A proper LGS

[LoneGoose]

I was traveling through middle Tennessee on I-24 and stopped for gas at Exit 24. Next to the gas station, I saw a little place with a sign, "Farragut Sales, Sporting Goods and Knives". I just had to check this out. I walked in and the first thing I noticed is that this guy really likes knives. They filled most of the store. I saw the gun counter at the back of the store about the time the owner came out from the back.

We met and chatted. I asked him if he had some handgun ammo I was looking for. He did. And right there on the glass was a display of CCI Stinger .22 ammo. I hadn't seen Stingers in ages, so I got a box of them. He said that he likes to keep uncommon chamberings in stock, and I could see stacked on the shelves behind him there were boxes of European calibers, uncommon American calibers, etc.

He said that he had "all the old ones, too - .44-40, .38-40..." and recited several more. We had a long chat about the shooting sports, then I left. I was really impressed with that shop. Here is a guy who is catering to all shooters, not just the 5.56 and 9mm crowd. If you are driving in that area, it is worth a stop. On my receipt, his phone number is 571-330-1830.

THR rocks.

 

[Spade5]

Nice story. Too far from Texas but I would stop by if he was closer.

 

[Sistema1927]

I am guessing that this is more of a hobby for him, and that he is independently wealthy. The problem with operations like that is the fact that they don't tend to make much money. Having ammo sit on the shelf doesn't generate revenue.

 

[C5rider]

There's a guy in PA that has one of those LGSs that you walk through and just take in all the history. Curt's Gun Shop in Mainville, PA. Good guy and he's always got a good assortment of powders and brass. Last place I saw 30-40 Krag brass in a long time.

Everytime I get up there, I pay Curt a visit. Well worth the trip! We need MORE of these places, or at least we need to promote them more so others can help keep them in business!

 

[milemaker13]

My favorite LGS is North American Firearms in Lombard, IL. Tiny, super friendly, family run place. My little boy just loves the place!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Red Barn Gunshop in Bradenton, FL. Walls covered in bayonets and battle flags, artillery shells and model planes and tanks- most of them donated to the shop by its many regulars. Hanging from the ceiling is Rodger's (the owner) collection of deactivated machine guns, Bren, Madsen, etc...
Rodger only deals in used guns- doesn't try to compete with the Big Box- and the price you see is the price you pay. No haggling, no B.S., just good old guns at fair prices.

Worth stopping by if you're in the Sarasota/Manatee area just to oogle all his cool stuff- its as much museum as shop.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

When I was a boy, my father use to take me to a small shop at Coleman's Corner on the eastern shore near Chestertown MD. This was in the early to late 60's. The owner Bob Elliot lived in the house on the property. The house and the shop were circa 1890's vintage.
He opened the place after serving in the Korean war.
Bob was a big waterfowl and deer hunter. When you walked into the shop, it was like stepping back in time from my young eyes point of view. Funny thing is, sometimes you had to knock on the front door, because one of Bob's retrievers would be asleep laying against the well worn door. Bob would come over and roust the dog from the doorway. The dog would get up, let you come in, and then just plop down in front of the door again. Bob also bred all the dogs and always had at least 3 or 4 laying around the store. You had to just step over them if you wanted to walk around the shop. They were not inclined to move in the least.
My father and Bob would talk about hunting for an hour or so, meantime I spent my time petting the dogs and looking at all the stuffed animals.
This was the shop my father bought me my very own brand new 22 cal. single shot rifle when I turned 7. I still have that 22, and think fondly about all the time I spent there at Bob's Gun shop.

 

[ontarget]

It's getting harder to find a good LGS if you aren't into whatever the latest and greatest trend may be. I have a favorite LGS but they definitely cater to the tacti-cool crowd. I really like the staff there and they do have good pricing. No wood stocks with deep blue steel on the shelf though. I get that stuff snooping around pawn shops.

 

[FL-NC]

You were between Clarksville and Nashville. I was at Campbell for 8 years, but I left in '99. Guess it wasn't there back then or I just didn't know about it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

It's getting harder to find a good LGS if you aren't into whatever the latest and greatest trend may be. I have a favorite LGS but they definitely cater to the tacti-cool crowd. I really like the staff there and they do have good pricing. No wood stocks with deep blue steel on the shelf though. I get that stuff snooping around pawn shops.

Yep, between the 2 pawnshops in town that deal in firearms, Ive grabbed a bunch a great old guns including: .243 Savage 99, chrome plated Winchester M1 carbine, a McMillan stocked Wearherby Vanguard, several mint vintage .22s, 6" S&W 686-1, a nice 1918 production M1903, a mid-80s W.German P226, and my 1917 DWM Luger Artillery. Never know what you'll find!

Another great Mom and Pop pawnshop in Michigan was kind enough to let me layaway my M1903mk1 from halfway across the country and shipped it with great care in a nice case, no extra charge. The fella there grilled me first to make sure I understood what I was buying and how special it was.....I got the distinct impression he would not have done this for me if I had been judged an unworthy caretaker of this piece of US history....

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Whenever I start to missing those good old small gun shops, I just go into my workshop. Sometimes I feel like I have more inventory then the small gun shops I used to go to.

 

[Captcurt]

We have a couple of good stores here, but some of the large hardware and farm stores are starting to sell guns now. The small stores have better prices, service, knowledge, and better selection of quality arms. I know a couple of guys who only shop at the big stores because of lay-a-way. It is sad that they don't shop with a well established small business, but what do I know?

 

[milemaker13]

Seems like the smaller shops could do lay a way at no cost to them... Just keep taking dudes money until its paid for....or Until the non refundable contract expires. Isn't that how lay a way works?

