Last week I visited my local pawn superstore to take a look at what guns they had behind the counter. This shop is the largest in the area (East Dallas) and usually has about 50 long guns on racks and several dozen handguns at any given time. On this day, I took a look at a nice looking 4 inch Ruger Security Six. When I asked to check the lockup on the gun, the clerk said I could, but then I had to explain to him why he needed to take the trigger lock off the gun for me to do that. The Six turned out to be extremely tight, and did not appear to have fired large quantities of magnum loads. The clerk quoted me a price of $345 after taxes, and because I did not have the money on me, I told him I would be back in a few days.
Fast Forward to this afternoon: I went back to the shop with money in my pocket to pick up the gun. They had several new revolvers today, so before I put my money down I decided to look at a 6 inch S&W model 19, but in the end I told the clerk (a different guy this time) that I wanted to purchase the Ruger. He takes the gun in his hand and walks me the 100 feet or so over to the sales counter.
As we're walking I hear a really fast clicking sound, and when I look over at him the clerk is spinning the cylinder on the gun OVER AND OVER AS FAST AS HE POSSIBLY CAN WITH THE CYLINDER CLOSED! "Whoa!" I exclaimed, "Don't do that man, that will seriously mess up a revolver in VERY short order."
When we get over to the cash register, I ask to see the Ruger again to check if there is any new damage to the gun, and sure enough the cylinder will not positively lock closed anymore. I point this out to him, and let him know that "You shouldn't handle guns like they do on TV. This isn't safe to fire anymore because you either bent or broke part of the workings of the gun." He apologized after I handed him the gun again, and had the nerve to ask IF I STILL WANTED TO BUY IT! :banghead:
Needless to say I left the store that day in a baaaaaaad mood. So bad that I gave them a call once I got home and "offered some suggestions" about re-training their employees in safe gun-handling.
The moral of the story: Guns are fun, but they are NOT toys!
Fast Forward to this afternoon: I went back to the shop with money in my pocket to pick up the gun. They had several new revolvers today, so before I put my money down I decided to look at a 6 inch S&W model 19, but in the end I told the clerk (a different guy this time) that I wanted to purchase the Ruger. He takes the gun in his hand and walks me the 100 feet or so over to the sales counter.
As we're walking I hear a really fast clicking sound, and when I look over at him the clerk is spinning the cylinder on the gun OVER AND OVER AS FAST AS HE POSSIBLY CAN WITH THE CYLINDER CLOSED! "Whoa!" I exclaimed, "Don't do that man, that will seriously mess up a revolver in VERY short order."
When we get over to the cash register, I ask to see the Ruger again to check if there is any new damage to the gun, and sure enough the cylinder will not positively lock closed anymore. I point this out to him, and let him know that "You shouldn't handle guns like they do on TV. This isn't safe to fire anymore because you either bent or broke part of the workings of the gun." He apologized after I handed him the gun again, and had the nerve to ask IF I STILL WANTED TO BUY IT! :banghead:
Needless to say I left the store that day in a baaaaaaad mood. So bad that I gave them a call once I got home and "offered some suggestions" about re-training their employees in safe gun-handling.
The moral of the story: Guns are fun, but they are NOT toys!