Gold Cup 38 special "Unfired" ???

I sent the seller of this pistol on Gunbroker a question about this pistol. I told him from the pictures it looks used and asked if it was unfired. He swears it is new old stock. I think it probably has been fired many many times. The mainspring housing looks like it has been changed,magazine looks worn,rails looked tightened and looks like it was re-blued. I also think the barrel might have been replaced and grip safety shows signs of hammer strikes. I think someone is going to get ripped off. What do you pistol Gurus think of it?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=432930052

I don't know if I could buy the never fired bit, looking at the pics it has marks on the mag follower showing it has been loaded enough to show marks and the outside is missing a good bit of blue could be a not original to gun mag, there is wear from the hammer hitting the grip safety and a few side marks, could be from just someone racking slide a lot I guess, the top of barrel doesn't show a lot of marks. its a nice gun but imo not new in box condition but close as you will find for this type gun.

Colt made these pistols starting in 1961. For me the initial clue that is is NOT an unfired pistol is in photo #4, the wear on the grip safety. Photo #7 shows hammer marks on the safety, a good indication the pistol has been fired. Look carefully at photo #8, hammer is dirty and there is rust on the rear sight. Photo #9, left grip is discolored where fingers would grip the gun.

I hate it when dealers try to pass off very nice guns as "unfired"--especially ones of older vintage.

The seller sent me an e-mail saying he is selling it for an 80 yr old friend that says it is unfired. I was interested in this pistol but think I will pass. The bid is already past what I was thinking it was worth unless it was un-modified and unfired. I have been researching Gold Cups and have never seen an older pistol like this that had anything other than a flat mainspring housing. Oh well, Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware)

Took another look at the photos.  Something is just not adding up, plus the price has been bid beyond what I would pay without having the gun in my hands. Interesting that now the seller is not saying it is unfired, but that a friend says it is unfired. 

Agreed, caveat emptor.

Rob Kovach wrote:I hate it when dealers try to pass off very nice guns as "unfired"--especially ones of older vintage.

agree  Youve taken a real nice gun, that is still real nice, and clean...and turned it into a scam, that will keep away the buyers that know what it is, and would appreachate its value.

My advice: Buy the gun...not the story.

I'm not the smartest person in the room, but without scoping the barrel, I can't see anything that couldn't be attributed to handling and dryfiring. Which is why a lot of vendors and sellers dislike us playing with the pistol too much before buying.

I knew a shooter who had a .38 gold Cup NM. It was a blow-back gun and not competitively accurate. 

Not until smiths like Clark and Shockey began to build match guns did the .38 shoot well.

And the slide stop notch is in like new condition.