How well does the manufacturer stand behind the gun you just bought? What’s covered and what’s not?
One of the biggest considerations when purchasing a gun for concealed carry is the gun manufacturer’s warranty. Even in recent years, many of the household name brands of firearms have changed their policies. Sometimes, the biggest difference in policies is whether you bought a new or used firearm.
Gun Manufacturer’s Warranty Lifetime vs. Set Time
With so many gun manufacturer’s out there, you almost need to do a spreadsheet analysis before choosing a manufacturer to shop with. There are a few key phrases and policies you’re looking for in a warranty. The first item you should look for is the length of the warranty. A gun manufacturer’s warranty can vary in range from a full lifetime warranty no matter who the purchaser is to a year for certified pre-owned pistols.
Only you can determine what is important to you when making a handgun purchase. Would you rather buy new and know if anything is defective, the manufacturer will fix it? Or would you rather save money buying a used gun, but having a shorter warranty life?
What Voids a Warranty?
One of the easiest mistakes a gun owner can make is voiding a warranty. When you modify the internals of a firearm or use non-factory ammunition, for example, many manufacturers will no longer support repairs to that gun. Take time to read each manufacturer’s section about the limitations of the warranty before purchasing a gun. If you plan to rip out the trigger, disassemble the gun more than as instructed in the manual, or misuse the firearm, the warranty will most likely be voided, and you’ll most likely have to seek out a gunsmith.
Claiming a Gun Manufacturer’s Warranty
Many firearms owners assume that once they purchase a gun, that the warranty is automatically activated. This is not always the case. Review the terms on each manufacturer’s website to see what steps are required to claim the warranty if there are any.
Glock Warranty
Glock is easily one of the most popular firearms manufacturers in the world. The Glock 43, the first single stack 9mm pistol by Glock, made waves in the industry quickly becoming a reliable concealed carry pistol. The Glock 19 also remained a popular handgun to carry for those wanting a little more ammunition capacity.
When shopping for a Glock pistol, keep in mind the main points of their warranty limitations:
– Must register within 30 days of the purchase date to activate the gun manufacturer’s warranty
– Cannot modify or alter parts from the original state
– No reloaded, remanufactured, or handloaded ammunition can be used
– Zero damage caused by misuse, abuse, or improper maintenance
Sig Sauer Warranty
Sig Sauer is another major manufacturer of not just guns, but also of optics, suppressors, and airguns. Their P365 is a popular compact handgun to carry concealed while their Romeo 5 red dot has been changing the game for carry optics, especially competition shooters using the Sig P320. With all the product offerings, come different warranties.
Here are the highlights of their warranty on firearms:
– A lifetime warranty is offered only to the original purchaser
– Voided is fired with handloaded, reloaded, or improper ammunition
– Their certified pre-owned pistols come with a 1-year warranty for the original purchaser
– Unauthorized repair or any alteration including cosmetic alterations will void the warranty
Walther Warranty
Walther Arms made a name for themselves with the popular James Bond Walther PPK pistol. To many people’s surprise, they also have one of the best warranties in the industry.
Main things to know about Walther’s Legendary Lifetime Warranty:
– Lifetime warranty regardless of whether or not you are the original purchaser
– For centerfire and rimfire firearms produced after 1993 only
– Warranty does not cover damage made by use of parts or service not provided by Walther
To Buy or Not to Buy
Many factors should go into choosing a firearm to carry concealed, from holster options, to recoil management, all the way to a gun manufacturer’s warranty.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kenzie Fitzpatrick is a professional competitive shooter and an active blogger for many firearm websites. As an NRA-certified instructor and National Range Officer Institute Chief Range Officer, Kenzie trains new shooters on basic firearm safety, brings new shooters to competitive shooting, and works major matches across the country. She has a passion for teaching people how to concealed carry and is a positive ambassador for the Second Amendment.
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©MTC Holsters, LLC and CrossBreed Holsters Blog, 2021.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to David Workman and the CrossBreed Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Walther’s warranty and service kind of suck. They often make the owner pay shipping and the warranty very plainly only covers guns currently in production.