Does a good gun shop let you fieldstrip?

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I guess I'm lucky or something. I've purchased, I don't know, at the very least 50 pistols in my life and never filed stripped one prior to purchasing. New or used.

I'd personally be hesitant to allow someone else to field strip one of my pistols, but I guess I'd be willing to do it for them, if they asked. With a 1911 I could just see the guy putting a nice idiot scratch on it, handing it back to me and saying something like "Thanks, I'll think about it."

-Matt
 
I have one local shop that won't let me touch a gun unless I promise not to field strip it first. I guess I've done it once too often.
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That is not only a dumb attitude, but it is arrogant as well. You think because you are who you are they should know you have superior knowledge of guns and let you have your way around their business.

I'd have shown you the door when you indicated you meant to strip the gun without asking.

I also wouldn't have asked to field strip a Glock. Not because they are so good, but because they are Glocks. They have a good warranty and all that, but if you can't tell from a long slow rack of slide and peering down the ejection port if it is in decent shape, you deserve a Glock.

BTW, I would never buy or inspect a Glock. I, personally, like higher quality guns. Maybe the guy at the store had the same inclination I do. It's a Glock. If you want it, buy it. Otherwise don't waste his time - which you did.

Such huffing and puffing over a Glock. Next time inspect something that isn't made by a furniture maker. Maybe he'll have a different attitude.
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Wow, what a low road arrogant attitude. If the shooting sports ever die, this will be exactly the type of elitist mentality that will have killed it.
 
I give up, Arghhhh! Alright listen, I was not rude to this man in the slightest bit. Even affter everything I remained calm and polite as could be and even bought an. $1800 scout squad off him.Maybe I'm just crazy but when I go to a place and drop at least $500 each time I don't like seeing a man I've never seen before at the last shop I enjoy going to being a jerk and making me hesitant to ask quetions about different things because he's having a less than perfect day. His whole demeanor was %100 unapproachable and had a whole "don't ask me, if ya don't already know its cause your young and stupid and don't belong here" attitude thing goin on and as I said before he's got a responsibility. And as for these other jokers throwing pistols on top of a heap of guns and broken glass that they were the cause of, I have to say that would probably be the most mortifying moment of my life and I should expect to be at the very least offering to pay for it/work it off(obviously).And by the way I'm not just an inconsiderate person and usually I can feel a situation out and am able to tell the difference between askin to detail strip an AK and quickly take a detailed look at a glock. Some of you may be very happy with pullin the slide back and are gun experts but I am not, but I'm not a sucker either, I still feel that I am right. And if it was completely out of the question to strip the glock I guesse he could have said so in a pleasant mannor instead of lookin at me like I had three heads and am stupid for wanting to do that.Plus I've got about 6 or 7 grand into this place and wanted it to be my go-to place, you know what I mean. Respect goes both ways folks, I don't just automatically deem it nessacary to hold my toungue for someone just because they've been around longer than me. in my opinion.I am a valuable customer who pays cash and am to be treated with respect, and wasn't.
 
Dusty, I understand your frustration. As a 26 year old, I've experienced the surly attitudes of the gun "in crowd" more than once. I mind my manners, say please and thank you, and try to strike up two way conversations, but there are some gun store folks that frankly don't want to talk to you unless you're north of 40 and wearing plaid.

The older gentlemen are very hit or miss, in my experience, but mostly are good people. Some are the most accommodating, understanding, and patient folks you'll ever meet, willing to help and share their wisdom. Others are, as you said, "old farts", acting as if we're children.

Most people at THR have great attitudes towards newbies, but those who don't should remember that the loss of one generation can mean the loss of our RKBA permanently. My generation, and those that follow, are the lifeblood of our sport and our rights. Being surly to that "kid" wasting your time in the gun shop can help create an Anti instead of a new shooter.
 
