Hidden Gun Stores
- Thread starter ARTiger
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It's fantastic that so many of you have experiences with the type of off-the-wall, hidden gem gun dealers I have grown to know and treasure.
In an age of internet commerce and big box retailers like Cabelas and Gander Mountain, etc., I feel we sometime lose the value of small dealers who humanize gun buying.
I've met many "characters" and learned more about guns over a cup of bad coffee and good conversation than I ever will on the internet - even here.
For me, a childhood fascination with guns has grown (over 35 or so years) to a point where I find enduring value in friendships with "gun people" as much as I do the guns themselves - maybe more so.
Tomorrow I have a driving business trip to Chattanooga from my home in Northern Arkansas. There are two gun shops (a hardware store and "rental" place) that I've never been to along the way. I added 4 hours to my estimated travel time.
Don't have a clue what I would need to buy, but chances are great that my "home" FFL will have a package coming in before I get back.
In an age of internet commerce and big box retailers like Cabelas and Gander Mountain, etc., I feel we sometime lose the value of small dealers who humanize gun buying.
I've met many "characters" and learned more about guns over a cup of bad coffee and good conversation than I ever will on the internet - even here.
For me, a childhood fascination with guns has grown (over 35 or so years) to a point where I find enduring value in friendships with "gun people" as much as I do the guns themselves - maybe more so.
Tomorrow I have a driving business trip to Chattanooga from my home in Northern Arkansas. There are two gun shops (a hardware store and "rental" place) that I've never been to along the way. I added 4 hours to my estimated travel time.
Don't have a clue what I would need to buy, but chances are great that my "home" FFL will have a package coming in before I get back.
RobertFBurnett
Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 415
I can see your spokesman now...And Matt if you know someone thats good with photoshop you'd have a great storefront pic.
"TF"
+
"A"
=Matt's ATF!
Tried to find one with a beverage in Hannibals hand, but alas this was it.
My neighborhood is quite the opposite, anyplace that had Guns on the wall around me closed up long ago.
RFB
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paramedic70002
Member
Portsmouth, VA has a TV repair and gun shop.
jrfoxx
Member
I was pretty surprised the 1st time I walked into the Ace/True Value Hardware in Oak Harbor, WA to get some paint or some such, and in the corner was the ammo, rifles, shotguns, handguns, etc dept.
First time I ever saw anyplace other than a wallmart,kmart, or obvious gun store selling guns. kinda neat. Made me think of all the stories on here about the old days of grocery stores, Sears, and such selling guns. Too bad you dont see as much of this, or the "kitchen table" type gun dealers any more.
evan price
Member
Once upon a time I knew where there was an aquarium store and gun dealer. Out of business now. You could go in and buy a bunch of goldfish and a new Glock.
jimmyraythomason
Member
We once had a combination pest control/gun shop here. The owner was so busy with the pest control part that the gun shop just faded away.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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- Apr 13, 2006
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- 7,822
This doesn't seem so odd to me. When I was growing up in small towns in the middle of rural Utah not so long ago, there weren't any "gun shops" to speak of. Yet in a town of 2,000 people, there were at least 4 places from which to buy guns. The local department store sold clothes, shoes, appliances and guns. The local eletrical supply shop sold appliances, wire, switches, cassette tapes, fishing gear, and guns. Both hardware stores sold guns.
Even now, of the three closet gun shops to me in a much more populous part of Utah, one is about half western wear, half guns. The other is about half musical instruments and half guns. The last is a ranch equipment store that sells everything from corral panels to gas tanks to tractor toy. They also sell guns.
Maybe it's just the west, but these things aren't so uncommon.
Even now, of the three closet gun shops to me in a much more populous part of Utah, one is about half western wear, half guns. The other is about half musical instruments and half guns. The last is a ranch equipment store that sells everything from corral panels to gas tanks to tractor toy. They also sell guns.
Maybe it's just the west, but these things aren't so uncommon.
Wopasaurus
Member
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- Nov 12, 2007
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- 248
The cheapest place to do an FFL Transfer around here is a little Health/Natural Food store.
IllHunter
Member
two come to mind....
the new Cabelas certainly has a variety of sporting goods and a deli, while the real deal is/was in Waukegan, Il. the late David Michael "Mike" Schrank Sr. who founded Mike Schrank's Smoke n Gun in 1964. Last I saw, his brother and son were keeping it going. Been too long, guess I'm due.Need ammo and cigars.
the new Cabelas certainly has a variety of sporting goods and a deli, while the real deal is/was in Waukegan, Il. the late David Michael "Mike" Schrank Sr. who founded Mike Schrank's Smoke n Gun in 1964. Last I saw, his brother and son were keeping it going. Been too long, guess I'm due.Need ammo and cigars.
jimmyraythomason
Member
At one time all hardware stores and Feed and Seed stores sold guns and ammo here. None do anymore.
