Complaint Review: John Burda

    Mr. Burda of Twin Oaks Arms in East Granby, CT falsely described a Winchester Model of 1897 12 ga pump shotgun he sold me over the internet.

    His description of the gun was: "good condition Winchester model 1897 take-down , numbers match, and functions very well. The original barrel of 30" is choked FULL as stated on the barrel. Wood is good with no breaks, splits or repairs.Medal is about 60% blue with fading in areas to brown patina, not a rusty gun. Bore is shiney and clean. LOP is 13 7/8" and has black rubber butt-pad. Overall a good working gun, but not fancy!"

    The Guns America website listed him as a Gold Dealer with 100% satisfaction rating so I bought the gun, overlooking his "no returns" policy.  Please note that I am an ATF FFL Licensed Firearms and Ammunition Manufacturer and Master Gunsmith.  Mr. Burda sent the gun he advertized but it was NOT in the condition advertized.

    The gun is missing critical parts and COULD NOT function in the condition I received it at all. The missing parts are the take down barrel adjusting sleeve screw, the action slide lock plunger pin spring, one barrel chamber ring retaining screw and the right extractor plunger spring.  The firing pin was frozen in place with dried grease and dirt and would not move so I am quite sure Mr. Burda did not safety check or fire the gun - at least not in the last 15 to 20 years The wood is dry rotted and the butt stock split apart with the first turn of the stock screw as I tried to remove it so it is now a four piece butt stock instead of a one piece as it came from the factory and the action slide handle is split almost in two in two places.  The medal (sic) is NOT 60% but only about 10% to 20% blue fading into some brown patina but mostly bare metal with rust and about 30% moderate to deep pitting.

     The bore is not shiney (sic) but is dark with light to moderate pitting. No part of this gun appears to have been cleaned in years.  When I received the gun the only way to describe it was filthy.  The original Winchester hard rubber butt plate was on the gun but it is badly worn with a large piece missing at the heel. This is a rusty, non-functioning, improperly cared for and improperly stored gun. 

    Mr. Burda knowingly advertised and sold this gun as being an "Overall a good working gun, but not fancy!" (his description as posted on the GunsAmerica Website) when in fact he knew it to be in far worse condition and, if indeed he inspected it at all, knew it to be in non-functioning and unsafe to fire condition. The only other possibility I can think of that could explain his misrepresentation of this firearm would be that he has no mechanical knowledge of firearms whatsoever.  I hardly feel this to be the case.