HABU
Member
Oh, OK, I get it! Good one! I thought you were serious for a minute.
What gunstore/gunshow scams have you seen?
- Thread starter firestar
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Oh, OK, I get it! Good one! I thought you were serious for a minute.Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
My nearest local gun shop owner promised he could do a top quality action job on a Colt Python and deliver a two-pound single action pull.
He delivered a sloppy job and a three-pound pull. I'll never go back, and have encouraged several other shooters not to waste their time and money there.
He delivered a sloppy job and a three-pound pull. I'll never go back, and have encouraged several other shooters not to waste their time and money there.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
What this all highlights is ..... there are a lot of ''sharks'' out there ......... and cynicism needs to be the order of the day ..... more's the pity.
''Buyer beware''.
''Buyer beware''.
Lone_Gunman
Member
Yea, you can get ripped off at gunshows if you don't know what you are doing.
But if you are a smart guy, like me, you can find great deals.
Why, just last month I bought Wyatt Earp's 44 magnum Buntline for $250.
But if you are a smart guy, like me, you can find great deals.
Why, just last month I bought Wyatt Earp's 44 magnum Buntline for $250.
556A2
Member
Actually I saw one today in fact. I went to one in Oakboro, NC which is a part of some antique show also. Now the ad said 5000 square feet of a gunshow with 5 bucks to get in. There were 6 dealer tables, and only 4 had guns. The most outrageous was the biggest table, some things that stick out was:
An Enfield Jungle Carbine: 350
A fairly used Colt Officer's Model: 650
A Mosin-Nagant M91/30 220
Now if that ain't scaming I don't know what is (and the acutal gunshow its self) :banghead: Luckily I got some AK74 mags for 8 bucks, and the only 4 boxes of 5.45x39mm at 5 bucks a box
An Enfield Jungle Carbine: 350
A fairly used Colt Officer's Model: 650
A Mosin-Nagant M91/30 220
Now if that ain't scaming I don't know what is (and the acutal gunshow its self) :banghead: Luckily I got some AK74 mags for 8 bucks, and the only 4 boxes of 5.45x39mm at 5 bucks a box
I doubt it. Look at the new and used car market. Look at the antiques market.
Of course if the govt got out of the gun-regulating business, the "big box" retailers would probably get into the act in a big way and start selling more common models at discount prices.
Imagine if Wal-Mart could sell all types of guns without any additional liability exposure or without worrying about ATF audits of their minimum wage employees.
Maybe some of the more "seasoned" forum participants could tell us waht the gun market was like before GCA '68?
Just some musings.
Matthew Courtney
Member
After they shoot your best friend, your wife, and your dog, you might prevail in court if you can afford great lawyers.
Mannlicher
Member
The public's greed usually provides all the victims a crooked dealer wants. It is at the gun show, when you really see who knows their stuff,and who is an armchair expert. If glib talkers fleece the sheep, I don't mind so much.
I have seen a few scams, but never gave it a whole lot of thought before now.
One of the big ones is selling various mil-surp rifles as "sniper" versions and charging a premium price. There are places in the Shotgun news that do this every month. If you read the ad carefully, they never come right out and say that this rifle was used by the military of that country as a sniper rifle, but they make overatures in that direction. In other words they take a rack grade rifle, mount an incorrect scope and mount and try to sell it as a legitimate sniper rifle stopping just short of saying it is one.
Then there are the genuine FN AR15 parts.
One of the big ones is selling various mil-surp rifles as "sniper" versions and charging a premium price. There are places in the Shotgun news that do this every month. If you read the ad carefully, they never come right out and say that this rifle was used by the military of that country as a sniper rifle, but they make overatures in that direction. In other words they take a rack grade rifle, mount an incorrect scope and mount and try to sell it as a legitimate sniper rifle stopping just short of saying it is one.
Then there are the genuine FN AR15 parts.
444's post reminds me...
A certain nameless company advertises mint-condition German K98's for sale.
They actually deliver mint-condition Yugoslavian M48 rifles worth about 1/3 of this unnamed company's price.
