I will be spending another $3000 on it before I am done with it. This is a lot of freaking money for a gun so I took my time inspecting it before I took it. For that kind of money I would not dare take it if it had had some scratches in it.
Creature
Member
I agree. It would never have made it out of the store because I would have inspected it closely before walking out with it.
BADUNAME37
Member
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- Aug 10, 2008
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- 4,434
I purchased a .22 Ruger Mark II pistol and there was an obvious scratch, visible where the inner frame is visible with the bolt pulled back. It looks kind of like someone got a dremel and purposefully carved this little very uneven scratch. I thought perhaps the lady behind the counter where I bought it might have tried to put some kind of gun lock on the thing with the bolt fully retracted, like someone jammed some kind of metal against that spot.
Otherwise, the gun was perfect. I bought it, I eventually bead blasted it (but not internally, not where the scratch is), and I basically just decided to live with that scratch.
I suppose I could have made an issue of it in the store, as I did happen to notice it before signing papers. I guess I was just happy to have the gun in my hands and decided the scratch was really not that big a deal, when comparing to the order of things in life and in the universe in general.
As others stated, if you would eventually put these types of scratches in the gun on your own, in time, by shooting it and enjoying it, I would live with it and learn to next time make sure I look the gun over with a magnifying glass under very bright lighting!
OTOH, if what you thought you were getting is a museum piece, something that will be your safe-queen, then, by all means, complain to Colt and ship it back to them!:banghead:
Otherwise, the gun was perfect. I bought it, I eventually bead blasted it (but not internally, not where the scratch is), and I basically just decided to live with that scratch.
I suppose I could have made an issue of it in the store, as I did happen to notice it before signing papers. I guess I was just happy to have the gun in my hands and decided the scratch was really not that big a deal, when comparing to the order of things in life and in the universe in general.
As others stated, if you would eventually put these types of scratches in the gun on your own, in time, by shooting it and enjoying it, I would live with it and learn to next time make sure I look the gun over with a magnifying glass under very bright lighting!
OTOH, if what you thought you were getting is a museum piece, something that will be your safe-queen, then, by all means, complain to Colt and ship it back to them!:banghead:
Micro
Member
And why do you think they are “questionable at best?” That’s what someone told you, right? The pack mentality, not experience. You sound like you spend a lot of time over at the M4circlejerk forum. You’ve managed to come to the conclusion (with help, no doubt) that no other gun, other than the one you’ve selected, is up to the task of doing anything other than punching paper – and some, not even that.
The most commonly cited reasons I’ve seen for selecting a Colt (or BCM or Daniel Defense) is that those rifles are “built to a standard.” Colt has the TDP! People that buy these guns want a “fighting rifle.” Only those rifles can be trusted in a SHTF situation.
Give me a break. The chances of being involved in a SHTF situation is probably less than winning the lottery - fifty times.
Many of the folks that think they can only rely of Colt because it meets some mil-spec standard rely on every manner of pistol for carry and home defense. And which is more likely to ever be used in a SD scenario?
What do you think is more likely: a home-break in or street robbery, or a breakdown of civilization? And what will the majority grab first to defend themselves when the mugger taps them on the shoulder or home-invader comes knocking? A Ruger, a Kel-Tec, or some other pistol that was built to some unknown standard. Ironic, ain’t it? For a rifle they will probably never use in a life-or death situation, they gotta have a Colt - cuz it’s mil-spec. But they drop a Glock in their IWB. What mil-spec does the Glock meet?
The stupid suggestion that only a mil-spec gun is worthy is disputed by millions, dead in their graves, that were on the wrong end of a simple gun that worked right for someone who knew how to use it.
Hobby gun. That’s another amusing term.
Here’s a fact – unless you are in the fighting business, or are actually unfortunate enough to have to use that gun in self-defense – it’s a hobby gun. For the common man, thinking that you are really preparing to be on the cutting edge of some post-apocalyptic army, or a super-hero in some mass riot, is delusion. It might be fun for you, but its delusion. People that take it too seriously are the gun-world’s version of Dungeons and Dragons dorks: the type that argue over the whether a vorpal-broadsword or a +3 scimitar is the better fighting weapon. Interesting in their own little world – pretty much meaningless in reality.
If someone buys a gun they think they may one day have to use for SD, confidence in the gun will come from time and familiarity. Reliability, or lack thereof, will become evident. Whether it’s mil-spec or not will be entirely incidental.
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