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Did I give accurate advice
gotstolefrom
Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
A co-worker is interested in buying a 'like new Yugo SKS' listed here. He found one listed that showed a close up of a label on the end of the packing box that read " ...cosmetically NEW CONDITION." and had a bar code.
I told him I had never seen labeling like this coming from any major 'wholesale house' handling or imported guns. Without sounding too harsh, I pointed out that the label had NO information of who has, had, or was a 'company' handling the gun.
I noted that anyone with a printer and stickers can make a label, but it doesn't mean it isn't true....the inference that it this is how it came from the armory may not be true, but it may be a good description.
Have I slung mud on my fellow man just because I've never seen original 'grade labeling' like this before ?
ANY & AlLL replies appreciated....It is his first internet gun buy.I'm his friend, but am I painting a poor picture of "us".
I told him I had never seen labeling like this coming from any major 'wholesale house' handling or imported guns. Without sounding too harsh, I pointed out that the label had NO information of who has, had, or was a 'company' handling the gun.
I noted that anyone with a printer and stickers can make a label, but it doesn't mean it isn't true....the inference that it this is how it came from the armory may not be true, but it may be a good description.
Have I slung mud on my fellow man just because I've never seen original 'grade labeling' like this before ?
ANY & AlLL replies appreciated....It is his first internet gun buy.I'm his friend, but am I painting a poor picture of "us".
Comments
That's a tough one. Cosmetically, new condition could mean "it sure looks new" or the absolute truth "It really is so new I can say it comes down to cosmetics". You're right though in that you gave your friend a heads up that he may need to look deeper into it to find out the real deal.
FWIW, I passed up three cosmetically better Turk T38's to get the one I felt was the tightest. Your friend may be faced with this so hint to him if he's really interested to ask some questions before he buys.
That said I've found the Yugo SKS's to be pretty accurate....for an SKS. I was, by chance, shooting 5" groups with one on Saturday @100 yds. I was impressed as most firearms capable of launching the 7.62x39 are doing well to even say they group at that distance.
Herschel said, I think you gave good advice. What the seller has basically said is that it looks new. That could mean that it is a worn out item that has been reparkerized/reblued.
Absolutely true! Tell your friend that he needs to take literally everything he sees in print and question things that sound odd, such as this. Tell him not to beat around the bush in asking the questions, either.
The best advice to give is the path you, yourself would follow in such a situation. Personally, if I saw that "cosmetically new" crap, I would take a pass and neither ask questions nor bid on the gun.
Unlike the Chicom SKS's, Yugos did NOT come newly-made from the factory. All of them are older guns that came from a government storage facility. They were packed in grease & stored in crates. The US importer graded them & resold them to distributors, who stamped their import markings & packed them in cardboard shipping cartons with whatever labels they wanted. The distributors & retailers sold them with advertising that may or may not have accurately described their condition.
I don't know if any Yugos were actually "new". All I have seen were arsenal rebuilt, many to "like new" condition. Some had arsenal repairs to the wood. Some had parts replaced, & are "forced match" numbers. After these sold out, some distributors began offering rifles described as "very good". So, there appears to have been a range of condition & price.
If the price is fair, & your friend can return it if he is not satisfied, don't worry about the label. I'd want to know if the seller has cleaned the gun & fired it; if not, your friend will have to spend many hours cleaning before he can even test fire it.
Neal