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Every firearms enthusiast should have a police trade-in pistol in their collection. These handguns are typically well maintained, have relatively low round counts compared to other used firearms, and are still incredibly functional and reliable. Plus, they are often available at a fraction of the cost of a new production Glock or Smith & Wesson pistol in today's market.
Law enforcement agencies frequently reevaluate the duty guns issued to uniformed police officers. Every so often, a determination is made to transition to a new sidearm with better ballistic performance, higher capacity, etc. and a batch of police trade-in pistols will make its way to the used market.
Although they will probably show some minor use, police trade-ins typically provide a unique opportunity for consumers to purchase quality handguns for well below the MSRP of their brand-new counterparts. Most of these pistols are well cared for and aside from holster wear or minor cosmetic imperfections, they are usually well worth the price.
As with all used firearms, police trade-in pistols will show some external signs of handling - ranging from minor scuffs and scratches to worn grips and dull night sights. The internals, however, are typically as good as new (depending on the cleaning habits of each individual).
Many police officers are not firearms enthusiasts but rather maintain proficiency in accordance with department policy. Consequently, while duty guns often show wear from holstering / reholstering, they are rarely fired outside of qualifications and the occasional practice session.
Barrels and recoil springs usually have quite a bit of life left in them so with regular cleaning and some TLC, you’ll have a like-new firearm that is ready to carry.
Upon receiving your police trade-in, it’s important to inspect the firearm to ensure all parts are functioning as intended. Some police officers are not as fastidious about cleaning and maintenance as they should be and depending on how the firearm was stored, you may encounter some minor rust or pitting in the metal.
These imperfections are not always obvious when the retailer or your FFL conducts a quick function test, so be sure to examine the firearm more closely when time permits. Additional cleaning may be warranted and in some extreme cases, it may be prudent to source a spare parts kit on the surplus market to replace unusually worn components.
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The used firearms market is ever evolving. As such, pricing depends on availability and the overall condition of each item being offered, plus any accessories that may be included with the gun such as magazines and holsters.
Additionally, many used guns are sold via auction sites where a flat rate may not be available. This can drive prices up even further for rare or hard-to-find models.
Police trade-ins, however, typically sell in bulk so are priced lower than the limited quantities available from dealers and private collectors. Also, you often have a better idea of what you’re getting from a police trade-in compared to a piece that was owned by a random individual.
Lastly, some batches of police trade-in pistols include models that are not currently in production and may be difficult or nearly impossible to source normally. This means for those interested in acquiring older models (Beretta 92SBs, Smith & Wesson 5906s, to name a few), police trade-ins are the way to go.
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