Pawnshop stories...

[english kanigit]

I got off work a little early today so I decided to make a circuit of my nearby pawnshops. Last week I scored over $400 in paintball stuff for $120 and I figured maybe I would get lucky again. I still can't believe how they price their stuff!

A HiPoint 9mm pistol- "lightly used" $179!

A HiPoint 9mm carbine- "brand new" looked like a dumpster special $215 (it came with a second set of sights...)

$579 for a really beat up witness (CZ 75 knock off)

About a year ago, I canvased the pawnshops to look at ruger 22/45s; I had planned to buy one at the gun show which was soon. The lowest prive was $350 for a really beat up model. That weekend I got my first personal fire arm. A ruger 22/45, I paid $265 NIB.

What are some of the most ridiculous offers/deals you have ever seen?
( excluding the brass-hawking aussie on e-bay )

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

The worst thing I saw was an Argentine Hi-Power copy, pretty beat up, tagged at $599.

The best deal--I ain't tellin', but let's say I did just fine.

Recently, I found a like-new S&W 469 for $225, out-the-door. Really a nice pistol; not a mark on it.

Saw a nice Savage .270 package gun for $200; considering they may have taken less than that, that's not too bad. I would've bought it if I weren't left-handed, and it was a right-handed rifle.

Aside from those, I've seen a lot of junk--but just enough good stuff, decently priced, to keep me looking.

 

[ulflyer]

I know some of you have found good buys, but in my area every single one I've been to is way overpriced. I don't bother going anymore. I did find a decent gunshop yesterday that will sell for 10% over wholesale, plus tax. Example: New Springfield GI $399.

 

[sarge83]

Worst deals: Very used Ruger 10/22's all for $175 or more. Any Glock $600+.


Best deals: excellent condition Ruger 22/45 for $211 out the door.
Winchester 1894 pre-64 model good condition for $220
Inland M-1 carbine, needed new front sight, otherwise good condition $329.
S'G' M-1 carbine, good condition $349.
Colt 70 series LWC .45 pristine condition $449.

 

[mtnbkr]

I have never found a good gun deal at a pawn shop. Mostly what I find is $120 NEF Pardners and the like.

Chris

 

[White Horseradish]

My favorite is a Mosin-Nagant I found at a pawnshop last summer.

Slightly rusty, no handguard, cut-off forearm, multiple off-center holes in it(no sling studs, just holes), shortened barrel, homemade front sight, dark pitted bore, homebent bolt handle with burn marks. Tagged as "Rare Russian Rifle", $269

It's still there.

 

[LeonCarr]

A Colt SAA allegedly once owned by a Texas Ranger (no documentation) at a pawn shop in Palestine, Texas, and the price tag said $17,500.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[EghtySx]

I saw a CZ 52 at a pawn shot for $250.

On the other hand, I bought a Delta Elite First Edition at a pawn shop for $750 in great shape. Have been offered $1200 for it. I still own it.

 

[outofbattery]

Depending upon the pawn shop , they really don't care if you go buy elsewhere as they can afford to keep whatever on the shelf due to making all their money on the loans themselves . It's hit or miss , I found a like new $300 Kahr and a $5 1906 manufacture 03 Springfield bayonet with scabbard etc in pawn shops but yeah , you're equally likely to see a " great " deal on a lightly used Haskell . You might just notice the prices on guns but give a look at tools and electronics as well - same story . I look at pawn shops like yard sales - just going to look but not going to buy anything in particular ; it doesn't pay to get bent out of shape about what they're asking .

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

Here in a military town there are many, many pawnshops.
Some are always high and the others are up and down.
I find it really depends on who is the manager is at the time as they do have a large turn over in help.

Alot of times it depends on if they like you also. I have walked in a bought something for 20% less than a friend was quaoted a few hours later and vise versa.
Some go by condition and the blue book and some go by the % added to the original loan and that is where you really get either a great deal or the price is sky high.
I have bought $1k firearms for half the price and have saw them for twice what they are worth.

 

[Bear Gulch]

SOme are good. Some are really sad. Pawns can have problems with the legality of tracing ownership as well.

 

[shooter58]

Never,never,never pay the sticker price at a pawn shop. Always offer at least 40% lower in cash...then negotiate from there. They jack the price up expecting a lower offer.

I worked at pawn shop for about 2 years (part-time) to help out a friend who was the owner. The lesson he taught me was this:
If you loan out $100...payback is $125 IF YOU PAY BACK IN ONE MONTH! Other wise you pay the interest ($25) for that month. If you go to pay back the next month, the price is still $125 ($125 + $25=$150), and it just continues to compound until the loan is defaulted. He can never sell the item for enough profit to offset the amount of profit he makes if that money is on the street. So, if you see a gun on his shelf that has been there a little while, make an offer. He would much rather have the money to put back on the street. He effectively makes 25% per month! Cash always talks in those places.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I was once offered the time of day for a mere $.50 in a pawn shop.

 

[CAS700850]

I was doing a witness interview at a pawn shop, and noticed a nice Smith Model 15 on the "gun rack" (peg board with hooks). I asked to see it, looked it over, and saw it was in good shape. Negotiated a price of $250. I gave the guy $50 to hold the gun as I wrote down the serial number, to have it run for possibel stolen property. Suddenly, he "recalls" that he promised the gun to someone else, and returns my money.

