Looking for out-of-the way shops that regularly have some older S&W's at sane prices.

Barney,

You really think we'll reveal our "hidyholes"?

Seriously, there are lots of pawn shops but it is difficult to give you many pointers because many of them put their guns on the internet as soon as they can and rarely put the nice ones in their show cases. Ray's Hardware on Singleton Blvd. is a huge gun store but they also list most of their used guns on the net. Jackson Armory in Snyder Plaza has a good supply of old guns but I wouldn't exactly call their prices sane and they are frequently also on the net.

All I can suggest is to search for area gun stores on the internet and just wander into some of them. Occasionally you will get lucky.

Bob

I can't speak for sane prices, but the Cabela's in Fort Worth usually has some nice older guns in their gun library.

Buck

Try the gun shows some time you can find a deal there. There is one this weekend in Allen.

Alas, the gun shows really are the best place in Dallas. We have almost no independent dealers left, and the big stores don't carry used guns.

Bachman Gun & Pawn may have a few occasionally, but don't count on it. McClelland's, ditto.

For a city of this size, there are pitifully few good gun stores.
Can't say about Ft. Worth and the mid-cities.

Bob Bettis mentioned Jackson Armory, near the SMU campus. Nice shop, but high prices, and be sure to check older guns carefully. I've seen a few there that weren't in the best condition, and I think one Webley had functioning issues. But if you have a lot of money, they do have a fine selection of better guns.

T-Star

I am in houston so can't tell you any particular places. but then again I probably wouldn't anyway because I can't remember the names of them unless they are a chain.

it's been my experience that gun stores are tough for finding used deals. this is common sense. they know their products but more importantly I feel they have a clientele to sell them to. if you want to find deals in gun stores, based on what I hear from this board, you need to develop a relationship with some dealer as a regular customer.

I have never bought a gun at a gunshow but a few times I should have. the best deals I find are usually from individuals in the back of the show. so I start from the back and work to the front when at the shows.

best bet is the pawn shops. go into everyone you come across. it's pretty easy to know where they are. don't waste your time looking for particular stores. just go to the parts of town that are most likely to have them and drive down those main streets going into every shop you see.
almost all will have some selection of guns. the only exception is neighborhoods populated by heavy concentrations of illegal aliens. they usually don't carry guns for obvious reasons. but hey that's where you take a lunch break. pickup a dozen tamales then get back to greener pastures.

with persistence you will be on these boards in no time bragging about your new find.

Gun shows yield better deals then gun shops.......

I think the bottom line is keep looking and be persistent. Above all, don't be afraid to deal. The worst they can say is no. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt, most of the time its the best part. Disappointment often comes after you get that great deal and the adrenalin wears off. Then the process start all over again.

I've been scouring the Fort Worth area for several months, and have not found anyplace like you are asking about. The Winchester range out by 820E has gobs of new and used but their prices a so high anything I would offer would probably be an insult. I can't even find a gun shop that carries any reloading supplies or equipment.

My observations are exactly the same as most of yours. Your remarks just confirmed them. Cabela's in Ft. Worth had a really beautiful 6" 19-3, P&R on the shelf for 599.00. They took my equally beautiful Remington 700 ADL/222 as an even swap. Felt like I got a pretty good deal. Their "gun library" seemed to have lots of clean guns. I think I saw some more used guns in their (huge) new gun area. As far as gun shows go I've had more luck selling than buying.

Thanks for your responses!

Barney