Describing the Condition of a Firearm

When describing a used gun in an ad, over the phone, by email, etc. be accurate.  There are several standard grading systems by which to accurately relay the condition of your firearm.  S.P. Fjestad uses the “Photo Percentage” grading system in his Blue Book of Gun Values and I consider that method the best.  Essentially you are describing the exact percentage of original finish left on the firearm.

The other, perhaps more popular, method is the National Rifle Association grading system.  The NRA system uses two sets of standards.  One set is for modern firearms.  The second set is for antique firearms.  Below are descriptions of the NRA condition standards.

Modern Conditions -

New - in same condition as current factory production, must include box, packing materials and warranty card.

Perfect - in new condition in every respect.

Excellent - new condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood or metal, bluing perfect (except at muzzle or sharp edges)

Very Good - in perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches.

Good - in safe working condition, minor wear on working surfaces, no broken parts, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper function.

Fair - in safe working condition, but well worn, perhaps requiring replacement of minor parts or adjustments which should be indicated in advertisement, no rust, but may have corrosion pits which do not render article unsafe or inoperable.

Antique Conditions -

Factory New - all original parts; 100% original finish; in perfect condition in every respect, inside and out.

Excellent - all original parts; over 80% original finish; sharp lettering, numerals and design on metal and wood; unmarred wood; fine bore.

Fine - all original parts; over 30% original finish; sharp lettering, numerals and design on metal and wood; minor marks in wood; good bore

Very Good - all original parts; none to 30% original finish; original metal surfaces smooth with all edges sharp; clear lettering, numerals and design on metal; wood slightly scratched or bruised; bore disregarded for collectors firearms.

Good - some minor replacement parts; metal smoothly rusted or lightly pitted in places; cleaned or reblued; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal legible; wood refinished, scratched, bruised or minor cracks repaired; in good working order.

Fair - some major parts replaced; minor replacement parts may be required; metal rusted, may be lightly pitted all over, vigorously cleaned or reblued; rounded edges of metal and wood; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal partly obliterated; wood scratched, bruised, cracked or repaired where broken; in fair working order or can be easily repaired and placed in working order.

Poor - major and minor parts replaced; major replacement parts required and extensive restoration needed; metal deeply pitted; principal lettering, numerals and design obliterated, wood badly scratched, bruised, cracked or broken; mechanically inoperative, generally undesirable as a collectors firearm.

The Photo Percentage grading system is best judged by comparing the firearm to a series of (surprise, surprise) photographs found in The Blue Book of Gun Values.  Below is the approximate equivalent conditions under the NRA system.

Perfect - 100% with or without box.  Not mint - new.  100% on currently manufactured firearms assumes NIB condition.

Excellent - 95%-99% (typically)

Very good - 80 - 95% - all original

Good - 60 - 80% - all original

Fair - 20 - 60% -May not be original (shootable, not very collectible)

Poor - Under 20%

Misrepresenting a firearm (lying) does no one any favors and just makes for bad feelings all around.  As soon as the prospective buyer sees the firearm in person, he’s going to see if you were telling the truth.  It’s better to underestimate the condition than overestimate it.

When buying firearms take the descriptions with a grain of salt.  When purchasing used or surplus firearms from Shotgun News or Gunlist, even from established dealers, I always downgraded the condition by one notch.  I read “excellent” as “very good”, and “very good” as “good”.  I was seldom disappointed.  I was also seldom wrong.

“Mint” is meaningless as a term.  In all my years buying and selling guns, only twice was a gun described to me as “mint” really in mint condition.  “Mint” means absolutely perfect.  It does not mean “pretty good for its age.”  Many, if not most, of the guns described to me as “mint” were, in fact, in good to poor condition.  I will not honor a sight-unseen price estimate if the gun has not been accurately described.  No one will.  If you lie about the condition of a firearm, ship it to the buyer, and then refuse to refund his money– you have just committed fraud.