Funny thing, I ran the number anyways, and there was no report of it being a stolen gun. Never again looked at buying anything at a pawn shop.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Pawn shops are a few of my favorite things!

I love pawn shops. The people that work there can only panic when faced with someone who knows more about the product and its value than they do.

I have purchased the following:
85% Egyptian Hakim Rifle $105.00
98% Swedish Ljungman AG42B $ 250.00

Of course, I have also seen the same number of $600.00 used (read abused) GLOCKS and the like. :banghead:

My neatest find has got to be a copy of a Thompson called a Volunteer Arms Commando Mark III in .45 ACP. Thirty round stick mags, etc. The "salesman" had the price marked at $258.00, but the tag also said it did not function. I inquired about the weapon and was bitten. After discussing the attempts made by various gunsmiths to "fix it", I got him down to $175.00.
Twenty minutes after I got it home I had it working and it is being refinished as a home defense weapon.

America...What a Country!

 

[Rexrider]

A Colt SAA allegedly once owned by a Texas Ranger (no documentation) at a pawn shop in Palestine, Texas, and the price tag said $17,500.

Hey, I think I saw that same Colt SAA at a gun show in PA about 15 yrs ago. But back then the guy only wanted $3000 for it.


I asked the guy behind the table why the Colt was $3000. He said because it belonged to a Texas Ranger. So I asked, who was this Ranger? He said he did not know, it just belonged to a Ranger.

Wow....I wish I would have bought it back then. To think it would be worth $17,500 today.

 

[Old Dog]

Then we have the pawnshop in which I once found a minty stainless Combat Commander (nary a tiny scratch on it) - that had been modestly but expertly customized (very nice frontstrap checking, beavertail, nicely beveled mag-well, extended safety, Novaks and -- what looked to be real ivory grips) with a $500 tag on it ... the guy behind the counter wouldn't hold it for me because he said someone else said they'd buy it ... I had to go the bank in person 'cause the guy wanted a cash sale and my ATM withdrawal limit was $300/day. Of course, by the time I got back, an hour later ... the pistol had been purchased by the first guy. Lesson learned: don't ever go into shops that sell guns without lots of cash in the wallet.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I go to pawn shops to eyeball the hand tools and occasionally the guns. Every once in a while I find a "must have" tool at a good price. One place I go to more than others is the most organized and clean pawn shop I have ever visited. Everything laid out and sorted with military precision. I complimented the owner on it one day. About a month later I was browsing and bought a $7 Tanaka nail puller and as I was leaving the owner said he'd just gotten a rifle in the day before and did I want to see it? Turns out it was a .30-40 Krag carbine(NRA modified, not original) for $400. Really great shape. I'd been looking for one since 1972 when I first saw my brother-in-law's. Didn't even haggle on the price. I would have paid more to have it.

I guess the owner remembered me and the compliment.

 

[jsalcedo]

Some of my best pawnshop deals.

1951 Remington 870 wingmaster 28'' barrel $69

Ruger P95 LNIB $232

Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag and Dan Wesson .357 8'' both for $400

Colt New Army .38 special from 1908 for $145

Browning A5 3in mag 100% NIB with everything for $350

Ruger 22/45 100% for $179

Needless to say I keep going to the same shops over and over.

 

[RobW]

A rusty, beat up Lyman reloading press for $140.00. You can buy it NEW from MidwayUSA for $80 something.

For a good laugh, I once in a while looked around in that pawn-shop, and after 4 years, the press was still there. And when they didn't die...

 

[jsalcedo]

I forgot a couple
A Dillon 450 complete but in pieces with 40 full primer tubes and .44 mag dies for $60.

Crusty colt large frame revolver (1917 I think) rusted, pitted and with mustard yellow plastic grips held together with scotch tape $650.

I think they said it belonged to Sgt York.....

 

[Morty76]

The pawn shop gun store in the area has the little early 1900's Colt pocket auto .25 in beat condition for the low, low price of $1,000

The range/gun shop i shoot at has the same pistol in good shape for $185.

 

[Coltdriver]

They are fun to go to and different ones have different attitudes and knowledge about guns.

I picked up a Model 38 for $300 at one pawn shop. Not a screamin deal but not a rip. The pistol had not a mark and the cylinder was like new tight. They came off of $350 to $300. The same shop had a very nice, tight Highway Patrolman for $350, not a bad deal.

I tried to talk a pawn shop out of a Monson Dan Wesson a couple of weeks ago but they would not come off of $200 and this one needed the cylinder reworked on both ends. Had to let em keep it.

I had one pawn show owner try to tell me that his Inglis HP was worth $800 because it was a war version, but I knew by the serial number that it was an early 50's version and worth maybe $300 in my book. But its always fun to look.

Occasionally you find a deal, for the most part I find junk at over inflated prices. Half of the fun is actually checking out a shot out H&R or some no name Saturday night special. As long as you don't take em too serious there is no harm in looking.

 

[jsalcedo]

The same shop had a very nice, tight Highway Patrolman for $350

Heck, I guess they have all kinds of things at pawn shops these days.

 

[crewchief]

I just saw a Norico .38 in a pawnshop today for $300