Its a total lack of respect toward the younger people in the gun community and I feel it in 90% of the places I go and its frustrating. I have also gone into places where I asked to look at a behind the counter(scary hi-cap) expensive gun with serious consideration and was looked upon as a young thug type who plays.too much call of duty. When in fact I might very well be more knowledgable and more experienced with that gun than even them. I've asked questions that I knew the answer to so as to not seem like a know it all and give them the oppurtunity to school a youngin like me and still received an erronous account for the gun at hand and even still I am treated like just a stupid kid. I'm just sick of it that's all, I spend a lot and I mean a lot of money in these businesses and am well researched and experienced and I just want to know what I have to do to earn a little respect from these old timers. I guesse only time will tell. I too was raised a certain way and am very respectful toward the older generation and realize that its a certain breed and generation that is dying out and aint never comin back. There are almost no values in the world today and it would be nice if the older folks would be a little bit more accepting toward people outside their age demograph and give a guy a chance. But sometimes it just comes down to this-a jerk is a jerk is a jerk and there aint no amount of convincing and they're just too set in their ways. I can appreciate a hard nose SOB but there is a difference between that and someone who is just blatantly being a jerk. I haven't given up on these old timers yet, ill just keep comin back and comin back and eventually ill be a grumpy old fart myself.
 
What state are you in Dusty? I ask this because I've truly never had a problem like that. Of course here in Arkansas, you're expected to learn to shoot when you can keep both ends of the gun off the ground. There is a gunshop or two whose attitudes aren't great, but it's not just limited to people south of 40. They're pretty much jerks to everyone and I've never given them any of my money because of it.
 
I think it would be stupid for a gunshop to let any yahoo off the street field strip a gun. I also think that the gunshop should strip it for you if you ask. I've walked away from a few nicely priced 1911s without thinking twice for that reason (one was a $700 Clackamas Kimber).

The range/store I usually go to will let me strip them and inspect them, but they know me from any yahoo off the street. I've spent enough time there that I'll end up behind the counter if they get busy while I'm there.
 
If you live in northeat tennessee, Gunrunners USA is the place to go! It's an awesome store, I bought a Mosin there, and the employee helping me was extremely friendly and laid back, let me check all the bores, take the bolt out, even though he knew I wasn't buying a Glock, he let me tinker with a Glock 26, showed me how to strip, and let me try. He let me shoot a H&K 9mm sileneced out back behind the store into a gravel/dirt pit he dug for testing weapons without going to a range or anything. They would let you field strip any gun that was selling was selling,(the owner has a few on display which are collectible personal firearms, but boy are they pretty) (Im 15 and he knew it cause he asked!) NOT TO MENTION, they have better prices than the rest of town (Mosin Nagant in very good condition with a almost never shot bore=$100 rest of town=didnt have or $140 for a mediocre beat up one) Brand new Glock's w/ two mags, case, speedloader, cable lock, case and manual=$459 rest of town=$550-600
 
As a young person myself (early 20's), I understand that sometimes we are treated differently in gun shops. HOWEVER, generally speaking we are not going to be as knowledgeable as an elder and thus more experienced shooter. I also agree with a previous poster, that attitude makes a huge difference in how one is treated.

If I were to refer as an elder person as an old man or grump to his face, I would fully expect to get whatever was coming to me, be it a stern lecture over disrespecting my elders or getting smacked for my behavior.

Many people of my general age, have lost a lot of respect for our elders and forefathers. In order to get their respect we must first give them our own respect.

I understand that you want to see the pistol field-stripped, but your attitude as I understood it by referring to the elder gentlemen as a "old fart", "Grump", "old man" could be much different, and if you treated the worker with such a lack of respect, then it is no wonder that he would not respect you as well. If I misread your post, and you treated the gentlemen with all due respect, then I apologize for my assumption.

Best Regards,

Tyler
 
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I've never felt any compelling reason to field strip a gun prior to purchase. The monetary value of most used guns is tied to the external finish and the condition of the barrel. I do ask to dry fire if I'm seriously about to negotiate purchase.

I'm pretty sure the folks I do business with would allow it, but I also know that if its not functioning right or I find out some internal parts are not proper, they will make good on it when I take it back and show them.
 
pacerdude:

Ouch.... I just realized that I am an old fart.... Turned 64 the other day.... 'Course, I didn't feel old until my daughter ordered a mixed drink at a restaurant and I realized that she was legal.... (And that the teeny-bopper waitress was, too - you have to be 18 in OH to work there, and 21 to touch the alcohol, or something like that.) Anyway, the kid's 24 now.... My wife won't let me find out how old the waitress is :D....