The ads give just enough accurate info to put a knowledgeable person on notice, but are clearly designed to trap someone who does not know any better.
A certain nameless company advertises mint-condition German K98's for sale.
They actually deliver mint-condition Yugoslavian M48 rifles worth about 1/3 of this unnamed company's price.
The ads give just enough accurate info to put a knowledgeable person on notice, but are clearly designed to trap someone who does not know any better.
The $499 Glock 36 was new on sale at K's Merchandise, it like a Sevice Merchandise but they sell guns. They only sell new guns, no used.
I didn't know the models of the TRP thing at the time so here is what he was told he was getting for $999.00:
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8944557
ANd here is what they gave him with a light (all the while telling him straight to his face that it was the TRP Operator, he asked several times)
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8991276
I didn't know the models of the TRP thing at the time so here is what he was told he was getting for $999.00:
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8944557
ANd here is what they gave him with a light (all the while telling him straight to his face that it was the TRP Operator, he asked several times)
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8991276
Mike Irwin
Member
"A sporterized Lee-Enfield I've got no problem with...but who would muck up a long Lee??"
Probably someone who brought it back after World War I.
Tragic, but not uncommon, unfortunately.
Probably someone who brought it back after World War I.
Tragic, but not uncommon, unfortunately.
atek3
Member
nemesis
Member
There's an ornery cuss that sets up at all the gun shows in south Texas and does business as "Just Ammo".
I took a look at his offerings and saw that he had battle packs of Port 7.62 and figured I'd grab one. The packs were set out in two rows on the table and one row was priced higher than the other. I figured it must be old and new stock.
I picked up one from the cheap stack and he came over to take my money. He cranked some figures into his calculator and gave me a total price about 20% higher than the posted price of the ammo. My comment was "that seems to be a lot of tax". As should be expected with this guy, he blew up and started yelling about the price and was quoting the price from the other row of ammo. I showed him the price tags on the ammo that I was attempting to buy and on the other ammo from that stack.
He went nuts and started ripping all the price tags off. I just glared at him and walked away. I don't buy from people that low ball me. If you try to change the price on me, you lose the sale.
I took a look at his offerings and saw that he had battle packs of Port 7.62 and figured I'd grab one. The packs were set out in two rows on the table and one row was priced higher than the other. I figured it must be old and new stock.
I picked up one from the cheap stack and he came over to take my money. He cranked some figures into his calculator and gave me a total price about 20% higher than the posted price of the ammo. My comment was "that seems to be a lot of tax". As should be expected with this guy, he blew up and started yelling about the price and was quoting the price from the other row of ammo. I showed him the price tags on the ammo that I was attempting to buy and on the other ammo from that stack.
He went nuts and started ripping all the price tags off. I just glared at him and walked away. I don't buy from people that low ball me. If you try to change the price on me, you lose the sale.
standingbear
Member
a few
people swapping out parts on a postban receiver and placing preban items on them.asking some ridiculous high prices.some there will do anything to make a dishonest buck.i bought a springfield m1a an got it home,much to my dismay,there was no firing pin.have bought a "new" milled bulgarian ak once too.didnt check trhe rifling.got it home and again,much to my dismay,the rifling was corroded in the last 3 inches in the barrel.couldnt hit the broadside of a barn.looked nice but barrel was junk.after taking it to a smith to see what could be done,i just sold it for half what i had in it.bent barrels on a shotgun,got 1 of those too. unknowingly bought a used beretta with a fracture in the frame.took it to a smith who pointed it out why the thing wasnt reliable and accurate.
people swapping out parts on a postban receiver and placing preban items on them.asking some ridiculous high prices.some there will do anything to make a dishonest buck.i bought a springfield m1a an got it home,much to my dismay,there was no firing pin.have bought a "new" milled bulgarian ak once too.didnt check trhe rifling.got it home and again,much to my dismay,the rifling was corroded in the last 3 inches in the barrel.couldnt hit the broadside of a barn.looked nice but barrel was junk.after taking it to a smith to see what could be done,i just sold it for half what i had in it.bent barrels on a shotgun,got 1 of those too. unknowingly bought a used beretta with a fracture in the frame.took it to a smith who pointed it out why the thing wasnt reliable and accurate.
jthuang
Member
1. PA gunshow attendees will know the guy who has a sign next to his box of trigger locks, to the effect of "comply with federal law, lock up your guns". (No such law, to my knowledge)
2. PA gunshow dealer with Century Arms International FALs next to a sign "Made for the CIA". Maybe he's dyslexic, but I doubt it.
