Would you have taken the chance? (GB purchase)

stonebuster

stonebuster

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While browsing GB looking for a Dan Wesson 15-2 357 frame I spotted a nice looking 15-2 with an 8" barrel high bid of $405 with one day left in auction. Hardly a turn line on the cylinder & nice walnut DW target grip. Figured the barrel was worth @$400 & grip $75. Red flag no credit cards accepted by this FFL and the gun was listed as a Model 715 which is incorrect, it's a 15-2 which is the blued version vs stainless would be marked on frame.(red flag) Seller states the trigger doesn't return sometimes which I believe is just a matter of adjusting the trigger over travel set screw on the trigger which I've done on mine. He also stated the action was binding until he oiled it which could be carbon build up on cylinder/barrel or the barrel adjusted too tight B/C gap. Red flag #3 asked for more pictures and got none even though ad said he would supply if requested. Last two bidding against me were FFLs. Figured that was a good sign as FFL would be flipping it if they won and would bail out when they couldn't make a profit. Last FFL bidder bid $605 which I saw with 2 minutes left after noddng off & half asleep in a weak moment I bid $610 & won. Seller is FFL with A+ rating and positive feedback registered for several years. Address is residence so must work from his house in Vermont. Paying with USPS MO. If I get burned it'll be the first time. Best case I sell the barrel & get a frame for under $300. What do you think?
 
Well, since he stated more pics on request, I would withhold pay until I get them. Request to see a very specific spot, like the bottom of the grip and shroud, or a picture of the gun with an object in the shot, like a key or pencil- something he'd have a hard time copying off the internet.

If he still doesn't provide them, I was would hope GB consider him in breech of his agreement and not penalize you for canceling.

Hopefully it's all legit and you get your gun. Thats a good price for a clean M15, I love mine!
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well, since he stated more pics on request, I would withhold pay until I get them. Request to see a very specific spot, like the bottom of the grip and shroud, or a picture of the gun with an object in the shot, like a key or pencil- something he'd have a hard time copying off the internet.

If he still doesn't provide them, I was would hope GB consider him in breech of his agreement and not penalize you for canceling.

Hopefully it's all legit and you get your gun. Thats a good price for a clean M15, I love mine!
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I found the seller on a Vermont FFL list with the same address as the one he provided. Feel good about the deal now & believe he's legit. Can't be too carefull these days. Pics off dusty computer screen. 20240429_073011.jpg
 

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stonebuster said:
I found the seller on a Vermont FFL list with the same address as the one he provided. Feel good about the deal now & believe he's legit. Can't be too carefull these days.
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I have trouble with online gun sales, Ebay left a bad taste in my mouth. I was selling new NIB laptops in the mid-2000 on ebay as a side job. I had to weed though so many scams, re-list alot. I just can’t buy a gun online these days. Good thing I have lots of good shops here in Seattle.
 
I hope you get a great gun with no hassles.

Like @Mark_Mark I am leery of online sales. That and I am terrible with auctions. My dad had a side gig as an auctioneer. All his auctioneer buddies were all lowlifes of the highest order. Anyway, I guess that experience and knowledge taints my trust of online auctions. That and I never win online auctions. I guess I probably just suck at it.

In any case, enough whining! I truly hope you get a great gun in this deal. 😎
 
With the volume of scams both buying and selling these days it’s hard not to be nervous about an online deal. I haven’t bought online in a long while, and when I do I only do so when I can find the seller in multiple ways… brick and mortar gun shop is my preferred way, even if I’m buying through Gunbroker.
 
I wouldn't have bought it. Too many mechanical red flags. $300? Yes. $400? Maybe.
$600? There is a 6" 15-2 for sale at a LGS here in nice shape for $600 and no shipping/transfer fees, so no.
 
I made a similar deal on a 10-5 Smith last year. Guy had a good rep and over 100 recommendations but only took check or money order. He lived in a rural town in New York best I can remember. I got his phone number from his info and called him to feel him out. He answered some questions and I sent him a money order. My wife was very much against the transaction and those two weeks waiting for money to clear and shipping was filled with a few colorful phrases and not very encouraging words. I think she was disappointed when I finally brought it home. lol!
 
Would I have taken a chance?

For that amount, no. I will for cheaper stuff, but once "hundred" becomes "hundreds", I'm done playing. I don't feel like potentially losing to the plural.

And I don't play the bid war games, either. If I see something I like, I figure out what it's worth to me out of pocket and that's my max bid, period. If someone else beats me out...more power to him.

I'm not saying that fake bid wars are a thing (and they sometimes are), but human nature is very competitive over things we want. It's easy to over bid a budget at an auction, so I set my limit before I bid and stick to it.

