Moral question re: buying used gun from friend

[cfabe]

So, I picked up a Smith and Wesson mod 66-1 from a friend at work. He offered it for $275 with 6 speed loaders, 3 grips and about 500 rds ammo, which I thought was a good deal so I agreed to buy it sight unseen, as he had other interested parties. This is my first foray into revolvers. When I picked it up from him it looked to be in good shape, but upon further review I thought the gun had some issues, mainly excessive end-shake and the timing was off. He did not know the gun had these issues (and I believe him in that regard), and he offered to take it back. After some reasearch on the gun forums I decided that I'd send it to smith and wesson to be inspected (and hopefully repaired under warranty).

Well I heard back today, they did find it out of spec in the areas of concern, and quoted $108 to repair it. So the question is how to proceed. If I had bought this at a gun show I'd just have it repaired, I think at $375 I still would have done allright. Should I mention it to him and see what he wants to do? Offer to split the repair cost? See if he will still take the gun back?  (it's been about 3 weeks)

[grampster]

Get it fixed and have fun shooting up all that ammo and playing around with the different grips and practicing your speed loading.  A friend is vastly more important than a revolver.  Besides, you said he was unaware of the problem.

You're the one who bought the thing sight unseen.  Made for a valuable and inexpensive lesson.

[K Frame]

My take?

Depending on the kind of ammo, you got a good to excellent deal.

Speedloaders are anywhere from $7 to $15 per.

The grips, depending on what they are, could be $15 to well over $100.

And the ammo, depending on what it is, could be worth from $50 to $250.

All in all, it sounds to me as if you got a decent deal. Don't go back looking to dipper him out of some more.

[The Rabbi]

Get it fixed and have fun shooting up all that ammo and playing around with the different grips and practicing your speed loading.  A friend is vastly more important than a revolver.  Besides, you said he was unaware of the problem.

I think illness has perfected the Grampster's moral compass.  Always a bright side, I guess.  Listen to this man.

[cfabe]

Thanks for the input, you're confirming my thoughts on the matter. I had been recieving conflicting input from other sources, but that group is probably not a very good moral compass.

[TarpleyG]

Spend the $108 and keep it to yourself.  You still got a good deal, just not as good as you thought.

Greg

[Stickjockey]

What Grampster said.

[El Tejon]

Think of it as a "rescue gun"!:D

There was a poor gun, without proper care and you took it in and gave it a good home, a loving gunsmith and proper exercise.

[roo_ster]

ET:
Why did you have to go & say that?  Now, I feel obligated to buy every S&W M10 trade-in that looks like it was slung across an asphalt parking lot & give it TLC.

[El Tejon]

Because I care!:D

[TMM]

Get it fixed on your own dime. as far as i can see it's a really good deal, and, as said before, you're the one who agreed to buy it sight unseen.

~tmm

[Guest]

I think the gun will be easily worth what you'll have into it, with the accessories/ammo listed.  IF you're in a state that allows no-paper private transfers, you now have an unpapered gun which is valuable to some people.  Either way I'm with the "don't bother the friend about it".

I do have to say...this is why I started the revolver checkout thread .

[Jamisjockey]

Get it fixed on your dime.
If he asks, tell him the truth.  If he offers to pay you for the repair work, offer him to split the difference instead.  If he 'forgets' to pay you, don't mention it unless he does.

[cfabe]

Jim your thread was a great help in checking out the gun. I didn't try to shoot it because following your method for checking the timing I thought it might be out of alignment.

I just phoned in my credit card to Smith and should have the gun back in a couple weeks. Thanks for the advice and the reassurance that I still got the gun at a decent price.