...two more things...
CHECK THE FINISH other than bluing, a gun may also may have nickel plating. I don't see to much of this, but I dunno if that's important. On a more personal note, I also don't much care for nickel plating for a couple of reasons:
- Last I checked, the jury was still out on the benefits of having this done.
- I fear that the glare coming off it in the presence of enough ambient light might present a problem in aiming it.. Though I must hasten to point out that I've never had this happen to me, observe it, or hear someone else bitch about it.
- I think it makes the gun look like something a pimp in a '70s blaxploitation flick might point at you if you ain't got his damned money. But hey, to each their own...if you're drop a few hundred on something get something you like
Look for spots where it may be peeling; this is the hallmark of a shitty plating job, and when it goes, there's no hope short of unplating it (something I also can't say I'm certain can be done) and redoing the job.
Another of my aforementioned deceased uncles' pistols was a 1911 frame .45 ACP which according to info I dug up was probably WWII vintage, making it a collectors' item and also damned hard to come by. It had such a finish, and it was peeling badly, almost certainly due to the sort of crap plating job I mentioned earlier.
Even more disturbing was the fact that my uncle allowed this to be done. I can't explain why in 25 words or less, but there you have it. I wanted to cry, then pistol-whip the guy who did it within an inch of his sorry, not-nickel-plating-worth-a-fuck life.
THE OWNER MANUAL: ASSUME NOTHING!! I'd like to think I know as much about guns as anyone, but some things have gotten by me that I discovered by accident. There may be little plastic parts in the weapon (if it never got fired). It may have been treated with something at the factory to prevent rust/etc and needs to be cleaned, or (in autos, anyway) may be picky about reliably chambering special-purpose ammo. Assume nnothing.
Okay...THREE things:
First time out, shoot good ammo. Your better-quality ammo often performs better, and (assuming you can shoot well) and gives you a more reliable idea how accurate the weapon is