Just found out last Thursday that a gun dealer atleast does business out of the vacant house next to me. The neighbors have said that a cop owns it and let other police officers store things there. Infact I was out in our yard a couple months ago and UPS was trying to deliver there. I let them know that no one lived there and the driver said "well, I've gotta have a signature on this one, its guns." Sounds like I need to do a little more investigating and maybe email the guy. I might just live next door to a pretty decent gun shop.
FourTeeFive
Member
Firearms and Musical Instruments
B & B Guns & Banjo Shop is in Alabama and sells, you guessed it, guns and banjos!
I seem to remember another music store/gun shop somewhere in the central USA.
B & B Guns & Banjo Shop is in Alabama and sells, you guessed it, guns and banjos!
I seem to remember another music store/gun shop somewhere in the central USA.
geim druth
Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2006
- Messages
- 270
Auto Parts of Woodbridge, nice people to deal with. Gun shop is on the second floor, auto parts and fishing tackle on the first floor.
Gas Station in campwood TX sells ammo.
Uvalde has a gun/liquor store that you have to walk through the liquor store to get to the funstore.
Small town on 281 between Lampasas and Hico had a pawn/gun store that you go through the feedstore to get to.
Uvalde has a gun/liquor store that you have to walk through the liquor store to get to the funstore.
Small town on 281 between Lampasas and Hico had a pawn/gun store that you go through the feedstore to get to.
cracked butt
Member
My favorite gun shop is a hardware store about 25 miles from where I live.
In the hardware store itself, they sell reloading components, ammunition, and gun cleaning materials. If you walk through a door in the back of the store and go up the steps, the entire upstairs is new long guns, used long guns on consignment, shotgun barrels (new and used), and gun cases. They also sell Glock and Freedom Arms handguns, but they aren't on display (the gunshop isn't normally manned- the longguns are on racks along the walls), but the manager/owner will bring them out on request. He'll also order in anything for a better price than anywhere else.
The owner doesn't advertise that he has a gunshop, but everyone in the area knows its there and I found out about it by word of mouth when I used to live nearby.
In the hardware store itself, they sell reloading components, ammunition, and gun cleaning materials. If you walk through a door in the back of the store and go up the steps, the entire upstairs is new long guns, used long guns on consignment, shotgun barrels (new and used), and gun cases. They also sell Glock and Freedom Arms handguns, but they aren't on display (the gunshop isn't normally manned- the longguns are on racks along the walls), but the manager/owner will bring them out on request. He'll also order in anything for a better price than anywhere else.
The owner doesn't advertise that he has a gunshop, but everyone in the area knows its there and I found out about it by word of mouth when I used to live nearby.
35Rem
Member
Story's
Opelika, Alabama (Next to Auburn - War Eagle!)
Sells Auto Parts, Tater Chips, RC Colas, Fishing tackle, Camo, Ammo, and stocks probably 1,000+ guns. Lots of ammo, reloading supplies, you name it. Probably sold gas at one time, too.
Opelika, Alabama (Next to Auburn - War Eagle!)
Sells Auto Parts, Tater Chips, RC Colas, Fishing tackle, Camo, Ammo, and stocks probably 1,000+ guns. Lots of ammo, reloading supplies, you name it. Probably sold gas at one time, too.
Dorryn
Member
Mmm... Cigars and guns... takes me back to my A-Team days!
I don't think they're around anymore after the owner's son was found guilty of knowingly buying stolen guns from an employee of Dick's Sporting Goods and re-selling them in the store.
News article about it: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/two_plead_guilty_to_stealing_g.html
rbernie
Contributing Member
In 1992, I bought a 1900 Gustav Swede and an Egyptian FN-49 from Woolworths in Tysons Corner Mall, in Fairfax VA.
Un-freakin-believeable.
Un-freakin-believeable.
packnrat
Member
small town northern ca, from the outside it looks like a fishing store.
all most all guns inside. reloading supplys, but no oll.
but they do sell a pole or two.
.
all most all guns inside. reloading supplys, but no oll
.but they do sell a pole or two.
.
blackhawk2000
member
I've been to a gas station in Ohio, near Cedar Point that had gas, booze, smokes, and guns. I thought that was pretty cool.
Cenntential in Marine City, is sandwiched between a pizza shop, and an antique store. It's kind of hidden. He used to be a jeweler, and still buys gold/silver. Great place.
There was another on Jefferson around metro beach. Stones I think? Kind of hidden, but I spotted it from the road. Tons of "flair" on the walls. Old handcuffs. Old west stuff. War stuff. Old barber chair.
Cenntential in Marine City, is sandwiched between a pizza shop, and an antique store. It's kind of hidden. He used to be a jeweler, and still buys gold/silver. Great place.
There was another on Jefferson around metro beach. Stones I think? Kind of hidden, but I spotted it from the road. Tons of "flair" on the walls. Old handcuffs. Old west stuff. War stuff. Old barber chair.
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