Pawn shops?

[JWF III]

I make it a habit to stop by pawn shops in this day and age. I regularly find great deals. Unfortunately, the deals are on tools, so if it's something I need or could use I buy it. Otherwise I don't.

Most of the guns are overpriced, or fair at best. I did by a CZ52 at one a year ago (or so) for $160, a fair price. Right now the same shop has an incorrectly marked Turkish Mauser, with an Argentine bayonet for sell for $180. The barrel looked like a drain culvert that had been flowing sewage. Worst looking barrel that I've EVER seen, and I've been into mil-surps for quite a while. I could see the rifling in it (barely), so it might would've cleaned up. But I'm not wanting to gamble right now.

Every once in a while a true gem can be found at a pawn shop, but these days they're few and far between. I'm guessing the owners deal with guns a lot more, and they're educating themselves on the values of guns.

Wyman

 

[jaholder1971]

Around my areas, the vast majority of pawn shops are more a fencing operation as the owners have large amounts of rental property in the urban areas of town and they all take merchandise in lieu of rent.

Watched over one lunch hour one guy bring in 20 Pioneer car stereos, NIB, and trade them for half his month's rent. No one asked where he got 20 of them and none of them ever made the showroom floor.

The merchandise that is out on the floor is junk, including the guns, and they want better than new retail for it. They're still in business yet the stuff on the showroom floor never moves.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Watched over one lunch hour one guy bring in 20 Pioneer car stereos, NIB, and trade them for half his month's rent. No one asked where he got 20 of them and none of them ever made the showroom floor.

That would never happen at the shop I deal with. They had a guy come in with a bunch of NIB scopes and other doo-dads. They thought that was strange, so, they called the local big box sporting goods store and asked them if they were missing a bunch of these scopes. As a matter of fact they were. The guy ended up being arrested for shoplifting.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I've bought a few guns at pawn shops, but not too much lately. My favorite chain, Cash America, has taken to selling most of their guns on AuctionArms--which is great news for others but sucks for us local guys, because we have to pay sales tax, shipping, and a transfer fee for a gun that's being sold from across town. Needless to say, I don't bid on those!

However, in years past I've done pretty well, and have picked up some of my favorite weapons from pawn shops.