CFA Condition Assessment & Functional Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A revolver's cylinder has a slight lateral wobble when locked into battery. How does this affect condition grading?
- It is cosmetic only and does not affect the grade
- It indicates a timing issue and downgrades the firearm to at least 'Good' (Correct answer)
- Cylinder wobble is expected on all used revolvers and is ignored
- It only matters if the barrel is also worn
Correct answer: It indicates a timing issue and downgrades the firearm to at least 'Good'
Cylinder wobble indicates worn cylinder crane or locking bolt, which affects both safety and accuracy, warranting a grade reduction.
Question 2: When assessing a semi-automatic pistol, you notice the slide does not fully return to battery after firing. This condition is best described as:
- Failure to feed
- Failure to return to battery (failure to go into battery) (Correct answer)
- Stovepipe malfunction
- Failure to eject
Correct answer: Failure to return to battery (failure to go into battery)
Failure to return to battery means the slide does not fully close, leaving the chamber partially open and the firearm in an unsafe, non-functional state.
Question 3: A bolt-action rifle has a cracked stock at the wrist. For appraisal purposes, this defect primarily affects:
- Only the mechanical function grade
- Both the mechanical condition and the overall value significantly (Correct answer)
- Only the cosmetic grade with minimal value impact
- Nothing, as stocks are easily replaced
Correct answer: Both the mechanical condition and the overall value significantly
A cracked wrist is a major structural defect that compromises both the firearm's safety and its collector/market value substantially.
Question 4: The NRA condition grade 'Very Good' is best defined as:
- Perfect in every way with no wear
- In perfect working order with no appreciable wear but may show minor surface marks (Correct answer)
- Shows moderate wear on working surfaces but functions well
- Mechanically functional with significant wear throughout
Correct answer: In perfect working order with no appreciable wear but may show minor surface marks
NRA 'Very Good' means the firearm is in perfect working condition with no appreciable wear on working surfaces, though minor surface blemishes may be present.
Question 5: When inspecting a double-action revolver, the 'timing' check is performed to evaluate:
- How quickly the trigger resets between shots
- Whether the cylinder rotates to align each chamber with the barrel at the moment the hammer falls (Correct answer)
- The speed at which the ejector rod operates
- How long it takes to complete a full cylinder rotation
Correct answer: Whether the cylinder rotates to align each chamber with the barrel at the moment the hammer falls
Timing ensures each chamber is perfectly indexed with the barrel and forcing cone when the hammer drops, which is critical for safe and accurate function.
Question 6: Pitting inside a shotgun barrel near the chamber is most significant because it:
- Only affects the cosmetic appearance of the bore
- Can weaken the chamber wall and create a dangerous condition under firing pressure (Correct answer)
- Is common in all used shotguns and does not affect value
- Only matters in firearms chambered for magnum loads
Correct answer: Can weaken the chamber wall and create a dangerous condition under firing pressure
Chamber pitting reduces metal integrity at the highest-pressure point of firing, posing a serious safety risk and significantly diminishing value.
Question 7: An appraiser finds that a lever-action rifle's hammer will not cock when the lever is cycled. The most likely cause is:
- A worn firing pin
- A broken or disconnected hammer strut or mainspring (Correct answer)
- An overly tight stock screw
- Excessive oil in the action
Correct answer: A broken or disconnected hammer strut or mainspring
The hammer strut and mainspring are responsible for cocking the hammer during lever cycling; failure of these components prevents proper cocking.
CFA Condition Assessment & Functional Evaluation 2
A revolver's cylinder has a slight lateral wobble when locked into battery.
How does this affect condition grading?