[SaArgentinemauser]

I can’t believe we are still stuck in this “watching people take crap out of boxes for 45 minutes” phase of internet gunsoomer garbage.

Places like Reddit Milsurp love RTI because it's cheap and they seemingly have zero idea other places exist. If RTI, Classic or Atlantic don't have a batch available you can click buy on it is unobtainium to them. I've wasted lots of energy on Reddit telling people to save the extra $200 and put some effort into buying an No1 or No4 that isn't total garbage.

I think unboxing and stuff like this also appeals to kids under 18 and people in countries that can't own guns or have a very difficult time doing so. I remember a Reddit thread about Argentine Ballester-Molinas and M1927s, the author of the thread had a Policia Federal Ballester Molina and one comment was saying he was sad how hard it was to find a unique one like a naval or air force contract and they wanted to buy one. I replied to him that if you look they can be had for good deals and that I had seen a bunch on HiBid. I sent him a PM with a link to two of those and the reply was 'oh I'm not old enough to buy handguns'

 

[DisasterDog]

 

[DisasterDog]

This guy wasn’t exactly hosed.

Exactly, and neither is he some “poor guy”.

 

[DisasterDog]

I can’t believe we are still stuck in this “watching people take crap out of boxes for 45 minutes” phase of internet gunsoomer garbage.

 

[caerlonie]

His money.....his choice.Its his prerogative what he spends it on.

 

[FSR17601]

I've wasted lots of energy on Reddit telling people to save the extra $200 and put some effort into buying an No1 or No4 that isn't total garbage.

Doing it right requires time and effort to acquire the knowledge, and perhaps even a mistake or two. I saw a Brazilian Mauser and a Krag at my local gun shop when I was there a couple of days ago, but both are outside my knowledge lane, so even though the prices for both were decent, and they are in my area of interest, I passed. People are impatient - they don't want to pay dues to get into the game. I will either pay fair retail (as in more than I really have to) to a place I think knows what they're doing, or walk away. This is also why I don't collect 1911s - I made a friend on another site who really knows his stuff, and he helped guide me to the one I do own. That rabbit hole goes really, really deep. But building relationships takes time and effort, too. There are a few little niches in the collector world where I am reasonably confident shelling out my money for a "deal," but very few. Like maybe three.

 

[72 usmc]

At $50, that is what they are worth, a great wall hanger or rifle to make a lamp out of. But at $250 you have to have rocks in your head... Then shipping and a possible FFL transfer charge🤪🤨🤮

Better off to get a DP at $99

 

[JB White]

View attachment 4366845

Ya know, that’s what I saw when he whipped out his EDC belt knife and started slicing bubble wrap with the sharp edge towards the product.
I even asked myself if the forend cracks might be knife slices. 😜

 

[ITWORKEDOUT]

I thought it was important to post the video so others DO NOT take the plunge......

RTI does NOT follow ANY NRA grading standards.... If they did follow those standards all of these rifles would grade as poor/incomplete.....

I have seen MANY DP rifles which looked far better than these treasures......

 

[wyatt jordan]

It’s not confined to “young people” though, this doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Just a product of society, like spending 80k on a new truck, or 200k on college, or the recent 4k for a sanded SMLE. When our nation is $34+ Trillion in debt, being stupid with money is just Standard Operating Procedure now.

I honestly can’t give a sh!t anymore about how other people spend their own money.

The real problem is the gambling addiction people all have now. The dopamine hit from getting a "win" is far higher than just spending a little extra and getting something of the same quality if not better. People would much rather risk it for the chance just for that feeling alone.

 

[David Murvihill]

Most of my 19th century Commonwealth collection is from Nepal. From RTI I got a Lee Speed, Berdan 2 and Vetterli Vitali 70/87, all rare guns in poor but shootable condition. I had given up on ever getting any of these models in any condition so they make me happy. If the money and a better copy intersect I'll 'buy up' and sell the poorer version. Until then, if someone wants to know what Metford rifling looks like I have an example.

 

[sajer]

Gambling in the 90's and early 2000's on a "cracked stock special" was fun for $49 of less in many cases. Gambling on RTI rated stuff for the money they ask, no go.

 

[jr612]

My ad blocker seems to be malfunctioning.
😉

 

[Alan De Enfield]

Until then, if someone wants to know what Metford rifling looks like I have an example.

 

[jr612]

I thought it was important to post the video so others DO NOT take the plunge......

RTI does NOT follow ANY NRA grading standards.... If they did follow those standards all of these rifles would grade as poor/incomplete.....

I have seen MANY DP rifles which looked far better than these treasures......

At this point I believe it's fair to say that rti's reputation is well established. Many of the video reviews I've seen are from repeat buyers. Most of which are pleased with what they get, or fist time buyers who knew the risk but felt it was worth the gamble. But if you want to keep beating the drum and, "warning" ( 😉 ) others , my all means carry on.

 

[jr612]

All joking aside, I wasn't planning on posting further on the matter until the yt algorithm suggested this video.

What I'm about to say, I say it respectfully, please do not misunderstand. You are not only going against rti but also these two. You are one man with a limited audience. These two as well as others like them have a multitude of followers just waiting to see what oddities they will promote next.

In short, you are fighting a loosing battle but if you so wish to do so don't let me or someone talk you out of if. My take on the matter is, not my money, not my problem.

 

[KonsKripteD]

Gambling in the 90's and early 2000's on a "cracked stock special" was fun for $49 of less in many cases. Gambling on RTI rated stuff for the money they ask, no go.

$50 in 1990 is ~$130 today. Picking up an RTI special on sale for $99 is a fun project IMO. As long as you're aware that you're getting a rusty, filthy, potentially incomplete project gun, I don't think it's too bad. I enjoy nice milsurps from local shops, GB, Rock Island, etc., but I also like gambling on RTI stuff every now and then. If you don't want a project, you're always better off spending a couple hundred bucks more and buying a rifle that you know is in decent shape.

 

[cwo4uscgret]

I rolled the dice earlier on an Italian Carcano Carbine - for $219 plus shipping. The Paisans were good to me!

[link]https://www.gunboards.com/threads/r.../rolled-the-dice…they-came-up-35.1227170/?post_id=11114785#post-11114785[/link]

 

[ammolab]

As a Century Arms Distributor in the past I wondered when RTI first announced these guns….”why didn’t the guys from Century win the tender on there rifles”? When I saw the guns, and heard the stories I knew why. Not interested!

 

[panzerfaust44]

As a Century Arms Distributor in the past I wondered when RTI first announced these guns….”why didn’t the guys from Century win the tender on there rifles”? When I saw the guns, and heard the stories I knew why. Not interested!

Isn't Springfield Sporters still sitting on a large inventory from 30 years ago???