WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

[Gerald McPherson]

If I don't like a sellers attitude I don't buy his item whatever it is. There is a local shop that I don't even visit because of the current owners attitude. However there is another shop that is the opposite. I enjoy doing business with them. If he does a transfer for me he always expresses appreciation. Just my two cents worth.

[GH-16]

I'm a little confused here. Is this an internet purchase or a gun in-hand purchase? In the original post it's stated that the lady friend mounted the gun & said it felt good. In my experiences an in-hand transaction normally doesn't have an inspection period attached to it being has you are inspecting the gun personally & not buying it sight un-seen.


If the seller or you don't have the tools to inspect wall thickness, choke constrictions etc. and you are uncomfortable with the gun or seller in anyway, it's time to walk away from the deal and continue on with the hunt for the right gun.

[King Cobb]

Thats a high price for a worn but good condition 16 trojan with a cut stock, before the subject of no inspection even comes up.

I have seen a few VH 16s that sound in similar condition sell for less than that this year.

It would have to be either a really nice hard to find gun I wanted(which it doesn't sound like this is) or a really attractive price(which this certainly is not) for me to forego an inspection.

[Richard Flanders]

Every time I've bought a gun on the Internet that said, "no returns", I got a lemon that required further expense to get it up to snuff, and sometimes I haven't even been able to get it "right". Just walk away. There will be another.

[stumpstalker]

Thanks to all, named or un-named, who have responded.

Todd:
1) The lady shooter is not THE significant other. She is a family friend, who once was a competitive skeet shooter, and probably would shoot guns again if one fit. There have been changes with aging, but is still a very active outdoors-lady.
2) Not low risk as I see it. My inexpert visual check of the gun came up with no problems, but definitely a higher condition Trojan than I have been seeing offered. However, my looking only goes so-far. What lurks below? If usability and monetary value rests primarily on barrel soundness, why risk injury with over-honed bores; or with excessive or misaligned chamber or forcing cone lengthening?
3) The owner did not object to a professional on-site inspection, just to my taking it away for a couple days for my smith to look at, with payment in full up-front.
4) AMFYOYO? Need acronym decoder. Is it risqué?

Brian: I’m not sure that the stock was cut, plastic butt plate looked original. Maybe originally ordered for a smaller person, if that was possible with a Trojan.

Russ: Very bad treatment of you and your money.

Paul: Gun was in hand. I am not qualified to perform a professional-level inspection. Are you saying that it is not customary to have a two or three-day return policy, after paying in full, taking the gun to a professional for examination, and then determining that it is not fundamentally sound or as described? If so, I have learned something vital.

All the opinions on value as I have described the gun are appreciated, especially since I neglected to ask someone with a phone or camera take pictures and email them to me.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Russell E. Cleary

Thanks to all, named or un-named, who have responded.

Todd:
1) The lady shooter is not THE significant other. She is a family friend, who once was a competitive skeet shooter, and probably would shoot guns again if one fit. There have been changes with aging, but is still a very active outdoors-lady.
2) Not low risk as I see it. My inexpert visual check of the gun came up with no problems, but definitely a higher condition Trojan than I have been seeing offered. However, my looking only goes so-far. What lurks below? If usability and monetary value rests primarily on barrel soundness, why risk injury with over-honed bores; or with excessive or misaligned chamber or forcing cone lengthening?
3) The owner did not object to a professional on-site inspection, just to my taking it away for a couple days for my smith to look at, with payment in full up-front.
4) AMFYOYO? Need acronym decoder. Is it risqué?

.

Price is what you pay, value is what you get. The value of family friend that happens to be a neat sporting lady could be immeasurable value and how much that weighs in is a tough choice that sounds like your struggling with. Don't know your marital status and it really does not matter. People assume significance of another as a term that is non committal to some sort of romantic involvement according to pop culture. I think it is a miss used term to some extent. Now if you would have said a lady friend with benefits, yea well. Personally have had close professional relationships with some women that had significance in my life but since married would never cross that line. Your reasons are your own and I think it great that you might consider buying a gun that you see some benefit for yourself and could maybe let a friend use, that happens to be as described a neat lady. But again if gun was just for you then you probably would not have posed the question or even mentioned her.

Buyer beware and you sound like someone that knows their limitations and that is cool. I agree with sentiment trust but verify and seller is not being lenient on a verification issue for you. Is that a red flag, I don't know but he is being cautious as well and to him that sounds like a legitimate reason based on his painful experience. Definitely does not sound like he is giving you any type of consideration for taking gun to someone in your process that you know and trust. I don't think he is being a jerk necessarily but it doesn't sound like he knows you enough outside of meeting about this gun transaction to give blanket trust. If you can't find a gunsmith close by that can give you both comfort and satisfaction then it might not be worth the hassle as others have also stated.

Others have also suggested it might be at the top of the range of value for a Trojan and maybe even a premium. Without seeing gun that is speculation but it could be spot on point. However gun could have set in someones glass cased gun cabinet that got years of sun exposure, that might have faded the case coloring on bottom of receiver as well as someone that carried that gun over his arm more than they shot it. You did not mention any story behind it.

Your first post partly framed they guy as being a jerk or at least uncompromising and maybe he is. If you think he is then my subliminal unspoken term is AMFYOYO = Adios Mother Franker Your On Your Own.

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

Without seeing gun that is speculation but it could be spot on point. However gun could have set in someones glass cased gun cabinet that got years of sun exposure, that might have faded the case coloring on bottom of receiver as well as someone that carried that gun over his arm more than they shot it.

I spoke with Oscar Gaddy years ago and he told me that sunlight will not dull case colors.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I spoke with Oscar Gaddy years ago and he told me that sunlight will not dull case colors.

Really. So Dr. Gaddy says UV rays from sunlight will not degrade case coloring. The man new his stuff. So the only way case colors are lost I take it is by wear or some caustic chemical. I assume this is only for the traditional bone, leather, and charcoal method and not the cyanide process?

[OH Osthaus]

just and aside- someone i shoot with bought a gun for his son, all LOOKED good.

later he had a gauge out measuring another gun and thought while he had it out he would check the one he got for his son

turned out to be very thin walls- looked good, but was not

you just cannot beat actually measurements and if you don't have the gear, having the opportunity to have it done as an inspection

[BRDHNTR]

Move on, there are more out there.