I don't bring this up lightly...

[Ontario Hunter]

Now after seeing RB bs he posted to try to save his word. Too be clear my cursing him. Was “ so your word is shit”. After making the deal and then taking it back. And after a bunch of bs pms from him his final words to me were “ill be watching”. Yes i poked the nest with a “ remember the final words to me? Yeah watching you word crumble”. Not a lie. I think he lost way more than he gained! So a coward and lier that is clearly you @Rare Breed I used facts not made up bullshit…. So carry on….

Just to be clear, he sent the private messages to you unsolicited or was he responding to your message(s) to him? If he sent you a message threatening to troll your posts, you might want to make a screenshot and keep it for your records. Personally, I wish the site would do away with the "follow" option. I am followed by a few folks who seem to be nonpartisan (i.e. not fan boys or trolling for trouble). Two trolls but I just ignore their posts. I don't use the "ignore" option either. Not very mature. Anyway, if Rare Breed did make a subtle threat, you should keep that screen shot in the bank. Any abuse in the future and you can turn it over to moderators.

 

[Safari Dave]

IMO, poor taste all around to bring this up in a public forum...

 

[Rosch]

All this confirms, what I think and say for long time about deals done online!
Never buy guns. ammo or reloading equipment (besides this works for everything) without taking it in Your hands and check it really good! Then decide, how to go further! Especially with items priced high!!!!

The seller for sure sees his goods in best used condition, while the buyer expects much better standards for his money! This is a natural since deals are done. We all practice that sort of sight!
Fazit: Sometimes You are lucky, sometimes You loose! Is it reason enough to go open in here?

My first question BEFORE ANY DEAL would have been, if the gun was on a hunt allready?
A big bore rifle sees a lot of action on African grounds. The major interest on Safari is game and the hunt itself. The gun is in that moments just a tool, so it goes wang-bang-from-the-car-to-the-track-and-all-the-way-back-wang-bang, which brings for sure surface damages, mostly discovered only when home again. That happens, if You like it or not!
(That's why I fell in love with HOGUE )

Besides, when I started to read this thread, I expected the end of the story by bad grouping, which makes such a rifle useless and expensive for any price! Good both barrel grouping would have been, for example, my major interest of that double rifle, not so much the optic.

So my advise to everyone in this wonderful forum is, don't buy guns by trust or words, please do the personal check out first, than go shooting it and if all is compliant, consider buying! Or don't!

 

[rookhawk]

All this confirms, what I think and say for long time about deals done online!
Never buy guns. ammo or reloading equipment (besides this works for everything) without taking it in Your hands and check it really good! Then decide, how to go further! Especially with items priced high!!!!

The seller for sure sees his goods in best used condition, while the buyer expects much better standards for his money! This is a natural since deals are done. We all practice that sort of sight!
Fazit: Sometimes You are lucky, sometimes You loose! Is it reason enough to go open in here?

My first question BEFORE ANY DEAL would have been, if the gun was on a hunt allready?
A big bore rifle sees a lot of action on African grounds. The major interest on Safari is game and the hunt itself. The gun is in that moments just a tool, so it goes wang-bang-from-the-car-to-the-track-and-all-the-way-back-wang-bang, which brings for sure surface damages, mostly discovered only when home again. That happens, if You like it or not!
(That's why I fell in love with HOGUE )

Besides, when I started to read this thread, I expected the end of the story by bad grouping, which makes such a rifle useless and expensive for any price! Good both barrel grouping would have been, for example, my major interest of that double rifle, not so much the optic.

So my advise to everyone in this wonderful forum is, don't buy guns by trust or words, please do the personal check out first, than go shooting it and if all is compliant, consider buying! Or don't!

Your strategy is just fine if you're willing to live with lower quality goods. The guns many people have on their "Dream list" cost $100,000 new, but perhaps 1-2 a year lightly used may be offered for $35,000. Same can be said for sub-5 figure guns actually. Not sure what in-person dealing does for the average consumer that 3 day inspection does not accomplish? The average person on this forum has no way to determine the condition or quality of a gun without that gun being in an expert's workshop with all the tools, gauges, and ledgers whether they have their own or they are relying upon an expert intermediary.

If you really want to get screwed, only buy face to face and buy from Cabelas gun library where trash guns are pawned off on $15 an hour gun buyers. They don't even have the tools and gauges to test them for condition, nor do they have the ledgers to interpret proof marks. (hence why scoundrels dump their trash at Cabelas)

There were a number of questions and clouds around the gun in question here beyond wood condition. Definitely the buyer, and probably the seller didn't even notice them but it definitely raised questions. (e.g. why are the screws out of timing on a modern gun if not for the fact someone took that gun apart and gouged the screws? Expert gunsmiths do not bugger screws nor reinstall them out of timing.)

If you don't know how to assess guns, contract for an inspection with JJ or a host of other top gunsmiths. They'll assess safety and function. If you want a gun assessed for value, contract to have someone select a gun and negotiate terms and conditions. If you have infinite money, do it all yourself and get disappointed a lot whether face to face or remote purchasing.

"Not all gun sellers are crooks, but ALL crooks are gun sellers." The same can be said for vintage car dealers. Make sure your side of the transaction has as much info or more than the opposing side. I look at 100 guns at least to ask questions about 10 to ultimately buy 1.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Despite any "good" that comes from what someone might learn from this thread, I am in the camp of it never should have brought to a public forum. Frankly, it seems to me like everyone was a loser on some level.

And I would also note again - I have done it elsewhere - that for some of us buying guns online sight unseen is just reality. There are still ways to conduct proper due diligence to lessen the chances of a bad transaction. Frankly I've done the same thing (sight unseen online) with any number of ATVs, an Argo, snowmachines, my skiff, and my current pick-up truck.