Pawn Shops

[captorquewrench]

My kids are not home today...so I did what anyone would do. I ate food they wouldn't like, I went to some pawn shops. This is truly mecca of shopping for me. where else can I find saxes and guns all in the same place? truly one stop shopping I'm also looking for a Fender Telecaster in blonde or ash as a favor to someone...so pawn shops was IT today!

There were some good finds today but nothing really what I was after in the firearm or music fronts.

I'd like to know about everyone's best pawn shop great finds and horror stories...especially if related to buying or selling guns.

 

[29aholic]

Pawn shops

I used to manage pawn shops. I have LOTS of stories but 2 come to mind.

1. I bought an absolutely pristine 1st Model 44 Triplelock Target off a street dealer (ie a dealer with no store front who travels buying and selling) for $700. Thought I cut a fat hog when I sold it for $900...about 10% of what it was worth.

2. I had a feller come in one day toting a duffle bag. Now folks would bring their stuff in whatever they had handy, so I didnt think much about it. He sets it on the counter and wanted to pawn the contents. I unzipped the bag and staring out at me was a 10 1/2' python...ALIVE!!! Totally took me by suprise and I damn near shot them both.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Browning Auto 5 Light 12 made in Belgium. Right place at the right time. Both barrels, no rust anywhere, all the papers, case with only minimal wear outside, even the key is still in the little manilla envelope. Something like $200 I think, I forget at this point.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I used to manage pawn shops. I have LOTS of stories but 2 come to mind.

1. I bought an absolutely pristine 1st Model 44 Triplelock Target off a street dealer (ie a dealer with no store front who travels buying and selling) for $700. Thought I cut a fat hog when I sold it for $900...about 10% of what it was worth.

2. I had a feller come in one day toting a duffle bag. Now folks would bring their stuff in whatever they had handy, so I didnt think much about it. He sets it on the counter and wanted to pawn the contents. I unzipped the bag and staring out at me was a 10 1/2' python...ALIVE!!! Totally took me by suprise and I damn near shot them both.

First thought as I read this:

I would have bought it, that's a very non-standard barrel length... Oh, wait...

 

[DeathGrip]

I got a nice Winchester 62a from my local pawn and gun.Nuthing great but it shoots well after tapping the front sight back in place.$300 out the door.

Too much fun for that price.

 

[NKJ nut]

I unzipped the bag and staring out at me was a 10 1/2' python...ALIVE!!! Totally took me by suprise and I damn near shot them both.

OMG!!! I would have loaded my pants for sure. Your post makes me think maybe I need to put a "no snakes allowed" sign on the front door of my shop.

 

[seagill]

I found this nice S&W 908 at my local pawn shop for$300. It's my first S&W!

I see some good deals on tools, but they usually look like contractors tools. Either stolen or pawned by an out of work tradesman, just strikes me as sad.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Favorite Pawn Shop

My favorite pawn shop has produced a K-32, a "Triple Lock"and a Pre "A" prefix M-41. This same shop had a Model of 1953 Nickel Kit Gun with red box I refused because of the price and the stocks were not correct. Needless to say, I am very happy finding two of the never found grail guns at this pawn shop! You can never be sure of what you will find when you visit and I have been very pleasantly surprised at the items that show up. In another pawn shop I found a K-22 Outdoorsman absent the rear blade but it was an example of the Gun Makers art I could not pass up. Have since found the blade. These places are very often frustrating but sometime do produce the gems.

 

[Fishslayer]

After haggling & dickering with a music store dude over including a $15 case with a $250 guitar I walked out in a snit & walked into the pawn shop next door.

There, behind all the gaudy chrome & shiny painted hollow body electrics sat a poor old black Les Paul copy of undetermined make.

The fretboard was pretty worn but had real mother of pearl inlays. The frets had seen better days, as had the rusty strings. Most of the gold was off of the pickups.

$100.

I had the guy pull it down & I plugged it in. Even with the rusty strings this thing played nicer than any real Les Paul I'd ever played. Sounded good, too.

The guy even threw in a free case!

Alas... it got stolen a few years later.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

If you know any good pawnshops in Houston for firearms. I would like to know which ones. I have only found junk.

 

[captorquewrench]

I'm fairly new at this. Which is why I read all the forums but most actively post in this one. The one I was in today had some OK ones, lots of taurus, but some sig sauers, ruger, and S&W. Many long guns, I didn't look at them. But their handgun selection was small.

There's a store in Schulenburg I want to go in just to check it out. The liquor/gun store.

 

[DeathGrip]

There, behind all the gaudy chrome & shiny painted hollow body electrics sat a poor old black Les Paul copy of undetermined make.

$100.

I loaned my friend $115 for an undetermined L.P. copy about 30 years ago.Yes sir it was a Ibanez Law Suit and neither of us knew what we were looking at.After we got it home and plugged it in we realized it was pretty hot.As good as any LP Custom I've ever played since.Maybe better.(sunburst)
He still plays it on occasion but its pretty worn out.

 

[spudwrench]

I don't know if it's kosher for a full blown shout out but Tabor's in Crossville TN. is the best. I walked in and bought a brand new 39-2 350 OUT THE DOOR. Plus I've traded in some old not used stuff for way more than I thought. Great people great service.

 

[NKJ nut]

There's a store in Schulenburg I want to go in just to check it out. The liquor/gun store.

Sounds like a great place. If only they sold tater chips and seegars

 

[glenncal1]

I picked up a pristine 29-3 6" for $500 from a local pawnshop, box and docs too. Not a super deal, but a beautiful gun, I put a set of Kurac's smooth coke style grips on it. It is stylin'

 

[peyton]

I had a blast going through the pawn shops around Killeen TX. Sadly being deployed for so long has cut my shopping adventures to a mininum

 

[oldman45]

It used to be pawn shops were the best place to get a good buy on a used guns. I have bought dozens over the years at good prices.

For the last couple of yrs, they seem to have brought their prices up to a high end retail price and will not haggle like they would yrs ago.

There are four pawn shops I visit regularly in the local area and two in towns close by when I am working in those areas. All of them have became distibutors for new guns and seldom have anything in the way of used guns other than the cheapies or guns in sad shape.

Now I try to buy from individuals.

 

[thndrchiken]

That's what I miss about living in the south. You could make a day of pawn shop surfing.

 

[CelticSire]

2 great buys in pawn shops.

1st, an S-prefix Model 58 that shipped in January 1969. It was labeled (incorrectly0 as a .357. Paid $165 out the door about 11 years ago.

2nd, an original 1st generation Predator 314 pool cue, with case, for $50 in a pawnshop in Rolla, MO, about 5 years ago. It appraised as is for $450. I hate to admit it, but it shoots better than my Meuccis or my Joss.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I picked up a pristine 29-3 6" for $500 from a local pawnshop, box and docs too. Not a super deal, but a beautiful gun, I put a set of Kurac's smooth coke style grips on it. It is stylin'

I wouldn't cry if there was a pic posted of that. Or a few more here from this thread...