Ever notice that people selling guns/mags/accessories have their own language? Doesn't matter if it is on an add board or gunshow, or if the guy is a dealer or an individual, but they seem to have a different definition for words like 'rare' or 'new in box.' Who else is bothered by the misuse of these words?
A few of my pet-peeves are: 'RARE', 'NIB', 'get it before the ban!,' 'serious buyers ONLY!,' 'CUSTOM', and last but not least, 'TACTICAL'.
'RARE': people use this word to describe anything from a Postban Bushmaster to a preban USGI 30rd mag.
Example: "That's one of those 'rare' colt M4 uppers," usually accompanied with something like "Yup, colt only made 1000 of those and then stopped selling them to civilians 'cause the guns where ending up in the hands of the red Chinese."
'NIB': basically means the gun comes with a box, it may be a box salvaged from a vacuum cleaner, but it is a box dammit!
Example: "Yup, that there preban colt is New in the Box, it's only had 10,000 rds through her, and has only been fondled by 100 other people at this show today. That's the box over there, don't mind the words 'SONY' written on the side, Colt used to buy it's boxes from them."
'Get it before the ban!': most often used with preban mags, .50cal guns/ammo, or foreign parts/ammo. Often accompanied by made up legistlation and more hearsay, like "I heard...."
'Serious buyers ONLY!': Translation: don't call me unless you already have the cash in the mail.
Does anyone actually call these guys and say "I'm not interested in the gun, I just needed someone to talk to."???
'CUSTOM': Can mean a true work of art, or ANY kind of modification made to the gun, intentionally or by accident.
Example: "I put some custom night sights on the gun, using my wife's lipstick."
"TACTICAL": This is a fairly new one, but is used to describe anything that has one or more of the following features/descriptions: black, camo, nylon, polymer, carbon-fiber, titanium, aluminum, steel, rubber, plastic, elastic,
velcro, pockets, night sights, 5+ round capacity, caliber equal too or greater than .22LR, folding/collapsible stock, BBL under 28", semi-auto, pump-action, bolt-action, optics, rails, extra grips, safety straps, bungie cords, electrical tape wrapped around, lightweight, heavy barreled, hard, soft, pointy, round, etc........
Anyone have anything to add?