Test firing a firearm before purchase

[kidicarus13]

Not a chance if a NIB unfired firearm. There are places to rent most of the firearms that are up for sale.
I dont see why this is brought up (by the potential buyer) when the ability sell a firearm you dont want after shooting it is extremely easy.

The OP clearly states not an unfired firearm. And selling a firearm that you don't want because you find that it has failures after purchase causes me to lose money or reputation:
1. Know it fails, don't tell buyer, sell it, buyer unhappy (I wouldn't do)
2. Know it fails, tell buyer, buyer offers me a lot less $ if he still wants to buy it
3. Know it fails, spend $ to get it fixed

The buyer should have known what they were purchasing and been able to look for signs of weakness or failure.

You must have magical powers because I have never been able to look at a firearm and tell if it is going to misfire or not before I shoot it.

To quench everyone's curiosity, I have never asked to test fire a firearm prior to purchase but spending $2K on a used 1911 would have me a but anxious considering my previous track record with 1911s.

[alxone]

spending $2K on a used 1911 would have me a but anxious considering my previous track record with 1911s.

first off i would never pay that much unless it was all original colt us army 1911 made during ww1 . i also would not ask to test fire it . a quick field strip of any weapon can reveal a lot ( original parts , cracks , refinishing etc. ) . your a smart fella , dig through your books , get the info and then haggle accordingly . also if your having a hard time deciding and the seller is in no rush then snap a pic or 2 , take down as much info as you can and then share it with the board and im sure you find out more than you wanted to know about it

[BuffCyclist]

You must have magical powers because I have never been able to look at a firearm and tell if it is going to misfire or not before I shoot it.

Perhaps not, however, you can always determine if it is operational without firing. Being that it functions, safeties operate, firing pin slams forward. Heck, if its a pistol, do the pencil trick: insert pencil in barrel with eraser towards firing pin. pull trigger with gun pointed upwards and see the pencil fly up.

I bought a Ruger LCP online and was told it was fully operational and worked flawlessly. When I got it, 2 out of 6 rounds in each magazine either FTFire, FTFeed or FTEject. After looking at it more, I found that the previous owner had put a lower recoil spring into the pistol, which failed to operate the slide and caused those problems. After putting in a slightly increased power spring (which was included, it was a wolff recoil spring pack), it worked perfectly and still continues to be a perfect shooter. The reason for the malfunction was the previous owner who mucked with things.