 

[SteveChuck]

I was traveling through middle Tennessee on I-24 and stopped for gas at Exit 24. Next to the gas station, I saw a little place with a sign, "Farragut Sales, Sporting Goods and Knives". I just had to check this out. I walked in and the first thing I noticed is that this guy really likes knives. They filled most of the store. I saw the gun counter at the back of the store about the time the owner came out from the back.

We met and chatted. I asked him if he had some handgun ammo I was looking for. He did. And right there on the glass was a display of CCI Stinger .22 ammo. I hadn't seen Stingers in ages, so I got a box of them. He said that he likes to keep uncommon chamberings in stock, and I could see stacked on the shelves behind him there were boxes of European calibers, uncommon American calibers, etc.

He said that he had "all the old ones, too - .44-40, .38-40..." and recited several more. We had a long chat about the shooting sports, then I left. I was really impressed with that shop. Here is a guy who is catering to all shooters, not just the 5.56 and 9mm crowd. If you are driving in that area, it is worth a stop. On my receipt, his phone number is 571-330-1830.

THR rocks.

Academy Sports in Greensboro, NC...at any given time, several boxes of 300 (plastic bricks of 100ea)- CCI Stingers...CCI has finally ramped up production after a very long lull...

 

[boom boom]

There's a guy in PA that has one of those LGSs that you walk through and just take in all the history. Curt's Gun Shop in Mainville, PA. Good guy and he's always got a good assortment of powders and brass. Last place I saw 30-40 Krag brass in a long time.

Everytime I get up there, I pay Curt a visit. Well worth the trip! We need MORE of these places, or at least we need to promote them more so others can help keep them in business!

Bought some gun parts from him online, I believe. Nice guy if it is who I am thinking of.

 

[bullseye308]

You were close to another good one, Reloader’s Bench in Mount Juliet. Good guys running it and they stock plenty of presses, dies, powder, primers, bullets, pistols, rifles, & accessories galore for most things.

 

[Charliefrank]

Most of the gun shops my father visited and I got to tag along are gone now. Fond,fond memories.

 

[LoonWulf]

Whenever I start to missing those good old small gun shops, I just go into my workshop. Sometimes I feel like I have more inventory then the small gun shops I used to go to.

thats cause you do......

and thats only whats in the "you never know" thread.


I like our LGS, they are all helpful and generally stock a good variety of wares and ammo......powder can be sketchy, but thats barge shipping for you.

 

[Axis II]

I really like Fin feather fur outfitters in NE ohio. It started as a mom and pop store about the size of a corner store and now has a 3 floor monster main store and several satellite stores. I always find very knowledgeable people there and lots of ammo to choose from. Several brands of 9mm, 223rem, 12ga, 38spl and prices are good. I happened to be there a few weeks ago and walked by and noticed Winchester wildcat in 22lr. Man as a kid that's all I shot and always liked that ammo cause its what I cut my teeth on. I couldn't believe it by my 22 rifle only seems to like cci standard and I have a bunch of junk 22 ammo I got cause of the shortage that doesn't shoot worth a hoot so I passed but still very nice to see and they aren't price gouging either.

We have a small bait store around me too that began selling ammo and guns and one day I seen a brick of 22lr in his glass case and commented on it and he was selling it for $55-525. I passed and he became upset with me and how he had to travel to get that to sell to us so we don't have to drive and find it and bla, bla bla. 9mm $15-50. I have a cabelas 10 min away and used to have a gander 10 min away and would drive 30min one way to fin feather fur. When cabelas came to town I thought it would hurt Fin but it has not as the counters and lines are always full and cabelas well its more chicks in yoga pants and guys in dockers and sport coats.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Seems like the smaller shops could do lay a way at no cost to them... Just keep taking dudes money until its paid for....or Until the non refundable contract expires. Isn't that how lay a way works?

Problem is, the small shops wind up with all their inventory on layaway in the back room- that's a lot of $$$ tied up, not for sale, and not collecting interest. Add that to the fact they have to administrate the payments with usually only one or two staff, make reminder calls, have to default or argue with people about payments.....its not usually worth it.
Pawnshops have the extra staff, storage, and software to handle layaways cuz that's their business model.

 

[CapnMac]

Whenever I start to missing those good old small gun shops, I just go into my workshop./QUOTE]
Well, that's because your shop in no way resembles a Volvo dealership, or a car stereo sales room--unlike far too many gun shops.

A really great shop ought to have a spittoon (even if only for show) an old iron stove (even is only for show), and a place for crusty old platoon Sargents (whether 27 or 67) to jawjack a bit.

Of course, all a place would need to keep the Gunny happy is Chips Ahoy cookies

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Don't forget the coffee. Strong black coffee. It makes the cookies so much better.

 

[CapnMac]

Don't forget the coffee. Strong black coffee. It makes the cookies so much better.

Yeah, problem is in finding a proper Sea Service vet who knows that black coffee is a scared thing, and not something boiled from vaguely brown granules in water that has a taste of grape beverage base taste.
And none of this AF Keurig business, either.

 

[ontarget]

Seems like the smaller shops could do lay a way at no cost to them... Just keep taking dudes money until its paid for....or Until the non refundable contract expires. Isn't that how lay a way works?

There used to be a shop near my place that did alot of layaway deals. Problem is he had a habit of letting guys he knew and trusted take the guns before they were paid in full. Not a good plan when everyone "forgets" they still owe you money. He didn't last long and its too bad because when he opened up his shop he was going for that classic old time LGS atmosphere. I miss his shop.
ETA. He always treated my kids VERY well and that has always been my #1 requirement to do business with you.

 

[milemaker13]

The little place I like always has some old guys in there talking. They all volunteer to watch the kid while I fill out paperwork (the place is literally like 15' x 15' or so). He likes the fish tank and running behind the counter. He's allowed back there, I'm not, lol.