Purchasing a Gun from a Pawn Shop

[Gr8_Outdoorsman]

What's your opinion on purchasing a gun from a pawn shop?

The reason that I ask is that I purchased my first pawn shop gun last week. I couldn't resist the deal ($400 for a like new Sig P239 .40 cal). They still performed the background check just like buying from anywhere else. I asked the lady if they verify that the weapon isn't stolen prior to placing it for sale and she said yes they do, also they hold it in the back room for a specified time before putting out in the display. For some reason, I still feel a little guilty buying from a pawn shop.

On a side note, I've absolutely fallen in love with this gun. I shoot it far better than any of my others and I plan to use it as my CCW when I complete the process.

[RPBrown]

I have bought several from pawn shops. You can sometimes find a real good deal

[connectme3504]

90% of all my gun purchases are at Pawn shops. You get good deals and they have a large selection over a long period of time. I have even bought a brand new gun at a pawn shop that broke and they returned it and I purchased a different gun with no problems. You just have to really watch the prices. Sometimes what they are asking used is the price of a new one.

[chamberc]

At least 80% of my gun purchases have been from pawn shops... Great experiences every one...

[chartreuse]

+1 for pawn shops. For those of us who are into C&R firearms, you can sometimes get the best finds at pawn shops, when interesting old examples are pawned and not redeemed.

[wally775]

It would be my opinion that a gun in a pawn shop would have a lesser chance of being hot than a FTF purchase.

In Texas at least any firearm pawned must have their serial #s turned into a LEA within
24 hours of the receipt of the weapon. The numbers are then checked against a hot sheet. This is how many of the guns from victims of theft are found. I received one firearm back after more than 18 months

Pawn shops are great places to find good deals. They are especially good if the gun has been pawned and not sold.

This may have changed but was good info not too long ago.

MOO.

[ELB]

I love pawn shops, and not just for guns. I have gotten a couple good deals on guns at my local Pawn and Gun. Both snubbies, now that I think about it.

[NOS]

Pawn shops are a great place to find good deals on used and even new guns! If you feel uneasy about buying a gun from a pawn shop, educate yourself on used gun evaluation. I bought a video through AGI, before I went into a gunsmithing program, that was very thorough on what to look for when buying a used gun. It even had chapters in the video to deal with different types of pistol actions, and many types of rifles and shotguns as well. Also, check on line for things to look out for. If you can properly evaluate firearms in condition and function, you can get some GREAT deals a pawn shops!
Never feel guilty for getting a good deal at a pawn shop. The shop knows what they paid for the gun and are not going to sell it at a loss, even if it is a great deal for you.
Congrats on your Sig!

[Gr8_Outdoorsman]

I appreciate all of the advice, it puts me at ease. I guess that I've stereotyped pawn shops as mostly selling stolen merchandise, which I probably should stop doing. They are often locally owned and operated.

The condition of the Sig was very obvious. Very little use was evident on the gun. I would guess less than 100 rounds total.

[G Wagner]

See if your local Law Enforcement agency will check the weapon by make, model and serial number. There is a chance the weapon was pawned, checked for stolen, before the owner reported the weapon as missing. If like the pawn shops in my area, the weapon is only checked once.

[Cobra Medic]

How not to get a gun at a Pawn Shop. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7187775.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WildBill]

I guess that I've stereotyped pawn shops as mostly selling stolen merchandise, which I probably should stop doing.

That's how it always seems on the cop shows.

[pbwalker]

How not to get a gun at a Pawn Shop. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7187775.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FTA:

Clark loaded his own ammo into the weapon with the store employee's approval.

Maybe the store employee will think next time...

[chartreuse]

It's worthwhile paying $25 or so for the Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values (or any of the others out there such as the Blue Book of Gun Values by Fjestad) and doing some research on any firearm's approximate value before handing over your cash. The book also has some great tips on how to check firearms for problems.

One example was a very nice Parker side-by-side 16ga shotgun I saw - with a price-tag of $12,000. Now I know that Parker is a very well-respected and expensive classic American shotgun maker so I didn't blink (too much!), but I later did a little research on that particular model - a VHE - and found that its actual value should be around $1,200. They'd boosted the price dramatically simply because it was a Parker - so do your research when making a purchase.

We were on vacation in CO, recently, and I had been looking forward to giving my shiny new C&R FFL a workout. Because my interest lies in a fairly narrow segment of the market, I'm pretty well up on the values of many of the firearms that I ask to look at. We came home without making a single purchase*, the prices were that inflated. I can't compete with Andy's example, but the most egregious that I noticed was a $300 Spreewerk P.38 at $1350.

On the positive side, I was able to educate a few dealers about .455 Webleys. As in "That's no longer a .455, the cylinder has been shaved to take .45ACP on moon clips and it's really not a good idea to constantly shoot proof loads from your pistol."

* Not strictly true. I did get a mag loader for my L1A1 and, though I passed on the inch mags as my Imbel receiver likes metric, I was delighted to see some just sat there in a surplus store.