I need to start going to pawn shops. I hear of people finding good guns and tools; probably more on the tools side. Either way, I need to start checking them out as I never do.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
I need to start going to pawn shops. I hear of people finding good guns and tools; probably more on the tools side. Either way, I need to start checking them out as I never do.

I'm telling you, it's a waste of time.

They are all crooks.

Yep, today’s experiment was a bust. I had to try to settle my curiosity, it had been years since I’d looked in a Pawn Shop. This one even advertised about all the guns they had. Sad, pathetic little collection of what looked to be crime scene evidence. Only thing remotely desirable was a Berretta 21a, they wanted $399 for it.

I came across a beat to hell Remington 700 ADL in 30-06 at the pawnshop near my office when I worked for the newspaper. It was marked $250 and I offered him $200, plus he throw in a case. ( I was on my lunch break and didn't want to upset the liberals at the office)

I've hunted with it for close to 15 years and killed quite s few deer with it. It looks rough but I can hit a quarter at a hundred yards with it. That's plenty good for my deer hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
I need to start going to pawn shops. I hear of people finding good guns and tools; probably more on the tools side. Either way, I need to start checking them out as I never do.

I'm telling you, it's a waste of time.

They are all crooks.

I agree, but you can have fun with them. Offer them 1/3 and be persistent like they are......then try to get the stuff for half.......hehehehe

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
I came across a beat to hell Remington 700 ADL in 30-06 at the pawnshop near my office when I worked for the newspaper. It was marked $250 and I offered him $200, plus he throw in a case. ( I was on my lunch break and didn't want to upset the liberals at the office)

I've hunted with it for close to 15 years and killed quite s few deer with it. It looks rough but I can hit a quarter at a hundred yards with it. That's plenty good for my deer hunting.

You know, I didn’t think of a Remington 700. I could drop it into a Magpul stock and have some fun with that. Maybe I should go back

The ones near me are full of overpriced junk that looks like it had just been traded in by some gang banger. Anyways, there's one shop in an adjacent town that I used to go to when I was going through my revolver phase. They had some nice S&Ws and Colts, but they were also on the high side ($). They were always willing to negotiate the price, and bought a couple of Smiths from them after some haggling, but wouldn't call them deals.

Old thread warning!

Both same day:

NIB 3" Colt Detective Special $300

Nice Winchester 70 XTR 270 with an OK scope and cool Aussie made scope mounts for $300

Different shop

1926 6" S&W M&P 38 target, missing front sight blade and rear sight blade $350 I made the front blade from a part of a flat washer, and the rear blade from a Ruger blade. The rear blade notch is a little wide but is OK.

It's been 15 or so years ago, but I managed to pick up a S&W Model 25 in .45 ACP flavor for $225. Had the screwdriver, wooden box, and 3 moon clips. I was eyeballing it pretty hard to try to figure out why a feller was selling it at that price. Gentleman asked me "See what's wrong with it yet?" I said "Nope, and it isn't for lack of trying." He said "Every dang fool knows Smith & Wesson didn't make these -2's in .45 ACP, they're all supposed to be .45 Colt!" I said "Oh dear, I guess I ought to buy it so you won't have to worry on it anymore."

Yes, most of my collection has come from pawn shops. The chain stores usually don't know what they are doing and you can catch some deals

Example. A mint S&W 617 with target grips for $325

Mossberg 930 SPX tactical for $350

365X for $300

And many more

It’s harder to find deals on desirable guns in pawn shops these days. They all use the internet to establish value now.

A few pawnshop "scores":

At a local pawn shop (which has unfortunately closed now), my younger son bought a Rem 870 Super Magnum for $150. From the same pawn shop, I bought a 1988-vintage blued SIG P230 in the original SIG box, with original test target, manual, etc. for $375.

Another local pawn shop, a SS Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum for $400, and a CZ52 rig (holster, extra mag, etc.) for $200.

And another local pawn shop, a rattle-canned Rem 700 in .30-06 with a Burris 3x9-40 scope for $350. The whole rifle was painted, scope and all. Stripped the paint, and it was a SS Rem 700. It now wears an old-school wide-view Redfield scope; the Burris is on a .22 Savage bolt action.

bought several used at the LGS back before they moved all used guns to Gun Broker and killed selling them OTC.

There is a very cool pawn shop in Deland AAA Pawn they have tons of guns from antique to modern and rifles out the wazoo. You can find just about anything you want, some rare stuff as well and they are not inexpensive.

Their web page leaves a lot to be desired, but the images at the link below are good.

Google AAA Pawn Deland Fl for some great pictures of the inventory

https://www.westvolusiaconnect...Shop-10-1207452.html

I did, but it was ~25 years ago and in another state. Some nice ones, too - Colt Agent with factory hammer shroud, Glock 30, Beretta 86, Browning SA-22. The first three were at one shop. I haven't tried any here.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

There is a very cool pawn shop in Deland AAA Pawn

Bring a sandwich. It's easy to kill half a day there. They have thousands of firearms on display. New, used, collectibles, shooters, more than you can imagine.

First P7 that I ever saw and fondled was there, I decided that I had to have one.

I think that is the same shop that sells on Gunbroker as Pawnman (they may have recently changed the account name). They always have a huge number of listings but their prices on GB are stupid high.

I often shop at pawn shops. As bigwagon said, you have to sort through a lot of chaff to find the wheat. The shops won't be competitive unless they have a lot of other shops around &/or other FFLs that deal in used guns that they compete against. Basic theory of free market.

Also, it helps if you shop regularly. You get to know which shops price more competitively. You get to know which pawnbrokers/employees are more likely to negotiate better deals. If they see you buying regularly, then they know you're a serious buyer too and not a tire-kicker.

A few of my pawn shop scores in recent years:

• G47 w/ HS 509T for $575 - Got it for the price of an MOS w/o optic.
  
• G19.3 for $300 - No idea why 'the most popular gun' hadn't sold yet, but after several months, the manager marked it down to 3 bills, and I snatched it up. Condition was good. Hadn't been shot much, but exterior showed obvious holster wear. It's hard for me to pass up a real Glock at budget Glock clone pricing.
  
• G42 for $100 - Fair condition. Shop said it didn't shoot and needed repair. Internals were filthy, but after a detail strip & cleaning, it works fine.
  
• M&P 2.0 9mm compact for $200 - This one had been sitting for a long time, b/c it had been set up w/ the mag release button on the right side for a LH shooter. Only took a couple minutes to switch it back for RH.

I found a $400 1911 chambered in .17 mach2.

I've never been in a pawn shop. I don't think there is one within ten miles of my house. I've driven past them in my semi but no parking for a 50 foot trailer, and if I did buy a gun my company may have frowned on it!
I'll have to see if I can find one in the Cincinnati area.

Spotted this thread while scrolling and thought I’d see what everyone is finding… I was the OP 8 years ago. lol, clearly my memory is 8 years older too. There’s a pawn shop near me that I think I’ll hit tomorrow.