Help a newbie please

[infidel]

Hi folks.

Iam looking to buy a revolver which would be my first. I have many guns but no revolvers. I have seen the Wiley Clapp GP100 online and it looks like a nice piece. It should hold it's value well and be fun to shoot in the meantime.

I need some help from those familiar with revolvers. I see the first one here, claimed to be NIB, but if you look close at the pic, it appears to have a scratch over the trigger. It is also missing the yellow plastic piece covering the cylinder?

The second one looks good, but there is what appears to be a scratch on the cylinder. That scratch seems common on a lot of revolvers. Is this something to worry about?

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[gunman42782]

Are you talking about the turn line? If so, yes, that is very common, but usually not on a brand new gun, unless it has been fondled a lot. It may not have been shot though. It is nothing to worry about.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

What looks like a scratch above the trigger guard on the first picture is a line where the trigger guard mates with the main frame of the revolver. Those two parts are put together and then finished together. It is not unusual at all to see a slight line there in certain light.

It is normal for newer Ruger revolvers to have a ring on the cylinder from the cylinder latch popping up to lock the rotation of the cylinder.

BTW, That is one heck of a fine first revolver if you don't mind paying a little extra over the standard model price. My first revolver was the 4" GP-100 and I still enjoy and treasure it much. 8) 8)

 

[Cholo]

It is also missing the yellow plastic piece covering the cylinder?

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I think I see the little yellow thing in the pic above, but my eyesight really isn't that good :wink:

 

[infidel]

What looks like a scratch above the trigger guard on the first picture is a line where the trigger guard mates with the main frame of the revolver. Those two parts are put together and then finished together. It is not unusual at all to see a slight line there in certain light.

It is normal for newer Ruger revolvers to have a ring on the cylinder from the cylinder latch popping up to lock the rotation of the cylinder.

BTW, That is one heck of a fine first revolver if you don't mind paying a little extra over the standard model price. My first revolver was the 4" GP-100 and I still enjoy and treasure it much. 8) 8)

Thanks for the info. I don't know why, I just assumed revolvers were made from one piece. Now that I look closer at some pics on the Ruger web site I see what you are talking about. I guess I can assume that's normal.

I also see the turn ring on some pics. I would have thought that could have been engineered so that it doesn't happen, but I guess it's failrly common. I even see it on the Smith&Wesson website in their picture of a $1300 model 627. So, I'm guessing they come from the factory already "turned"?

Oh yeah, I have expensive taste. Too bad my wallet doesn't match. :lol:

 

[infidel]

It is also missing the yellow plastic piece covering the cylinder?

[/img]

I think I see the little yellow thing in the pic above, but my eyesight really isn't that good :wink:

I don't see it in the first pic. There are other pics of it too where I can't see it. If it really is NIB it should have that?

 

[hittman]

Glad you posted this as I'm looking at one locally for sale.

The one on Armslist is advertised as new and unfired. The plastic ring could be elsewhere in the box or have been thrown away I suppose.

The one on Gunbroker does not say new or unfired although it may be.

They don't have to be fired to get the turn ring. Dry-firing or otherwise just playing with rotating the cylinder can do that too.

I don't need another GP but am guessing you don't see these every day and am anxious to see how this one locally gets priced. It has been fired some but is complete with the box, paperwork, etc.

Let us know if you score one please!

 

[TiteGroups]

Man I spent a lot of time trying to polish that scratch out of mine. LOL. Buy one and you'll find the GP 100's are a hell of a gun. That scratch comes in very handy when it comes time to tear it down.

 

[RugerHound]

Pretty easy to see if a revolver's been fired by looking at the front of the cylinder. If it's been fired, there'll be a dark circle around each cylinder. As was mentioned already, the 'scratch' on the 1st one is a mechanical seam, and the ring around the cylinder just means she's been turned, but does not nec. mean it's been fired.

 

[Pal Val]

Since your questions were already answered, I'll just add a comment. You did well by first inspecting the gun so carefully and then asking about the things you noticed.

That's a fine revolver, BTW. Excellent choice.

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

Thanks for the info. I don't know why, I just assumed revolvers were made from one piece. Now that I look closer at some pics on the Ruger web site I see what you are talking about. I guess I can assume that's normal.

Some revolvers have the grip frame integral to the cylinder frame. Where that is the case, you will see there is a side plate screwed in place. You have to get to the action somehow. Ruger's design is the be able to remove the grip frame from the cylinder frame, giving access to the action parts from underneath. That results in a lot more steel and a stronger cylinder frame.

I also see the turn ring on some pics. I would have thought that could have been engineered so that it doesn't happen, but I guess it's failrly common. I even see it on the Smith&Wesson website in their picture of a $1300 model 627. So, I'm guessing they come from the factory already "turned"?

If you look at a beauty shot on a manufacturer's website, you won't see turn rings on those truly pristine (probably not even test fired yet) specimens. Some people get worked up about turn rings. I look at them as a safety margin. The cylinder latch rising early (and dragging on the cylinder making the ring) ensures that the locking notch won't advance past latch without being engaged. It's a reliability vs cosmetic issue for when the gun has a high round count.

Look at an old revolver (20 yrs with 10's of thousands of rounds through it). You will note the turn ring is not the same width along the length. It's heavier closer to the notches. As the gun wears, the latch rises later, closer to the notch. Now, if you started with it rising just at the edge of the notch, it would wear and get to the point of rising after the cylinder had coasted past the latch. Not good.

Oh yeah, I have expensive taste. Too bad my wallet doesn't match. :lol: