doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Basket case guns and overly proud owners.

Well Keith, a good point. I look at it as a opportunity to educate someone on their inventory, but most dealers are not very receptive when you try it. I always say I'm not interested in the gun before I offer my opinions, but my experience is that when I provide it they usually look at me like I was from Mars. Especially if they've either done the work themselves, or overpaid for the gun.

Regards
Ken

You don't find many sellers that will take those comments and run with them. Most respond with a pugilistic comment that just further proves their lack of knowledge. I know people who have thousands of dollars in double guns and still insist on spending money on really bad guns. There is the possibility that they know better but just can't help themselves when presented with a near impossible project.

Some people have manners, and some do not.

Exactly! That's why I have frequently reminded some individuals here that dishonesty is not civility. Fake manners is precisely that... fake. I'd rather take the chance that my comment about poor restoration or insane pricing might be somewhat offensive, than to perpetuate such behaviors and see more guns ruined by fools and frauds.

On a related note, you should have seen some of the looks I got at gunshows when ammo prices skyrocketed a few years back. Guys were crowding around ammo vendors clamoring to pay $50-60 for a brick of .22LR or nearly a buck a round for 5.56m/m ammo to feed their AR's. And I would casually stroll by and loudly ask my buddy, "How many of these guys were stupid enough to vote for Obama?" The cold glares from the guilty were priceless.

I usually don't say anything unless asked. I've had a run in or two with dealers misrepresenting the grade of Darne guns at shows, but, that was more of a problem before Al Gore junior invented the internet. If you get taken now, shame on you, that information is out there.
A long time ago, I did ask a dealer about a Baker I was interested in, as to whether it was an "A" or an "R", as I didn't know enough about them to know for sure. He told me he didn't give a crap (not the exact word he used) about any letters on the gun, just the numbers on the price tag.
He was a dink, but, taught me a valuable lesson that day. Don't buy what you don't know.
My forays into expensive guns have been brief, and some have ended badly. The only guns I will ever make money on, I made that money at the time of the buy, not when it eventually sells. I don't really collect guns, and have them to use and enjoy. None of them will look new when they are sold.
I have a model 1912, first year 20 gauge, that most would say is badly refinished. It has new wood, and was re blued, without a lot of concern for the lettering on the barrel, as it was worn off in spots from use and abuse. But, I use it, and enjoy it just the same. I have had guys drool on it, asking about the great condition, and I always gently point out it was a roach, that has been refinished, and show them how to tell.
But, that is my gun, and doing that is different than slamming their's.
I buy so little these days, it isn't worth making a huge deal out of someone else's gun to me.

Best,
Ted

I tend to fall in line with Keith's thinking on this subject. We do no one any good by perpetuating stupidity.

That said, it's been my experience that one can point to the obvious deficiencies in a gun (that inanimate object over there that has no feelings) without insulting the seller of the gun (the live person standing beside me who clearly does have feelings). I choose my words carefully, never referencing the choices that have been made. Choices are human. I simply address what is wrong with the gun and how it should be.

As a potential customer, there is nothing offensive about explaining why I am or am not interested in a specific gun. The seller can do what he wants with that info....write me off as an idiot, learn something, scratch his head in wonder....I don't really care. What I won't do is insult him or his choices.

Good post, James. I don't know if it's a case of perpetuating stupidity, though. We're all ignorant, only in different ways. My experience is cool has displaced thunder in negotiating/educating i.e. children to eat turnips or adults to see things differently---because it works.

craigd should be along shortly to explain to you how wrong you are King. Politely of course.


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If you want blood, you�ve got it. Bon Scott

I also think there is a difference between a private seller and a dealer.

Dealers often have just enough knowledge to make stupid mistakes and to believe their own bullshit. They are used to being perceived as knowing more than they actually do. And they don't like it when they are caught out.

Private sellers are often more open to learning when they run across someone who is polite but appears to know more about that thing they own than they do.

I could be wrong but I think 30 years of professional selling has taught me a little about human nature.

Being alive 55 years has taught me a little about human nature.


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I used to be such a sweet young thing until they got a hold of me. Alice Cooper