3. Guy on rec.guns pays $900 for a "pre-ban Glock 23" because the dealer told him that you can't use pre-ban mags in a handgun manufactured after Sept 13 1994.
Justin
2. PA gunshow dealer with Century Arms International FALs next to a sign "Made for the CIA". Maybe he's dyslexic, but I doubt it.
3. Guy on rec.guns pays $900 for a "pre-ban Glock 23" because the dealer told him that you can't use pre-ban mags in a handgun manufactured after Sept 13 1994.
Justin
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
It seems to me from watching the various black-plastic guys and milsurp guys at gunshows that they are less shooters and gun-people than they are sellers of "things". They'd maybeso be just as happy selling used cars or sheep, for all I know. And guys in camo? I'd like to buy them for what they know, and sell them for what they think they know...
I generally like to BS a bit with gunstore folks before really getting in to looking at any firearms. Once they figure you're not recently fallen off a turnip truck, any notion of shucking and jiving disappears. And, if the level of knowledge is only shucking and jiving, the salesman usually disappears as well.
I've noticed that when looking at pistols and I mention shooting IPSC, or hunting with a pistol or having my own range, that salesmen sorta lay back to answer as best they can. And, often admit they don't know some answers.
Becoming knowlegeable about manufacturers and models and pricing is the best defense againt scams. That's one reason for reading through Shotgun News or the Gun List from time to time.
, Art
I generally like to BS a bit with gunstore folks before really getting in to looking at any firearms. Once they figure you're not recently fallen off a turnip truck, any notion of shucking and jiving disappears. And, if the level of knowledge is only shucking and jiving, the salesman usually disappears as well.
I've noticed that when looking at pistols and I mention shooting IPSC, or hunting with a pistol or having my own range, that salesmen sorta lay back to answer as best they can. And, often admit they don't know some answers.
Becoming knowlegeable about manufacturers and models and pricing is the best defense againt scams. That's one reason for reading through Shotgun News or the Gun List from time to time.
, Art12 Volt Man
Member
I had this same experience with Impact Guns they have a Low Price Guarantee I went in armed with it and they refused to match the better price I had found on a gun. They kept telling me that I had to factor in shipping and transfer fees. That is why I try to shop locally. To avoid the shipping and transfer fees.
I agree what good is a guarantee if you don't stand by it?
Cosmoline
Member
A bubba hack-job on a K-98k Mauser tagged as "Commercial Mauser" and priced at over $700! That one was over the line into fraud, IMHO.
blades67
Member
I haven't seen any gunshow scams. That is probably because I don't go to gunshows because I don't feel the need to be scammed.
Its sad but true that gunshow dealers are some of the most dishonest vendors in America. Many are commercial dealers that "unload" their junk on the unsuspected. Traded (25 years ago) a guy a S&W M25 for an army issue carbine and cash. Took the carbine home to clean and the barrel UNSCREWED in my hands. Went back to the show and the guy was gone. I have less trust of the gun fraternity than I do for used car salesmen. Had a "buddy" sell me a German G-43 20 years ago. He knew-thought it was dangerous to fire because the rear of the receiver was cracked. Watched me fire 20+ rounds of 8mm (from a safe distance) without saying a word, he had his money. Got home and discovered the condition, turns out a cracked rear receiver doesn't effect the lock-up on the G-43. Gun show dealers aren't the salt of the Earth, just go to any gunshow and try to prove me wrong. They must have dealt in the slave trade in a previous life. I'll support all the paperwork and regulations the government dreams up if it applies just to those low life gun dealers.
An Hakim for $700, yea, right!
An Hakim for $700, yea, right!- Status
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