How to tell someone the bad news..

[Navy]

All,

My method is to ask politely for permission to examine the piece. Once I get my mag lite on it, if necessary, I then ask the owner what they know about the piece. Based on what I gauge the owner's intelligence and emotional involvement to be, I point out discrepancies as I observe them, explaining in each case what the correct condition should look like and then inviting them to compare.

When I sense I am getting resistance, I thank them politely and leave. I am simply trying to inform, not convert "true believers". As someone remarked, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still".

Fortunately, most of the people encountered with Navy pistols have sufficient maturity to accept the information with grace, if not severe disappointment.

Tom A.