When buying a gun online you must pay attention to every detail

Status
Not open for further replies.

lionking

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
3,107
Especially with used and surplus.

I just got a Russian SKS off gun broker, the seller listed 35 photos of it, in every angle and even torn apart. He even showed the dust cover upside down with rifle torn apart. What he DID NOT show is the top of the cover. Which after receiving the rifle it has a scrubbed cover no date or star or anything on the top, but serial on cover matches the rest of the rifle though.

Wanting just one Russian SKS to fill my collector wish, I'm kind of disappointed because of this. While I'm not a SKS expert every Russian SKS I have ever seen has a date on the cover. I don't blame the seller I blame myself for missing that detail not in the pics. It is suppose to be a 1951 Tula but I have no idea if it is.

I have bought many things off gun broker and other sites, with a 99% happy rate, but just saying you have to look at every single detail of what is shown and also what is NOT shown.

When I test fire it and if it shoots good it will redeem my purchase but there will always be that nagging little thing when I look at it.
 
I've bought a few surplus pistols and there is always something I don't like about them. Truth is they are old - once I get past my buyers remorse, even with their flaws - I've really taken to everything I've purchased. Surplus - if you don't see the exact gun you'll be getting it is a complete crap shoot. Once I get past all the things they aren't (mint condition) and go over it and clean it and get a firearm in good working condition, I very much like what they are and glad I have them, but it takes me a couple months or more sometimes to really warm up to them.
 
I've bought guns off GB and have been disappointed at some detail they didn't mention. A couple guns in particular, I went back to the pictures and once I knew what to look for, I could see the issue.

I think dealers/sellers should specify the scratches/tool marks/absence of date on the dust cover of a SKS, etc.

I think it's unethical to not divulge such flaws in the written description. But like the OP says, I suppose it's on us. Still...........
 
can you date it with the serial #? usually dates are stamped - how would that be missing?
 
Last edited:
I've bought guns off GB and have been disappointed at some detail they didn't mention. A couple guns in particular, I went back to the pictures and once I knew what to look for, I could see the issue.

I think dealers/sellers should specify the scratches/tool marks/absence of date on the dust cover of a SKS, etc.

I think it's unethical to not divulge such flaws in the written description. But like the OP says, I suppose it's on us. Still...........
I agree.......to a point. Sometimes the seller is selling something he might not be totally familiar with - maybe he inherited it or helping someone who did - and might not know certain particulars about certain guns. I would not know about that date code, nor how important it is. I'm willing to give the benefit of a doubt to something cosmetic or hidden; BUT if you know what is important, then it is imperative that you call and ask questions.
 
The most valuable information is what you are not told. I purchased a handgun on GB about two months ago from a retailer in Alabama. Advertised as “factory new”, it was obvious to me that the gun was not at all new and had handling marks on the frame and slide - it had been around the block.
I called the seller and sent photos; I stated that the gun was obviously used. The seller stated that the gun was their “display model” which explained the wear and handling marks. To his credit he did not argue, he sent a genuine, “factory new” replacement and paid for all of the postage - I had to pay for another transfer. Ask questions and then ask more questions.
 
I don't buy used guns online, because I don't trust ANYBODY selling them; when I
want a used gun I buy it locally (I like pawn shops) and if I can't find what I want
(locally) I'll wait until I can. I don't buy new guns, as I've always found used guns
(in great shape) for good prices. Also, I've bought A LOT of guns (locally) from
private parties, so "The Government" doesn't know I have them (I like that).
 
Huh.

Until I get 500 rounds in the berm, I have those remorse problem with new guns.

That's right before they become my favorites.
 
Especially with used and surplus.

I just got a Russian SKS off gun broker, the seller listed 35 photos of it, in every angle and even torn apart. He even showed the dust cover upside down with rifle torn apart. What he DID NOT show is the top of the cover. Which after receiving the rifle it has a scrubbed cover no date or star or anything on the top, but serial on cover matches the rest of the rifle though.

Wanting just one Russian SKS to fill my collector wish, I'm kind of disappointed because of this. While I'm not a SKS expert every Russian SKS I have ever seen has a date on the cover. I don't blame the seller I blame myself for missing that detail not in the pics. It is suppose to be a 1951 Tula but I have no idea if it is.

I have bought many things off gun broker and other sites, with a 99% happy rate, but just saying you have to look at every single detail of what is shown and also what is NOT shown.

When I test fire it and if it shoots good it will redeem my purchase but there will always be that nagging little thing when I look at it.

For awhile when these SKS imports were numerous, quite a few people changed out the receiver cover for one that allowed scope mounting with a picatinny rail on top. The original receiver covers were discarded by Bubbas and importers alike as the idea was who is gonna collect an abundant rifle that costs 79-99 dollars. Same old, same old idea on milsurps that the supply coming in is endless. My recommendation is to haunt the online auction sites like Ebay and Gunbroker until one shows up. Otherwise, you can make and apply a decal if you have/borrow an inkjet printer with the appropriate rollmarkings using white outline on an adhesive sheet. If you are artistic, you can probably mask and paint the receiver cover with the appropriate rollmark in white. As a lot of folks use white infill materials to highlight the rollmarks, it might be passable enough for you until you get a real cover.

