Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
Has anyone had any experience with police tradeins? I was just looking on Slick guns.
used handguns
- Thread starter Kevin Stenberg
- Start date
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
I've bought 3 , two revolvers and one shotgun. All from dealers who purchased the whole lot from Pd's getting new duty weapons. Some cops take better care of their firearms than others. I wouldn't buy sight unseen from anyone, especially online.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I don't know why any police trade in from a major outfit would be in bad shape. Who ever got my old 681 got a very accurate, very well cared for gun. Same with the other 3 or 4 guns I went through. Maybe if it's a bulk buyout you'd get the parts guns or wrecks. (How they'd get wrecked I don't know since most LE guns spend 99.9% of their time in the holster.) Trade ins from the Podunk PD would be a different story.
Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
After thinking about everything said. I will definitely not buy sight unseen (which I was thinking of) on line. A lot of good information ^^^^. Now its just to find a good deal. THANKS TO ALL Kevin
RBHarter
West Central AR
My buddy Jorge bought a Highway Patrolman in SS 357 that is as good as any Smith I've handled in spite of it being back strap stamped "Massachusetts State Police" .
I'd be more wary of Eastern , Northwestern and Southern trade-ins than West/Southwest guns . 1 day a week sweat , sand and lint don't seem to be as hard on them as perpetual wet .
I'd be more wary of Eastern , Northwestern and Southern trade-ins than West/Southwest guns . 1 day a week sweat , sand and lint don't seem to be as hard on them as perpetual wet .
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
Bret,
I cleaned a S&W mod 15 for a local warden (now retired). It was stuck in the holster and he hadn't cleaned it since last qualifying! It came to mind he should check it out before his next qualification! I did a lot of beaver work for him and lived close to him, but he was a bit embarrassed. I sprayed it full of silicone and let it hang over night. Twisted on it some the next morning and it made an audible pop when it let loose. About a 1/4" of pine needles in the bottom of the holster. Both sides of the cylinder and some of the muzzle were bare metal to get it cleaned up. He gave me $25.00 and a basket of fresh veggies out of his garden for cleaning it up. How would you have liked to explain that to your range officer?
I cleaned a S&W mod 15 for a local warden (now retired). It was stuck in the holster and he hadn't cleaned it since last qualifying! It came to mind he should check it out before his next qualification! I did a lot of beaver work for him and lived close to him, but he was a bit embarrassed. I sprayed it full of silicone and let it hang over night. Twisted on it some the next morning and it made an audible pop when it let loose. About a 1/4" of pine needles in the bottom of the holster. Both sides of the cylinder and some of the muzzle were bare metal to get it cleaned up. He gave me $25.00 and a basket of fresh veggies out of his garden for cleaning it up. How would you have liked to explain that to your range officer?
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
There are always exceptions. After I went wading in a swamp up to my arms pits in water chasing a bad guy (caught him too) I was sent directly to the Chief range guy. Glock was detail stripped and cleaned and all ammo replaced, gar at that point was nylon/plastic stuff so no real drying other than letting air out required. Range guy was 100 and some road miles away. Just because theres one fool out there doesn't mean all of them are.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Yes, several of times, 5, IIRC. Typically they are maintained by trained armorers, carried a lot,
shot a little. In the old wooden grip revolver days, the grips usually were pretty battered
from banging into stuff, and they tend to show holster wear but be mint inside. An Israeli
FN HP Mk 3 was pretty rough on the outside, painted finish had suffered a lot, a few spots
of shallow rust, but absolutely functional, complete. It was by far the most "beat" one
I have seen, probably military, not police.
A S&W M&P 45 police trading that I recently bought was so close to mint that it was amazing.
The exterior finish nowdays on many guns is not bluing, it is Melonite or a variation of salt
bath hard nitriding, which blackens and makes the exterior extremely hard and wear
resistant. If you hold the slide just right, there is a slight difference in the sheen on
an area on the top of the slide. That is it. Otherwise mint. Plastic stands up very
well.
Bill
shot a little. In the old wooden grip revolver days, the grips usually were pretty battered
from banging into stuff, and they tend to show holster wear but be mint inside. An Israeli
FN HP Mk 3 was pretty rough on the outside, painted finish had suffered a lot, a few spots
of shallow rust, but absolutely functional, complete. It was by far the most "beat" one
I have seen, probably military, not police.
A S&W M&P 45 police trading that I recently bought was so close to mint that it was amazing.
The exterior finish nowdays on many guns is not bluing, it is Melonite or a variation of salt
bath hard nitriding, which blackens and makes the exterior extremely hard and wear
resistant. If you hold the slide just right, there is a slight difference in the sheen on
an area on the top of the slide. That is it. Otherwise mint. Plastic stands up very
well.
Bill
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
I didn't mean to infer they were all fools Bret. Here they used to allow so much for the purchase of a duty weapon. What ever they could qualify with they could carry. I've seen several deputies carrying pistols that cost several times what they were allowed, with leather to match it. They maintained them also.
Cpl years ago #2 son got a Bud's model 10,4" HB.....it was some kind of "duty" revolver.Anyway,we were all slackjaw at how nice it was,and for cheap $$.He patiently waited on a factory Tyler T grip adapter.It's a joy to shoot and look at.Deadnuts on with fixed sights and 158 CB dupe loads.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
A few years ago, I bought a 6" BBL Blackhawk Ruger, for a very
reasonable price, because the BBl looked like a stove price. The
exterior looked nearly pristine, and blueing about 98%+. I took
it home, and spent about an hour cleaning the bore which was
heavily loaded. The gun shoots better than me, and is my favorite
handgun. Maybe I just lucked out.
Paul
reasonable price, because the BBl looked like a stove price. The
exterior looked nearly pristine, and blueing about 98%+. I took
it home, and spent about an hour cleaning the bore which was
heavily loaded. The gun shoots better than me, and is my favorite
handgun. Maybe I just lucked out.
Paul
Or maybe not, 8-9 years ago I bought a 7 1/2" BH 44 mag that was a MN retired sheriff's carry gun. Some wear on the grips and holster wear on the cylinder and end of the barrel. Otherwise it's pristine. Bore looks about unfired, has every appearance of carried a lot and fired very little. Shoots great as an Oregon pig will attest to.
Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
The only sites I have looked at for PO exchange weapons wasn't to informative on weapon condition. An I hate buying anything used unseen.