In these situations you always run into what the player knows, versus what the character may know. It is a mesh of the game rules and a living and breathing fantasy world. Under most circumstances I would supplement what the player knows and add some type of skill or ability check on what the character may know; even if it is behind the DM screen. A wizard may know more about the possibilities of a wand flying by itself or actually needing someone to possess it, versus a barbarian that may not have a clue. Once we get the argument of can the holder be detected (success or fail) the rest of the argument is easier to determine based on the rules.