I've just managed to learn to treat the younger ones as if they were adults if their behavior was half-decent. Rarely a problem with her or her friends, although there was no pressure to grow up or anything like that. (She got a car for her sixteenth birthday, courtesy of my mom and a couple of her slightly older cousins. Managed to get a driver's license about a week later, dropped me off at home after getting the paperwork signed, and I've barely seen her since :D.) We're not talking multiple piercings, etc. here.... :)

Same thing goes at the gun store - whether it's my kid, her boyfriend, or whoever.... Seems to work.... And, some of these kids (and her boyfriend) are veterans, and deserving of some respect. If they're adequately respectful (in general, not just me), even if they look like a pincushion, it doesn't hurt.... It's the gum-chewing yutz with the ipod waving the AK around that gets my attention.... Not to mention the "gangsta" type. (Per my LE background, skin color is an identification characteristic, period.... And some of those kids are pretty decent, too, if they can keep their pants up. 'Course, it is hard to keep from laughing. But then I remember the Elvis hairdo I couldn't make work back in the 60's :D.)

420Stainless:

If I'm going to buy it, I want to at least see the thing with the slide off.... Particularly if it's used.... A dealer may not want to do much for you, and life's too short to deal with six-week warranty repair waits, etc. (Or six month.... :() If it's not a NIB gun, particularly, you're at the mercy of the dealer's policies, and those can vary. Just IMHO.

I did just happen to think about the younger guys.... My #2 or #3 favorite dealer (guess they're #2 'cause I actually bought something there) is owned and staffed by a couple of guys who are roughly my daughter's age. Great kids....

Regards,
 
420Stainless - a pretty finish is all well and good. To me, the value in any gun comes from whether or not it works. I'd much rather have a a well worn 100% reliable shooter than a pretty $600 paper-weight. A gun with a perfect finish that doesn't work is utterly useless to me.

And again, you're putting everyone in the particular situation that you're in. Maybe you have half a dozen handguns to get by with and this one is just going to be a toy. Not everyone is in that position. Some people buy a handgun with the intention of putting it to real use right away. Even if they don't, some buy handguns with the desire to actually use them rather than have them tied up for weeks or months getting repaired.
 
Just my opinion, not saying anything is wrong with asking to field strip if you think you will gain valuable info from it.

I find it easier to ask the shop owner if he'll give me my money back if I find something drastically wrong with it. Never had one say no, but if one did I'd go elsewhere. I don't have enough gunsmithing skill to determine if a part is about fail by looking at it. On 1911's I might be able to determine if a poor substitute part was installed just due to familiarity, but for the most part I'm not that savvy about the inner workings of most pistols. Unless something has been silver soldered together or some obvious attempt at jerry rigging was done, I won't gain a lot of information by field stripping that I can't feel by cycling the action. Generally a look at the externals, a look down the barrel, and a look at the external assembly points (screws and pins) will tell me whether any serious issues may lurk. Trigger works are a different matter, but nothing I'm interested in will show me those parts with a field strip.
 
I just turned 40, yes, the big 4-0. I remember very well being 20 years younger and new to "shopping" for guns. I used to buy most of my stuff at the Meriden Gun Shop "Sile Distributors" in Meriden CT. Awesome folks there, I bought more cool stuff there than anywhere. There were other smaller shops in the area that I used to go to as well. One thing I noticed is proprietors recognize people. They get to know you and get used to you. The more they see you and get to know you, the nicer and more forthcoming with information they tend to be. I think it's less disrespect and arrogance than it is unfamiliarity. Unfortunately it's human nature (its natural) for people to be a little hesitant, suspicious, leery, uncomfortable (pick your adjective) about people they don't know. From their experience they know there are a LOT of folks walking around that know just enough to be dangerous and they don't know which ones they are.