Contemplating doing this on a Czech issued VZ 24 receiver that was scrubbed of its lion mark. I know from the serial and other proof markings that it was formerly Czech military issued but the lion is gone by someone, somewhere. That was my auction problem as the guy had two receivers and sent me the one that was scrubbed instead of the one that had the lion on the receiver and was pictured in the auction even though I bought the item first. Otherwise the item is fine. Never will buy from the guy again and had another dubious bit of fun with him earlier regarding failure to send tracking information for a barrel which showed up a month late. Think the guy was banned eventually from gunbroker but he still operates on Ebay.

Mine was of that sort. Occasionally, original receiver covers come up on Ebay and I bought one that matched the age and make of my rifle and replaced the scope mount receiver cover that the rifle came with.
 
After testing yesterday any remorse is gone, while I didn't have a chance to really test it yet doing 10 shots with various ammo, after sighting it in yesterday a 5 shot group did well. The link posted above saying it is possible Russian SKS have a blank top cover helped also.

Those saying they wouldn't buy online, I have many times and most of the time I was happy. Many times it was a gun hard to find anywhere else.
 
Here's a "detail" you may want to keep in mind, with Gunbroker. "Autobid" can be hacked, so the seller can find out what your max bid is.

WTTW...
 
Last edited:
I’m kinda on the other side of this. I was selling a really, really nice Savage 99 in .300 Savage. You know, the one EVERYBODY (says) they want. Very reasonable at $500

So I listed it on another forum that has a Savage specific section. I bet I had fifty guys want pictures. Not just a picture or two. One guy wanted over a dozen, every friggin angle. Then the buttplate from two angles. Then the crown, etc. etc.

I had slow internet. Took about 5-10 minutes per picture. For multiple pictures for literally dozens of guys, I probably spent 8-10 hours. One a-hole that had demanded probably ten pictures finally admitted that he didn’t have any money, but always dreamed of owning a 99 and just wanted reference pictures

Finally I told them I’d sent all the pictures I was gonna send to tire kickers. If you wanted it, fine. If you don’t, go away. So then they started saying I was a scammer because I was tired of their crap. Haven’t gone back since.

Anyway, you’re buying a used gun. In this case, something maybe 75 years old or more. You gonna gold plate it and hang it on the wall, or are you gonna use it? Damn dude, it’s a war weapon. Shoot it, use it, and be happy. If you didn’t pay too much you can get your money back if you’re not happy. If you want new, buy new.

I bought a like new, unfired Russian SKS at a pawn shop about 30 years ago for $125 OTD. Sold it about ten years ago with 500 rounds of ammo for $325. Your will go up too. And in a few years, you’ll be crowing about the great deal you got and how much it’s worth now
 
Last edited:
I’m kinda on the other side of this. I was selling a really, really nice Savage 99 in .300 Savage. You know, the one EVERYBODY (says) they want. Very reasonable at $500

So I listed it on another forum that has a Savage specific section. I bet I had fifty guys want pictures. Not just a picture or two. One guy wanted over a dozen, every friggin angle. Then the buttplate from two angles. Then the crown, etc. etc.

I had slow internet. Took about 5-10 minutes per picture. For multiple pictures for literally dozens of guys, I probably spent 8-10 hours. One a-hole that had demanded probably ten pictures finally admitted that he didn’t have any money, but always dreamed of owning a 99 and just wanted reference pictures

Finally I told them I’d sent all the pictures I was gonna send to tire kickers. If you wanted it, fine. If you don’t, go away. So then they started saying I was a scammer because I was tired of their crap. Haven’t gone back since.

Anyway, you’re buying a used gun. In this case, something maybe 75 years old or more. You gonna gold plate it and hang it on the wall, or are you gonna use it? Damn dude, it’s a war weapon. Shoot it, use it, and be happy. If you didn’t pay too much you can get your money back if you’re not happy. If you want new, buy new.

I bought a like new, unfired Russian SKS at a pawn shop about 30 years ago for $125 OTD. Sold it about ten years ago with 500 rounds of ammo for $325. Your will go up too. And in a few years, you’ll be crowing about the great deal you got and how much it’s worth now

Upload the pictures to a hosting site, send link to those who want to view them.
 
Any LGS is a long way from where we live and I have had good success with Gunbroker. For a while I was pretty satisfied with online gun purchases because of my good experiences with them.

Now comes the counterfeiters. Anymore I am getting very wary about buying guns or knives online. Seems sometimes the internet is full of thieves.
 
I've never really had any major issues with the quality of the guns I've bought from GB and other auction sites. Wrong gun sent? Sure, once. Wrong mags? A couple of times. But nothing like where the gun I got was in any way worse than pictured. Friends have had it happen though. Always from sellers with low feedback numbers.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top