Buying/Selling dirty gun

[ramick]

Why is this gun, dirty is somthing I think of every time I pick up a gun with intent to buy. Mabey it is lazyness or just not enough time in the day that causes this. When I take one of my firearms to a show to sell it I make darn sure that it is clean. But more often than not the guns, dealers are selling are dirty. One reason I clean my gun is to ensure top price when I sell it. I would like too know If I am right, wrong or just crazy. So here is what I would like to know, Thanks.

1. Do you clean your guns before selling why/why not.
2.In your experience dose a dirty gun get a higher price either from dealer or private sale.

 

[IndyGunworks]

I will clean first... and i expect to see a clean gun when i go to buy... however there are alot of guys who know the gun will sell regardless of it being clean or not so they dont go through the trouble of cleaning. Its hard to tell a bores condition with a bunch of powder fouling though so it might effect resale value.

 

[mospeada]

I've sold one gun that I had neglected to clean. Otherwise I clean them. I wouldn't have a clue as to whether it gets a better price, but I know if I see a dirty gun, the price I'm willing to pay goes down, maybe not much, but it goes down.

 

[22lr]

If they cant clean the gun that's "never been shot for 3 years" im definitely spending more time checking it out. Nothing to change my mind maybe but im more careful in looking for problems for sure.

 

[danielocean03]

Wow, did I ever misunderstand your title. Thought you meant "dirty" dirty, as in stolen or something. As far as the firearm's cleanliness is concerned, I keep all guns clean all the time, I expect to buy them in the same condition.

 

[jeremy]

The only time you would buy a dirty firearm from me is if you bought it out of my holster. Cause God only knows how dirty and greasy I will be getting while I work.
Everything is for sale if you offer enough cash...

 

[JosephR]

I just sold a P7M13 friday that I hadn't cleaned after the last 75 round outing. No matter. The buyer was able to see exactly how cruddy it got after 5-6 mags and knew what he was looking for.

It's like buying a used car- sometimes it's nice to see the car BEFORE it's scrubbed clean at the dealer- they can hid all sorts of crap. It could have had a little grime on it and I'd like to see that. Better than a steam cleaned engine that could have been leaking oil the day before...

 

[ramick]

Thanks for the info and sorry for the confusing title.

 

[aclark]

The only time you would buy a dirty firearm from me is if you bought it out of my holster. Cause God only knows how dirty and greasy I will be getting while I work.
Everything is for sale if you offer enough cash...

So what does your collection consist of? I have plenty of cash...

 

[ncthorn]

I'd only buy a really dirty gun if by dirty, you are talking cosmolene on an otherwise nice surplus rifle.

 

[RelicHound]

I will rarely buy and never sell a dirty firearm..I have bought dirty guns in the past but I was able to try them rite there to make sure they ran smooth.

 

[Crimson]

I try to always clean any guns after shooting and especially if I am going to sell it.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

For me, I clean 'em before I sell them.

Just makes sense!

It's like washing and sweeping out your car before you trade it in. Yeah, they wash it and sweep it out before cleaning it, but it can help the value, especially if the buyer is on the fence.

I think that the only time that I might buy a dirty firearm is if, somehow, the seller and I agreed to meet at a range and I actually got to fire the weapon before I purchased.

-J-

 

[STEEL CORE]

I use it to my advantage, I ask for $20 off the price cause obviously its rusty and neglected, then I go spray it down and clean it up like new.

 

[colt45er]

Its like taking a girl on a frist date.

You don't scrub your car completly clean becasue then it shows you are trying to hard.

On the other hand, you have to clean it up or you will look like the slob you are.

So the only choice is to clean it to make it look good, but if you look real hard you see some dirt here and there!