What do you consider "LNIB"

[DragonFire]

I recently purchased a used S&W model 386 from one of the auction sites. The seller gave the condition as "LNIB". I sent a question to the seller asking if he knew how many rounds had been fired through the revolver and if it was really "like new".

His answer was that except for a small scratch on one side, it was in perfect condition.

Now that it has actually arrived, I noticed that there is considerable powder residue on the front of the cylinder (it has a titanium cylinder which is real hard to clean without damaging). So either this has been shot a fair number of times or shot a few times with some decently hot loads.

The cylinder doesn't lock as tightly as some of my other Smiths. All 7 chambers seem to be about the same, and not terrible loose, but even a old model 19 I bought a few months ago locks tighter than this one.

Given these two things, would you consider this gun "like new"? (and yes in did come in the original box).

While I'm not displeased with the gun as a whole, I'm not sure I can say I'm very pleased with it either.

I haven't had the chance to fire it yet (I will tonite after work). I'm hoping it will eventually be my full time CCW.

 

[Tim3256]

If I can't personally inspect the gun...then "LIKE" new in box means nothing to me. I've seen too many folks experience buyer's regret, especially with internet sales. They can be particularly difficult to "work out" if there are condition issues.
I hope you're happy after your trip to the range.
My advice to you regarding future internet purchases is:

1) always try to get a known 3rd party to verify the sellers reputation, AND

2) take subjective words like "almost", "barely", "like" etc with a BIG PINCH of salt.

Be safe, have fun.

 

[toocool]

When I list guns as LNIB, I mean just that...for whatever reason I have to sell, if I list it as LNIB, it is either unfired (basically NIB, just lovingly handled) or has had so few rounds through it that if you put it with a new gun, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. I would not list LNIB a gun that is visibly dirty, scratched, holster-worn, etc.

 

[DragonFire]

That's why I wrote the seller before I placed my bid. It was more his replay saying the gun was perfect than it was the description on the item.

The seller did have very positive feedback, which I also took into consideration.

The dirt on the cylinder I can live with. And I did expect the gun to be one of the airweights that people shoot a few times and decide they didn't like the recoil. So it being fired isn't a surprise either.

I'm most concerned about the way it locks up. Like I said, all my revolvers lock up pretty tightly, even the ones I got used.

Do you think that disqualifies the gun as "like new"?

I don't want to undo the deal, I guess I'm just wondering if I got a good deal or not. I paid $500, and my local dealer would have charged me alomst $700 new.

 

[Berg01]

I noticed that there is considerable powder residue on the front of the cylinder (it has a titanium cylinder which is real hard to clean without damaging). So either this has been shot a fair number of times or shot a few times with some decently hot loads.

Those are burn rings and you can get those from shooting .38 spl ammo in a .357 mag cylinder, since the .38 headspaces a little shorter in the .357 cylinder. I get them all the time on my Model 27, and a little Flitz metal polish takes care of it, but thats a steel cylinder. I would call S&W & ask if they have any better cleaning advice for titanium, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't just use a little Flitz on it.

I would just take it out & shoot it. Since its a stainless gun, and you are using it as a CCW, you won't have any future wear to the blueing from holstering it. Scratches are gonna happen in normal use, so the rest of your issues are minimal as long as it shoots O.K.

 

[MillCreek]

Those are burn rings and you can get those from shooting .38 spl ammo in a .357 mag cylinder, since the .38 headspaces a little shorter in the .357 cylinder. I get them all the time on my Model 27, and a little Flitz metal polish takes care of it, but thats a steel cylinder. I would call S&W & ask if they have any better cleaning advice for titanium, bu I'd be surprised if you couldn't just use a little Flitz on it.

Ditto on the burn rings, but you cannot use abrasive products on titanium. You will remove the protective clear coat or anodizing, and you will then start to see cylinder face erosion. Based on earlier posts in this forum and others, S&W recommends only using nylon brushes and BreakFree CLP to clean any titanium handgun. Using abrasive brushes, polishes and Lead Away cloths is specifically warned against.

I found this out when I was doing some research on the solvents that could strip away the clear coat finish used on many contemporary revolvers.

 

[boofus]

For me LNIB means the case has been opened, it's been picked up and maybe the slide/cylinder opened once or twice, but never fired since it left the factory.

Otherwise it isn't like new is it? If it's been fired a few times he should have been truthful and said it was in excellent condition, almost like new.

 

[Frandy]

Yes indeed, I just purchased a stainless pistol that was described as LNIB. No way! There are plenty of external scratches on the pistol such that I would never have called it LNIB. Besides, the prior owner claimed only a couple of hundred rounds through it. Perhaps. Perhaps not. The point being that "fired a couple of hundred rounds" disqualifies it being LNIB!

Fortunately, the price was fair (not great!) and it meets my expectations at the range. So, I'm okay. I think for the next couple of pistols I purchase, I'm going to want to see them first.

 

[Jim Watson]

Back in the Good Old Days when a Free American could order a gun from an advertisement in the American Rifleman, there was a set of NRA grading conditions. They did NOT include "like new." "New" meant absolutely new, never sold at retail. "Perfect" meant second hand in ownership but new in all respects, i.e., never fired except for factory test.

The gun you describe would probably rate NRA Excellent.

I would not expect a recent model made out of mung metal to lock up as snugly as an older steel revolver. You probably have a serviceable weapon but nothing fancy.

 

[Aahzz]

To me, LNIB means unfired (other than test firing at the factory). Anything else goes from Excellent on down....

 

[Ala Dan]

I agree with my friend Jim Watson on this one!

Your LNIB S&W model 386 is most likely "NRA excellent".

Too me, LNIB with a grading score of 98%+ means that the gun is
complete with box, doc's, and possibly tools (if supplied). I would
not expect this gun to have been fired after leaving the factory.

FWIW, with today's market being flooded with gun cleaning products
some persons can shine a weapon up as to where only persons with
very keen sight might be able to tell the difference.

 

[Magnum88C]

I'd say that was NOT LNIB.

To me (and the FFLs I deal with) LNIB means it's in perfect condition, never fired, has all the little bits and pieces (papers, plastic, etc) box, etc, but has been previously purchased.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Have to agree with Tim3256 on this. "Like" is too subjective.

A 1956 vintage Colt SAA that I sold years back I described as "unfired, with original box and all papers, very slight turn ring between two cylinder notches." No complaints from the buyer whatsoever.

A Python I bought a couple of years ago was advertised as "appears to be unfired, with original box and papers." A gunsmith did the transfer for me, and he couldn't see any sign at all of it having been fired. However, it had been handled. So, it was not LNIB. And the seller was honest enough to not claim so.

 

[MikeJ]

I guess I will have to be the dissenting opinion on this as I consider "as new" or "LNIB" to mean that although the gun has been fired it shows no signs of use or wear. This means having been test fired for reliability which might amount to 50 or 100 rounds and that wouldn't bother me in the least. If someone who had purchased a gun from a dealer says it is NIB, then I expect it to be an unfired gun. I have a friend that has several handguns that he bought but has never fired and I would consider these to be NIB if he were to sell them.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Any more, "like new in box" means the frame hasn't rusted all the way through yet.