That said...it appears you didn't lose out, so congratulations!
 
silicosys4 said:
I wouldn't have bought it. Too many mechanical red flags. $300? Yes. $400? Maybe.
$600? There is a 6" 15-2 for sale at a LGS here in nice shape for $600 and no shipping/transfer fees, so no.
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Barrel alone in excellent condition is worth @$400 walnut grips with DW inserts probably $75. Barrel assembly takes about 60 seconds to remove if I take my time.Worst case the rest of parts are worth a couple hundred at least. I've got 2 other 15-2s that may need parts in the future. DW revolvers are incredibly easy to disassemble/assemble and replacement parts are usually drop in and the internals are very simple. Not arguing your point but just stating my POV. I expect to be able to correct any issues found as I've taken mine totally apart many times.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Would I have taken a chance?

For that amount, no. I will for cheaper stuff, but once "hundred" becomes "hundreds", I'm done playing. I don't feel like potentially losing to the plural.

And I don't play the bid war games, either. If I see something I like, I figure out what it's worth to me out of pocket and that's my max bid, period. If someone else beats me out...more power to him.

I'm not saying that fake bid wars are a thing (and they sometimes are), but human nature is very competitive over things we want. It's easy to over bid a budget at an auction, so I set my limit before I bid and stick to it.

That said...it appears you didn't lose out, so congratulations!
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As far as "fake bid wars" goes I was wondering myself if the last FFL bidding was a buddy of seller, who's also FFL, to bump the price up so I checked him out. FFL bidding was from Washington state and seller from Vermont so highly unlikely. Happens the FFL bidding had an identical Model 15-2 with the same VH8" barrel & same grips with scratches on side plate on GB right now for starting bid of $699, buy now $999. So I think he was going to flip mine.
 
stonebuster said:
Barrel alone in excellent condition is worth @$400 walnut grips with DW inserts probably $75. Barrel assembly takes about 60 seconds to remove if I take my time.Worst case the rest of parts are worth a couple hundred at least. I've got 2 other 15-2s that may need parts in the future. DW revolvers are incredibly easy to disassemble/assemble and replacement parts are usually drop in and the internals are very simple. Not arguing your point but just stating my POV. I expect to be able to correct any issues found as I've taken mine totally apart many times.
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Well, I hope it works out for you
But since you asked, if I were going to pay full price for a DW 15-2, I would have chosen a different example.
Paying full price for something you suspect might be a parts gun seems strange.
 
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I have bought around 90 guns off Gun Broker over 15+ years. (Three have been DW’s, two 15-2’s and a .22 LR.)

There have been a few that disappointed me, but the vast majority of my buys have been A+.

One of my DW 15-2 buys was a frame like you wanted @stonebuster, I paired it with a 3” EWK VH barrel/shroud and some cocobolo Hogue grips for fun. (My other 15-2 came as a 2-4-6-8” VH Pistol Pak.)

IMG_0671.jpeg

I hope all goes well and you receive a good specimen. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Did the seller have pig in his name? I ask cause I bought from a guy in Vermont who didn’t take cc and sounds just like this..
 
Several FFL's I've bought from wouldn't take a card, I had to pay with a MO. I'm assuming the gun will just need to be taken down and cleaned to restore full function. In all my years of DW 15-2 and 715 ownership, the parts that have actually failed are...zero. The first 15-2 had a clipped mainspring and a new spring cured it for like a dollar at the LGS near my house. I've had a couple that came so dirty inside, loaded with unburned powder (How?) that SA shooting was pretty much impossible, the one below was the worst. The amount of crud that came out was impressive. No damage to the gun, and a bunch of gun scrubber and an old toothbrush to remove the gunk and after an inspection and lube, it was fine. Looks pretty great at about 42 years old. Other than the turn line, there's barely a mark on it. I just remembered, I did replace a couple of the sideplate screws over the years. I have spares, and why leave a buggered up screw in a nearly flawless gun? Oh yeah, I did replace a trigger return spring once, too. After a dozen or so 15-2's, I don't expect any real issues, and my parts collection never really shrinks.
i0mIEO.jpg
 
Ed said:
Did the seller have pig in his name? I ask cause I bought from a guy in Vermont who didn’t take cc and sounds just like this..
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Actually a search does turn up a relationship between a pig and his name. He just contacted me (Tuesday)ATF showed up last Friday & was doing a "full audit" right now and GB matters are taking a back seat. Hope he's got his Snit in order.
 
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Riomouse911 said:
I have bought around 90 guns off Gun Broker over 15+ years. (Three have been DW’s, two 15-2’s and a .22 LR.)

There have been a few that disappointed me, but the vast majority of my buys have been A+.

One of my DW 15-2 buys was a frame like you wanted @stonebuster, I paired it with a 3” EWK VH barrel/shroud and some cocobolo Hogue grips for fun. (My other 15-2 came as a 2-4-6-8” VH Pistol Pak.)

View attachment 1207240

I hope all goes well and you receive a good specimen. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
I also bought a 15-2 frame several years ago and paired it with a CZ/USA 4 inch barrel but would love a 3. IMG_2037 (2).JPG
 
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