Don't get me wrong I have run into some idiots. I went to Hoffmans on the Berlin Turnpike in CT. I was looking to buy a nickel plated Desert Eagle in .357 (don't ask me why). I was about 23. I say to the guy, "Hi there, I'd like to take a look at that Desert Eagle there." He looks at me with, what can only be described as, a "are you f'ing serious?" look. Then he says, "You're really gonna buy it?" And stood there as if he were waiting for me to say yes. So I pulled out a roll of cash (before you ask why a 23 year old had a roll of cash, I sold some stocks) and said, no, I WAS going to buy it, now I'm going somewhere with less attitude to spend my money. Thank your boss for me.

Believe it or not. I will frequent a shop, BS with the owner, strike up conversation with the ever present cadre of "regulars" that just congregate there for a while before I ever buy a firearm. Oh, I'll get supplies and such, but I want to get a feel for the guy who is going to be taking my money before I give it to him. Is he honest and fair or shady? How is he to other customers? If I over hear his "sales pitch" is he full of crap? Is he polite.

Thats just how I do it, your mileage may vary.
 
I've always taken a good look inside any used gun I've bought, and never been hassled for doing it. New guns are another story. I was looking at a CZ75 a while back, and the old guy showing it to me got very upset when I started to pull the slide off it. I stopped, and said, "If you want me to buy it, I'm going to check it over first!". He grumbled and said, "I can't let you do that, you might break something!" I said, "If I know how to take it apart, don't you think I know how to put it back together without messing it up?", and just kept taking it down, and he got really angry. It had a ton of unburned powder, and a lot of black grease in it, but it was pretty much perfect. He huffed and puffed until I got it back together, and then took and put it back into the case. I said, "Why are you putting it away already?". He said, "Because I'm not selling it to you!" The whole thing was just weird.
 
Dustyvermonter, I feel your pain...

My wife gets weird looks all the time from all kinds of guys when she pops open a cylinder or works an action in a store. I personally think it's sexy which is one among many of the reasons why I married her.:evil:
I have learned over the years to just ignore the Elmer Fudd's of the gun world and let their prices speak for them. I've experienced everything from mild displeasure to outright hostility and that has kept me from those shops for years until I found out how to cold call. (Props again to my wife for this trick) You call the shop and ask if they have firearm "X" They say yes or no and give you a price or not... Thank them for their time and either hang up and race over there with a wad of cash or decide right then and there if you even want to deal with them.
It really does change the tune of a surly gunshop owner.

If you live near Burlington you should go to BJ's hunting and shooting supply at 541 Industrial Ave. Williston, Vt. (About 15 to 20 mins. from Burlington)
I found this shop on a fluke and was very impressed. The owner is a veteran of the gulf war and one of the nicest gunshop guys I've met. His prices are really fair and he has several gunsmithing services offered. The shops down the road where I was actually going to were over-priced and the owners treated me and my wife like we had two heads or something for wanting to inspect the firearms closely...

Mid-State in Randolph is Snowsville General Store 4642 Vt-12, Randolph, VT One of the last stores in America where you can buy alcohol, tobacco, firearms, a bag of chips and a T-shirt...

Down here on the southern end of the state you can't go wrong with the guys at Tri-State Firearms 243 Monument Road Hinsdale, NH. (About 15 mins. from Brattleboro, Vt.) They are Super-cool guys who know what Firefly and Serenity is, and have Zoe's gun to prove it. They also have a transfer place in Brattleboro so that us Vermonters can buy handguns there and have them transfered here free of charge!

I used to do alot of business with Charles Wells in Bennington and through the Wal-Mart, but lately, Charlie's prices have gone through the roof and since the Wal-Mart stopped having anything other than BB guns and odd-ball ammo, I began to shop around... If you don't mind the drive, there's a really cool shop called Trader John's 600 Keene rd. Winchester NH. It is totally worth the trip. He's got examples of darn near every gun you can think of from flinlocks to Glock's with laser grips! He's got a literal ammo dump of ammunition and shooting supplies...

I know of a few "kitchen table FFL's" but if you wanna see it in person, you should go to one of these guys...

Regards,
eff
 
The shops I go to will field strip them if you ask, although at about my favorite shop I usually don't because they have a couple gunsmiths on duty and they check and even shoot all the used guns they take in for trade or someone wants to sell them. Then there are shops I don't go in after two or three bad experiences. Anybody can have a bad day, but I go by the three strikes and they are out.
 
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