Pawn Shop BP finds....

[Joe Yanta]

I have always been a packrat looking for buys in thrift store, pawn shops and garage sales. In the last three months I have came across the following in pawn shops.

I found an original I.XL Green River Dadley at a thrift store for $0.50.

The rifle is an unknown 50 caliber plains rifle. I thought it was an old TC kit but it is not marked and has leaf spring in the lock. The barrel and brass has beautiful patina and natural aging. $50

The dueling pistol is a 45 caliber Miroku made in Japan, $20.

The Philadelphia Derringer is also 45 caliber, Dixar and also $20.00.

What has been some of your knife, gun or possibles finds at a good bargain?

Thanks for your interest and comments.

Joe

 

[musketman]

I would say that the rifle could be a "Miroku" copy of a T/C rifle...

See old post: You Gotta Be Kidding

 

[GregK]

Found a TC New Englander 50 cal. in a Pawn Shop for $50.

 

[Dave Poss]

I always seem to find things in pawn shops like a "customized" TC (5 brass tacks in the stock) for $550 or for only $125,a hippie purse with the k mart lable still in the bottom..."Yes sir, that hunting bag was made in 1835"... or a tomahawk for $200 ( a shinglers hatchet with Sears that's lightly stamped in the blade)....Yes, I have found some real bargins! :: :curse: :cry: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[Birdwatcher]

Most pawn shop owners in my neck of the woods are very aware of the market value of what they have, which ain't to say that unusual stuff doesn't turn up, but at expected prices.

Along the same lines I was at a gun show today, a few used cap and ball revolvers for sale. Every one I looked at overpriced, mostly nondescript brass-frame Colt-type knockoffs for $130-$150. Notable at the same show was a guy with brand-new stuff, including a nifty .36 Spiller and Burr for $150.

The gun that tempted me the most was a used large-bore 1850's era Musketoon (Enfield, Springfield???) repro, complete with attached, pivoting steel ramrod, for $150. One of them damned if I do damned if I don't deals.

Birdwatcher

 

I don't have money to burn but pawn shops can be interesting. Besides obvious damage or abuse, what does one look for in buying a used BP firarm from an undetermined source? Are there any of them that are best stayed away from?

 

[musketman]

There is also a chance that pawn shop guns are stolen, people DO dump hot goods at pawn shops...

Well, that took all the fun out of it... :crackup:

 

[bowjock]

Well I just picked up a Navy Arms 12ga side by side. Checked it out and it was made in 1985, has a Pedersoli barrell, lookes like it was never shot, including not even a trace of darkness around the locks and nipples. I got it for $225.00 so I felt pretty lucky this time. At another shop, they had two flint locks hanging from the ceiling, both are full stocks, not sure who made them....but the guy there said.."that one is a Hatfield, and the other one is a McCoy"....go figure....and they wanted 1600.00 each.....lol

 

[Stumpkiller]

I don't have money to burn but pawn shops can be interesting. Besides obvious damage or abuse, what does one look for in buying a used BP firarm from an undetermined source? Are there any of them that are best stayed away from?

Things to watch for are swapped out parts, especially locks that don't line up with the barrel vent or nipple. The bore, obviously. Run a patch down and see if it grabs or slides easy in spots. Look down the flats to see if there are any bulges.

There were a bunch of makers in Belgium in the 60's and 70's: some good, some homicidial.

If possible, pull the lock and look for signs of abuse or neglect inside the lock. If not allowed, make sure the half-cock and sear is stable. Try rapping the buttstock hard with the heel of your hand in both the full and half-cock positions. Look for signs of rust or discoloration around the edges of the lockplate; indicating bad things inside.

 

[rayb]

This applies to Pawn shops and generally used muzzleloaders.

My experience is that about 50% of them have a charge and ball loaded.

BEWARE and BE very safety alert when you handle them.

I bought 2 pistols that way, and had a revolver given to me. The revolver had all cylinders loaded. I of the 2 pistols was loaded. The loaded pistol was unloaded, & i've shot it for several years. Shoots great. The revolver has just been finished and hasn't been tested yet, but anticipate no problems.

 

[Joe Yanta]

Amen to that ray. I never feel completely good until I get my treasure home and I run a dowell down the barrel and mark the muzzle with my thumb. Then I pull the dowell out and lay it along the barrel with my thumb at the muzzle. The end of the dowell better line up with the seam between the breech plug and the barrel. I think most of us can tell a good one from a bad one. And some times even a bad one is a good buy because of the sights or other parts. It isnt anything to spend $25.00 for primitive sights anymore. One of the secondary pleasures in finding a good buy is "bragging rights". Making one of you shooting or hunting buddies sick with envy if that just happens to be what they have been looking for for the past two years.

Joe

 

Thanks for the solid, logical and safety minded info guys. :thumbsup:

 

Well, my best buys tweren't pawn shop buys, they were what I call "gunshop prejuice finds". Back in the 1980's I bought a .54 IAB Sharps and an Erma .54 Gallagher for $125 each in the same shop. At that time the Sharps sold for around $395 and I've seen the Erma selling for around $1,000 these days.

Just :m2c:

 

[Barney]

After all the talk here, I stopped at the pawn shop in town. There's a Lyman GPR for $300 and a Navy Arms .58 Hawken type.

Seemed a little much for a used GPR but I was kinda interested in the .58. Don't know anything about Navy Arms. If it's in good shape is this a good price? Are they good guns?

 

[Rat]

You would think that the stampeed to inlines would put some good deals in the pawn shops and gun shops latley.

Or possibly not, if most inline buyers are first-timers to muzzle loading.

::

Rat

 

[Joe Yanta]

Barney I think both of those BP guns you found are good guns.

One thing about pawn shops, their asking price is a starting place for the final negotiated price. I dont know how others do it but here is how I do business with pawn shops. I visit pawn shops often, their stock is always changing and they always have something new. Do not waste their time, its ok to browse. Treat them with respect and have respect for their merchandise. If you find something very over priced so be it, no one else will buy it either. Some items I have bought I have seen at the same pawn shop for several years until they wanted to get rid of it, then I got it for a good price. Never negotiate a price for a gun unless you are willing to buy it at the end of the negotiation. Nothing will hurt your chances for future bargains than not buying something after you have a good price. I always wait until I have money in my pocket before I "talk turkey". And remember, the respect you exhibit will be returned.

Many of the pawn shops I visit know me by name. Many, many times someone will say, "Joe I've got a (knife, gun or what ever) coming out of pawn in a couple of days you might want to come back and and take a look at". Sometimes they ask me what I know about something and about what it would be worth. I always give an honest appraisal. By being honest, humble and respectful...I have been astounded at some of the buys I have got.

The front range of Colorado has a huge community of pawn shops, and I go to all of them.

Joe