Used Guns

by
posted on April 22, 2013
wiley-clapp.jpg (3)

Everybody loves a bargain, but there are a lot of shooters in these hard economic times who absolutely need a bargain if they are going to keep shooting. Where handguns are concerned, you might want to consider what’s available in the pre-owned category. In doing so, know that there is a difference between worn out junk and a well-maintained service handgun.

In the computer and television world, they re-certify products all the time. At least one of our major handgun makers is doing something similar. SIG Sauer has been selling large blocks of various pistols to police agencies for many years. When these agencies decide to upgrade to another SIG model, the older guns are sometimes turned in for credit. Factory personnel examine the guns carefully, make repairs as needed and completely re-finish each gun. These guns are then sold to distributors in packaging that clearly identifies them as “Certified Pre-Owned.” There is what amounts to a new gun guarantee included. This is about as straightforward and honest a program as I can possibly imagine and is an excellent source of some of the best of modern pistols as you can possibly find. Naturally, the guns are sold at prices lower than brand-new models.

There are some other variations on this practice that are somewhat less formal, but which can put some decent guns in the hands of cash-strapped Americans. Consider the used service revolver. In the last half of the 20th century, American police agencies went through two massive upheavals as regards to armament. Right after World War II, there was a shift from older fixed-sight DA/SA revolvers in .38 Spl. to newer, often adjustable sight revolvers in .38 Spl. or .357 Mag. Many of these were of the Smith & Wesson make, with liberal doses of Colt guns. In the ‘70s, the very strong designs of Bill Ruger began to make a name for the company. By the late 1980s, autos were obviously the wave of the future. This shift to autoloaders was the second great wave of police re-arming that has occurred. It left tens of thousands of high-quality revolvers on the used-gun inventories. Although the majority of available guns have moved on to new owners, occasional small batches of old guns still come to the market.

In selecting one of these revolvers, first examine the gun carefully. Nothing should be cracked or broken. Grips are easily replaceable if there is a problem with them. It is also possible to re-blue a scratched blue steel revolver or even bead blast a stainless one. Also check for bulges in the barrel or cracks at the forcing come. The cylinder needs to spin freely with no visible wobble to the ejector rod, and the yoke or crane needs to close into the frame perfectly, with no gaps where the two parts meet. The cylinder should not move back and forth on the crane at all. Finally, make sure the gun in in perfect time or very close to it. Timing refers to parts fit that allow the cylinder to lock in place via a cylinder bolt at exactly the correct point in time.

Things have evolved in handgun development to the point where we are actually seeing some of the other pistols of the Wondernine Wars era growing obsolete to the point where they are going on the used gun shelves of the retail gun shop.

Latest

Man wearing American Rifleman ballcap standing outdoors shooting Rock River LAR-15M in .17 HMR green leaves background
Man wearing American Rifleman ballcap standing outdoors shooting Rock River LAR-15M in .17 HMR green leaves background

Rifleman Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15M .17 HMR

Building a reliable semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .17 HMR can be a challenge, but Rock River Arms seems to have solved the issue with its unique RRA .17 HMR AR-style rifle.

New For 2025: Tanfoglio Hexagon Tactical & Hexagon P

Tanfoglio manufactures CZ 75 pattern pistols in a variety of forms, and for 2025, the company is adding two new variants to its lineup with the Hexagon Tactical and Hexagon P.

See New Guns & Gear At The NRA's Annual Meetings In Georgia

Freedom-loving American patriots gather every spring at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to celebrate their liberty and check out the newest crop of guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. This year, 2025, the fun will take place in Atlanta, Ga.—we hope to see you there!

Rifleman Q&A: A Hornet In Father’s Attic

From the pages of the April 2025 American Rifleman, learn about a Savage rifle in .22 Hornet that was found in an attic. 

Spring Into Savings With Federal & Remington Ammo

Two of the industry’s finest began offering ammunition rebates on April 1 and the special savings continue through June 30.

The Revolutionary Art Of Don Troiani

By using surviving artifacts, eyewitness testimony, accurately reproduced uniforms, original firearms and the thorough study of battle sites, Don Troiani has done more than imagine what happened 250 years ago. His art is as close as it can get to a true representation of what period combat would have looked like.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.