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Pics of Rusty Colt Detective Special: Let me know what you think?

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GunNut

GunNut

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Dec 25, 2002
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I posted about this at the end of the week and figured that I would start a new thread to show pics and get everyones opinions. If I'm overreacting let me know.

I bought this Colt Detective Special on Gunbroker with the understanding that it was in excellent condition and paid top dollar for it($380OTD).

This is how the add described the gun "Bluing in Great Condition. Very light fading on right side of trigger guard."

When I received the gun I was immediately disappointed by the spots of rust. After cleaning off the oil, it just kept getting worse.

So I posted here and e-mailed the dealer expressing my disappointment, and promised pictures. The dealer has promised to make it right, we'll see what that means once he receives the gun.

So here are the pictures.

Steve

While not the worst looking area, i'm kind of wondering if there was pitting and it was fixed and cold blued. There is a distinct line on the top strap where the bluing changes and it appears kind of pitted.

IMG_0060.gif
IMG_0056.gif

The rest of these will be just various spots on the gun with rust.

IMG_0045.gif
IMG_0048.gif
IMG_0050.gif
IMG_0052-1.gif
IMG_0053.gif
IMG_0054.gif
IMG_0059.gif
IMG_0047-1.gif

Needless to say that i am not happy, and will have a hard time buying a blued gun from an internet dealer again. I had the same sort of problem with a HK P7M8 that i bought, but didn't complain about.
 
I'd never buy a used, no warranty gun on the net. I wanna pick it up, cycle it, check for play in the cylinder, yadda, yadda, yadda. In fact, I like to check out NEW revolvers this way before I commit. I'll either get one with some slop or a timing issue or something and bargain the price down with it, or I'll get a well timed, tight gun for the money. I won't pay too much for a gun with an obvious problem and this includes rust or bluing wear. Pictures can cover a lot of blemishes and you can't check out the works over the net.
 
dfariswheel,

I was kind of wondering that myself. He really lubed up the gun and wrapped it in bubblewrap. I've always worried about plastic on the gun, especially when shipping it anything but overnight.

The gun was very cold, which to me usually creates moisture.

I don't know for sure, but what would you do now?

Steve
 
There is an old saying, "Self defense is a civic duty." If we, the buyers, will not enforce standards on the internet, there will be no standards. You must stand up for your rights, not only for your own sake, but to protect the rest of us.

You need to complain to the seller, and if you get no satisfaction there, go to the website and see if they have a complaint process. If you get no satisfaction there, come back here and name names -- who cheated you, what their response was, what Gunbroker's response was and so on.
 
Vern,

The dealer went so far as to call me concerning the problem. So I'm pretty sure there will be no serious issues, but of course if there are it will be taken care of by all means necessary.

I've bought a ton(30+) over the internet and 90%+ were used, and i've had 2 issues so I still give people the benefit of the doubt.

Steve
 
k217sc,

I'd love to, but should I start with a gun that cost almost $400?

I wonder what would be a fair price for the gun in this condition?

I'm going to have at least $25-50 into return shipping.

Steve
 
What MCGunner said. But y'all knew that :).

I would make an exception only for Freedom Arms revolvers, or a gun that's been customized by a reputable gunsmith AND is stainless.
 
The dealer went so far as to call me concerning the problem. So I'm pretty sure there will be no serious issues, but of course if there are it will be taken care of by all means necessary.

I've bought a ton(30+) over the internet and 90%+ were used, and i've had 2 issues so I still give people the benefit of the doubt.
Click to expand...

I've bought many guns on the internet -- and never really had a bad one. So there's a flip side to my advice -- if the dealer makes it right, speak up and tell us about. Just as crooked dealers should be exposed, so should honest ones be publicized.
 
I would check the internals,with rust like
that on the hammer i wonder what shape
the guts are in.
 
Last edited:
k217sc,
I'd love to, but should I start with a gun that cost almost $400?
I wonder what would be a fair price for the gun in this condition?
I'm going to have at least $25-50 into return shipping.

Steve
Click to expand...

Steve, I concur that your cost factor is reaching (if not reached) the prohibitive stage. I was lucky with mine...was nickle plated, about 65% finish remaining with some rust stains showing and I got it for less than $280.00. Had Virgil Tripp refinish it just a few months before he quit handling revolvers. I would guess that your gun, as is, would run about that much in my area...maybe $300-ish.

Greg
 
Even with that light freckling of surface rust...

(Which should clean up just fine, try some brass wool or even 0000 steel wool wetted with gun oil and a light touch) I'd take that Colt off your hands for what you paid for it. It looks like it got cold and entered a warm humid environment for a day or so, and condensation on non-oiled parts started working. ;)
 
(Which should clean up just fine, try some brass wool or even 0000 steel wool wetted with gun oil and a light touch) I'd take that Colt off your hands for what you paid for it. It looks like it got cold and entered a warm humid environment for a day or so, and condensation on non-oiled parts started working.
Click to expand...

I may end up trying that, but want to make sure if that is the consensus first.

Steve
 
Hi, GunNut,

Even if you can clean up the gun, that is not the point. It sounds to me like the seller may have been trying to word weasel ("the blue IS perfect, there are just lots of places where there isn't any"), or maybe he thinks it is really OK. But that is not really up to the seller to decide, it is up to the buyer.

FWIW, I can't be sure, but some places it looks like that gun may have been polished and reblued. If so, the rust was probably a lot more extensive and what is left is just the deepest part. I would certainly make every effort to get your money back and return the gun.

Jim
 
Jim,

Point taken, I too think that there may have been a more serious rust issue that was "fixed" previously.

Steve
 
That "light fading" on the right side trigger guard is pitting that I see elsewhere on other of your pics as well; there seems to be pitting on the frame below the crane as well. The other rust looks like minor surface (maybe via handling). I would interpret the gun as having been mis-represented. Not a bad specimen though. I can't speak as to value.
 
In this case, I'd return the gun to the seller and get out of the deal as best you can.
Since the gun is NOT in the condition he described, he should pay for shipping.

It's possible for a gun to rust quickly, but since pistols usually have to go by the fastest manner, I'd question if it could rust that bad, that fast.
 
dfariswheel,

I agree, I'm going to get out of it even though i really do like the gun.

It was shipped priority mail which took 4 days, but that is not my problem.

Thanks,
Steve
 
the rust isnt bad at all. ask for 20% of the total price refunded and keep it.

here in cali its a 10 day wait, and many dealers dont give a hoot about your gun since they make very little on the transfer. my buddy got a rifle transfered and the barrel was covered in rust when it came out of the safe. wasnt like that when it went in. maybe the rust happened when it was in the care of the gunshop that did the transfer.
 
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