How to Judge a Gun at a Pawn Shop
Firearms can be expensive, so purchasing the right one at a reasonable price may be difficult. Some pawn shops sell guns at lower prices than you might find at a gun shop. The problem when buying a used gun is determining if it is in good working order and reliable or if it is worn out. Closely inspecting it, as well as performing some mechanical tests, can tell you a lot about the condition of a used gun.
Instructions
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Pick up the gun and make sure it is unloaded. If it has a magazine, remove it from the gun, then open the action to make sure there is no live round in the chamber.
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Inspect the exterior for signs of rust. Stainless steel or nickel-plated guns withstand wear better. Blued guns are more prone to rusting, but a little rust is not an issue. Deep pits, however, may be difficult and expensive to fix and may affect how the gun discharges.
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Work the action to check for smooth operation. If it is a pistol, retract the slide back and forth to check for binding. Perform the same check on the bolt of a bolt-action rifle. For a revolver, cock the hammer and wiggle the cylinder side-to-side and back and forth. Check for excessive play in either direction. Do this for every chamber in the cylinder. Ask the salesperson if it is OK to dry-fire the weapon. If so, point the gun in a safe direction and pull the trigger. Check for excessive pull weight and grittiness.
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Check to make sure the gun is unloaded one more time, then shine a flashlight into the barrel from the action end and look down the barrel from the muzzle. Look for pitting, rust, carbon buildup, nicks and scratches in the rifling. Some carbon fouling is acceptable. Deep gouges, worn rifling or heavy rust means the gun has been neglected for too long and the reliability of the entire gun should be suspect.
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Check the gun for missing or altered pieces. Aftermarket hammers, stocks, triggers and sights are common. Check for scratches, gouges and obvious signs that alterations or additions made were done by an inexperienced person, and not by a gunsmith. Ask the salesperson if all original parts and accessories come with the gun, such as extra magazines, trigger locks and extra cylinders.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you have purchased your gun, take it to a reputable gunsmith, who will be able to tell you if the gun is safe to fire, as well as give prices on upgrades or refurbishment you may want done.
Always check that the gun has a serial number and that it has not been filed off. Possession of a gun with filed-off numbers is a felony.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
