Today as I made my way across the border I stopped at a gun shop I frequent every time I am over there to see if they had a Model 58 in stock.

Nothing spectacular jumped out at me, but he did have a couple of nice guns.

One of them was a Model 31-1. Had it been pre 31 or even a Model 31 on an I frame I probably would have spent more time with it.

As it was, it was a fine example of a 31-1, probably 90% or so. Fired very little from the looks of it. It had diamond grips. It also had a flat latch with just a bit of a turn up on the forward edge of the latch. It is the first time I have seen that particular latch.

I was very, very tempted to bring it home, but the price was a little steep for me. It may actually be a good price, but right now was high for me personally.

The other gun was a run of the mill NIB Model 686 Distinguised Combat Magnim Plus. It had a 5" half lug barrel, Hiviz front sight and was a very nice looking gun.

So, the guns are out there, just not the one I am looking for at the moment.

But it is always nice to stop in a friendly gun store if just to pass the time.

bob

I'm over here on the "wet" side but do end up in Spokane once a year or so. Is this a place you'd recommend for buying, or just looking if prices are consistently high? It's always fun to find a place with a good variety of used hardware.

This store was over in Coeur d' Alene. I haven't tried haggling with him yet on a gun so I am not sure how proud he is of them. The 31-1 he had marked at 595 and the 686 at 895. Both seemed a little high to me.

He has a very good selection of pistols and long guns. He has a boat load of Model 10's right now. They are all heavy barreled and show lots of wear. He is asking 269 for them. IIRC these are the same guns that were going for a little less in other places a while back.

The store I do most of my business with is in Spokane Valley. But his selection on used guns is usually a little thin.

If I were visiting over here I would go the extra few miles to Coeur d' Alene to visit the store.

It is called Northwest Pony Express.

bob

I have bought a couple of guns from them. A little high on the prices but it's a fun store to browse in. The people are decent also. I stop in every time I go through Coeur d'Alene. Bob-have you been to the gun store by the fair grounds on Govt. Way? They also have a large selection.
Ed

You folks in the Spokane area, is the Gunatorium still in business? I remember going in there in the late 70s and early 80s. I was always amazed at the hard to find stuff they had in stock. Unfortunately that was during a time of my life when my money supply was very low. I would think that the original owner must be dead by now. He seemed old to me back then, but everyone seems old to a kid in his 20s.

Ed Karrer, owner of the Gunatorium died a few years ago.

At first the family was going to shut it down so they got rid of a lot of inventory. That was a shame, going into that place was like going into a museum. A lot of SAA's, a Liberator or two, a 3 digit ser number Python and just lots of unique guns.

As time went by I guess they decided to keep it open, but the shelves were mostly bare from the sell off and the selection never came back.

I just noticed within the last month or so an ad in the paper for their last weekend to be open. I wasn't able to get there for it, and I have a feeling I didn't miss much anyhow.

So, as far as I know at this time the Gunatorium is no more, except in the memories of many people.

bob

Thanks Bob. A place in Spokane I always end up at is Northwest Pawn and Collector Arms (818 North Pines). Lots of used long guns but a bit limited for used handguns. In the corner they have a shelf of cardboard boxes and some metal bins to dig through - never know what you might find!

BobR
Thank you very much for the information! Before I moved to Alaska I used to live in Grangeville, Idaho. One time, when I was in the Gunatorium, Ed Karrer told me he had a soft spot in his heart for people from Grangeville because, during the Depression, Ray Holes (of Ray Holes Saddle Company in Grangeville) loaned him money which allowed him to stay in business. He said without the loan Ray gave him he would have gone down the tubes.

I'm not a horse person, but I've had people who are, tell me that Ray Holes makes the best saddle tree in the business. Ray was an institution in Grangeville. I'm sure he must be dead by now. From the few dealings I had with him, I always thought he was an awfully nice guy. His son, Jerry, always treated me well too. Their store, along with tack, sold very high quality western wear at reasonable prices. If I wanted to buy something nice for my wife, I went to their shop. My wife graduated from High School with Ray's grandson, who is also named Ray.

I seem to remember that the Gunatorium had several walls that were covered with different models of Winchester lever actions. One wall had 73s, another 92s, and another 66s. I think they also had collections of Sharps rifles too. If they sold all that stuff off, I hope they got what it was worth and someone didn't take them to the cleaners. The problem with having a life's collection of firearms is if the people who inherit them don't have an appreciation for them, or an idea of their value.