Who are the goofs who don't clean up their trade-ins?

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The gun shop guy's I've talked to are usually somewhat surprised when a gun is brought in for trade or consignment sales that is clean. Most are shot and then put in a dusty closet for a couple of years then brought in to make some cash. The last used gun's I bought (two Mossberg 151 (a) 's) were filthy and had light rust in spots. I got them for $20.00 each, so I didn't mind a little cleaning!
 
Actually, I'd prefer they didn't clean it up before trade in, just to make it look prettier. It makes it easier for me to see if the gun was well taken care of or not. And if it looks like a good gun, just dirty, maybe I can get it a little cheaper. I'd rather clean it up myself after I buy it, and always do anyway, regardless of its condition before sale.
 
I was always told clean after every time shooting. taught that way. now that I'm old ill skip some once in while and shoot twice in outings at my range and then clean. I'm getting lazy as I get older.

i work with a fella who has never cleaned his gun since he bought it. its a ruger 9mm, covered in rust through the slide black coating and talk about filthy. i asked him if hes ever cleaned it and he said huh, what like I was crazy. still shot fine though. some people don't clean their guns.
 
About five years ago, I replied to an ad selling a MetroArms 1911 5" barrel. I needed a new boat gun while traveling to and from the Bahamas. I met the guy, said he was going to the Police Academy that coming Monday. I inspected the piece and asked why he didn't clean it. He bowed his head and said, he couldn't take it down. I knew that some some 1000 grit paper on the slide stop pin would clear the problem. The pistol was in nice shape, no scratches or dings. He wanted $375, I offered $275. Told him that I might have to take it to a gunsmith to disassemble and to correct any problems. He said okay. I came home, hit the slide release pin with a nylon hammer. Out it came, used the 1000 grit paper on the pin. Cleaned it up, reassembled, headed to the range the next day. Let me tell you, it's a KEEPER. I gifted my old boat gun, Ruger Security Six 6", to my nephew that deer season.

MetroArms.JPG
 
I've had to sell guns to make bills in the past. My thought on it was why clean a gun you're going to sell at a loss?
 
Many decades ago went to a funstore and lo! A HK in .223 imported by SACO. I asked to see it and if I could disassemble it. Wasn't cleaned by the previous owner/user. Asked for some breakfree and a rag and I wiped the breech. Excellent but dirty. Did not buy (didn't want it). Told a buddy I knew who wanted it and he got it for $425 (plus 20 rd and 25 rd mag).
 
I,d say if they didn't like the gun enough to keep it why would you think they would clean it before dumping it? I like buying used guns "as is". I don't like if the shops over clean and try to touch them up. You get a better idea of their history.
 
Reminds me- Guy brings in a 1903A3 he wants to sell. I can't see day light down the barrel. Rust & dust plugging it. I spend 20 minutes cleaning it. Badly pitted. He doesn't take my offer, but got a free cleaning. :cuss:

Note: New GI surplus barrels were $25 back then. My gunsmith charged me $5 to install/headspace one on my 1903. The good old days. :)
 
I've read all those posts on other forums that say, "I never clean my .22s." "Neither do I, unless it eventually just stops-then I'll clean it." Meh, I usually let mine go at least 500 rounds before a cleaning."
Well, I've let my Steel gun go simply for 2 sessions at a time, a few times, and always felt almost naked at the last. Just can't do it, and went back to cleaning after every trip, nearly as soon as I get home. Can't stand a dirty gun. I'll reload my dirty EDC after testing, for the trip home, but as soon as I get there, it's cleaned.

The only 2 I've traded were thoroughly cleaned before presented.
 
RovinOn: Exactly.
I wouldn't trust the seller's "narrative" about the history of a dirty gun.

And I would expect that they are the same types of characters who line up every Mon-Wed-Fri for the Academy Sports to open.
The manager of their gun dept. just told me about the
"always the same group of 25 guys", once I got him to admit it........
 
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I religiously clean after every range trip. Period. The Army told me if it wasn't issued dirty dont bring it back dirty. That said, when I made it to a point in my career when I carried an M9 rather than M16/4 I found most of them to be filthy. Damn seniors doing whatever they want. Lol
 
A handgun never goes back in the safe or holster before it’s cleaned,,,,never ever left a dirty gun for no one!
 
Well, that used little LCP ran fairly well after a good cleaning, although in its first trip to the range it did display a few failure to feeds during the course of about 100 to 150 rounds. All could be cured with a tap. Still, not a gun I'd carry yet.
So, I put in a new set of recoil springs and gave it a little fluff and buff ... polished the the feed ramp and the chamber.
Today, I stopped at the club, gave it 50 rounds of ball of ball and 50 of JHP. Just gripped it and ripped it, running it at speed at 10-yard steel. It ran flawlessly.
 
At one of our bigger local gun sellers, I saw a 391 on the used rack and lo and behold it was a 20 gauge. Asked the clerk if I could take it don to look at the gas piston etc. He said sure as long as I could put it back together, The frond cap was seized. I ended up buying it anyway since the price was very good (I suspect they knew the frond cap was seized). Upside down in the safe with a shot of penetrating oil every couple of days. After a week, I was able to get the cap off polish the threads with a wire wheel and could likely sell the gun for double what I paid. I won't but I could. Thank god for some goofs.
I probably would not have made the same choice had I not been so familiar with those shotguns. If a collector gun was dirty, I would insist on a complete teardown to verify condition before paying market. If someone doesn't perform routine maintenance you may be buying someone else's problems.

Regards,

Kris
 
RovinOn said:
A handgun never goes back in the safe or holster before it’s cleaned,,,,never ever left a dirty gun for no one!
Click to expand...

That's how I feel about 'em, too.
Bottom line to my way of thinking, what's a quick field strip, clean and reassemble take, 15 or 20 minutes ... and moving at a leisurely pace, at that.
I can spare that time.
 
Sooner1911 said:
At one of our bigger local gun sellers, I saw a 391 on the used rack and lo and behold it was a 20 gauge. Asked the clerk if I could take it don to look at the gas piston etc. He said sure as long as I could put it back together, The frond cap was seized. I ended up buying it anyway since the price was very good (I suspect they knew the frond cap was seized). Upside down in the safe with a shot of penetrating oil every couple of days. After a week, I was able to get the cap off polish the threads with a wire wheel and could likely sell the gun for double what I paid. I won't but I could. Thank god for some goofs.
I probably would not have made the same choice had I not been so familiar with those shotguns. If a collector gun was dirty, I would insist on a complete teardown to verify condition before paying market. If someone doesn't perform routine maintenance you may be buying someone else's problems.

Regards,

Kris
Click to expand...

Nice find. Unusual to run across one in 20 on the used rack.
 
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