NIB ... sort of

[Black Butte]

I reside in a gun-unfriendly area in a liberal state. Given my location, I have a limited selection and must suffer high prices when it comes to acquisitions. For this reason, I sometimes purchase on the Internet. Recently, I picked up a new S&W E-series 1911 on GunBroker that was advertised as new-in-box.

I did get a pistol that was new-in-the box and only fired once with the empty brass included in its small envelope. Closer inspection, however, revealed an "idiot scratch" at the take-down lever. What happened is clear. No doubt this gun was in the display case at a gun shop selling it. I see this here as well. Know-it-all gun yokels, likely with no intention of buying, want to fondle these pistols with no knowledge of what they're doing, or they simply don't care because it's not their pistol. In my case, somebody without a clue, or a selfish jerk, tried to take down the 1911 and ended up putting the well-known idiot scratch in the finish.

What I paid for was a new pistol. What I got is a scratched pistol. While the scratch is admittedly small, it's specific placement at the take-down lever is irritating. Is it unreasonable that gun-show proprietors keep people from scratching up their new merchandise, or at the very least, that they represent their merchandise as scratched when they try to auction it off on GunBroker?

Normally, I wouldn't care, but I bought this piece specifically because it is so nice looking. Please share your experiences.

 

[hoghunting]

If the gun is stainless you can buff it out with Scotch-Brite.

 

[smalls]

Have you contacted the seller? I personally would have asked the FFL on my side to hold it until I got in contact with the seller and sorted it out. It wouldn't necessarily stopped me from purchasing (or receiving in this case) the gun, but not for NIB price. I'd expect a little kick back from the seller before taking it home.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Have you contacted the seller? I personally would have asked the FFL on my side to hold it until I got in contact with the seller and sorted it out. It wouldn't necessarily stopped me from purchasing (or receiving in this case) the gun, but not for NIB price. I'd expect a little kick back from the seller before taking it home.

That is exactly what I did the last time I got a gun that was a lesser condition than described. The seller knew I had him dead to rights and ponied up an agreeable partial refund.

 

[Lantern]

If you don't wanna buff it out and the seller won't make things right you may have a tough case to push the issue since they will say that you should have seen this at the inspection stage when it arrived at your FFL.

Now that's me ASSuming you aren't your own FFL. And if that's the case I don't have a clue what the rules are for that. LOL!!


In any case I HOPE you get satisfaction from the seller and not a big hassle. If you decide to buff it yourself I hope she turns out as puurrrdy as she was coming off the line at S&W!

 

[Robert]

Take it out and shoot it. Add scratches of your own and enjoy the pistol.

 

[claiborne]

not for me either

I am like you, no idiot marks please. I have turned down many great deals on used and new 1911's because of the mark. If the person did not have the knowledge to properly strip and reassemble the pistol, who knows what else they may have damaged.

 

[MattShlock]

Whilst it may have understandably ruined your day, and I TOTALLY get that, practically speaking, if it is a "shooter" I'd keep and shoot it. It's like a car... You baby it when new but given enough time there is nothing you can do to keep it that way if you drive it.

By the way, I did that to a Browning Hi-Power I own. I swear the think SUCKED the switch into the frame -- I did not push it. The spring got a hold of the detent internally, drew it in before I was ready, and... SCRATCH.

 

[medalguy]

If you intend to actually use and shoot the gun, go ahead and do that. As Robert suggests, add your own "character" to the gun. OTOH if you bought it NIB and want to keep it NIB and not shoot it, than I'd talk to the seller. It was misdescribed, either accidentally, or on purpose.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

While no doubt annoying, it's not the end of the world on a using gun.

My 50 year old Colt has a very small idiot mark I put on it some time in the past.

And I'm no idiot when it comes to 1911's.

rc

 

[Lex Luthier]

A gun is a tool. Granted, some tools are more rare and keepable in the safe than others, but ANY combat weapon is intrinsically designed to take abuse and suffer wear. I have purchased only three brand new weapons ever. The balance are all second hand trades, and most of them came with a few character marks. I expect most items of my collectible interest to find me in this condition.

 

[cheesebigot]

If it doesn't have idiot marks, what has it been doing all its life? Firearms are for shooting, I can get paperweights elsewhere.

 

[ngnrd]

At this point, since you have taken delivery of the pistol, the seller is supposed to believe/admit that you didn't put the idiot mark there? I think that's asking a lot after taking delivery (again, assuming you had the opportunity to inspect the weapon before you picked it up from a local FFL).

 

[rcmodel]

BTW: I have some 50-75 year old S&W & Colt revolvers with turn rings too!

Should I sell them all?
Or refinish them all and stop using them??

rc

 

[Willie Sutton]

The guy bought a new pistol. That's expected to be without flaw, or having been handled until it's marked. If he paid for that, he expects that. What marks he puts on it himself later is his business... but it's irrelevent to what he paid for, and what he expects.

If it were me, I'd send a pic and a nice note to the seller and ask what he wants to do about it. Certainly can't hurt.


Willie

.

 

[Black Butte]

The mark wasn't bad enough for me to make a fuss over or to refuse delivery. It would just be nice if sellers could let you know that you're getting a display gun with "boo-boos" instead of a gun taken from the back room which never left its box.

Hoghunting suggested buffing out the scratch. I did this once with fine-grit sandpaper on an SP-101 to remove a scratch with great results. The finish on the SP-101, however, was brushed stainless. While the slide of the E-series is brushed stainless, the scratch is on the frame where the gun has a matte finish. I'm assuming if I buff there, it will make shiny spot that will be even more noticeable than the scratch.

I just got the S&W E-series, and I'm starting to think about a government-sized Colt XSE. Is that wrong? Are the guns so similar in build quality and features that they're essentially the same? While the Colt doesn't have front-strap checkering, it would be neat to have a pony 1911.

Just out of curiosity, how would you guys compare the Colt XSE to the Kimber Tactical Custom HD II, both government-sized. Which would you choose over the other and why?

 

[ngnrd]

The mark wasn't bad enough for me to make a fuss over...

Maybe I misunderstood... what was this thread about again?

 

[Black Butte]

Maybe I misunderstood... what was this thread about again?

"... to refuse delivery." The sentence in its entirety indicates the scratch wasn't significant enough to make an issue out of it with the seller, not that it isn't significant enough to warrant a discussion here on THR.

Any thoughts on the Colt XSE vs. the Kimber Tactical Custom HD II?

 

[Lantern]

I just got the S&W E-series, and I'm starting to think about a government-sized Colt XSE. Is that wrong?

Oh boy......the 1911 bug sure is something ain't it? lol!!

When I bought my first it was after months and months of study and thought.... I bought my second one 3 weeks later.

 

[Desert Duck]

Sell it and buy a Glock or two. No idiot marks on those.

But I think you have a case here. They should either A) pony up for handling mark$... Or B) replace it to your satisfaction.

How you feel about it is how you feel about owning it. I sense it bugs you but may not bug those who commented above as it is a tool. That Jeff Cooper type philosophy is mine as well, but some are bothered by blemishes.

Good luck sorting it out.