Purchasing a Gun from a Pawn Shop

[ScottDLS]

Don't all pawn shops have to have FFL's to buy and sell guns as part of their business? I wouldn't figure it would be any different than buying a used gun from any other FFL.

[WildBill]

Don't all pawn shops have to have FFL's to buy and sell guns as part of their business? I wouldn't figure it would be any different than buying a used gun from any other FFL.

I would think that a gun shop would be charge higher prices. A few friends have gotten good deals on guns, but I have never purchased anything at a pawn shop. The only guns I have ever seen there are over-priced junk. IMO, the people who find good deals are the ones that pick out a couple of local shops and visit them on a regular basis.

[chartreuse]

Don't all pawn shops have to have FFL's to buy and sell guns as part of their business? I wouldn't figure it would be any different than buying a used gun from any other FFL.

I would think that a gun shop would be charge higher prices. A few friends have gotten good deals on guns, but I have never purchased anything at a pawn shop. The only guns I have ever seen there are over-priced junk. IMO, the people who find good deals are the ones that pick out a couple of local shops and visit them on a regular basis.

I think the regular visit thing is a valid point, but there's two things to consider.

A regular gun store will look up the value of a used firearm, buy it for a percentage of that value and offer it for sale at a mark-up that's already been decided.
A pawn shop will loan $x on a firearm, then if it's not redeemed offer it for sale at a price that's a function of what was loaned. That's where you find the good deals.

That said, here's where your regular visiting thing comes in. My favourite store, they know me and they know what I like. So if, for example, a WWII British issue weapon drops, I'll get a heads up. You can't beat good interpersonal relationships.

[WildBill]

That said, here's where your regular visiting thing comes in. My favourite store, they know me and they know what I like. So if, for example, a WWII British issue weapon drops, I'll get a heads up. You can't beat good interpersonal relationships.

That says it all.

[Excaliber]

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 - a 90% difference! They'd boosted the price dramatically simply because it was a Parker - so do your research when making a purchase.

I've often seen obviously heavily used guns at pawn shops with price tags above what I could find for new at a gun show or any number of gun shops.

If you know your values you may well be able to negotiate a fair price, but if you don't and just pay what's on the tag, well, let's just say there are some folks out there who will happily take your money.

[chefkristian]

...If you know your values you may well be able to negotiate a fair price, but if you don't and just pay what's on the tag, well, let's just say there are some folks out there who will happily take your money.

Absolutely right. NEVER pay what is being advertised at a pawn shop. ALWAYS haggle with them. I have bought several different things from pawn shops and I frequent the ones in my area. Normally there is a cushion built in to the price... it just depends on how much commission the guy behind the counter wants to make...

[dac1842]

When a pawn shop takes a gun in they must notify the police department. the serial number is run through NCIC and the gun is held for 21 days prior to being put out for sale. I have purchased all my guns from a pawn shop and have never had a problem.

[chartreuse]

I saw some metric mags a few weeks back - someone had "converted" them from inch with a dremel...

I am reliably informed that there is a special place, for such people.

[PappaGun]

As is there for those who adulterate uisge beatha with anything other than water, I hear.

Hey AndyC, are you the guy writing those spams I get by the dozens?

[lonewolf]

In addition to the ability to negotiate, pay close attention to the tags in some pawn shops. There are dates on there with prices and you will see that the price drops as the date gets further out. That'll give you an indication in some cases of just how low they will go. After all, the longer it is sitting on their shelf, the less revenue they are generating. Cash in hand will get their attention, but as others have said, be aware that you inspect condition and have a good idea of the value of the weapon you are looking at.......

The other comment about being a regular and establishing a relationship with the pawn store is a great idea. Several times I have been advised that there is "some really cool stuff" that I might be interested in coming out of pawn soon.......

[Rye956]

Never did a purchase a firearm at a pawnshop. sometimes or most of the times whre i'm from they are quite expensive. like close to a price of a new one.

[chefkristian]

I was on the hunt for a cheap HD shotgun and I just got back from a pawn shop. I picked up a Maverick 88 18.5" barrel 12 ga. for way less than he was asking and for way, way less than Academy is selling them for. Plus it is the harder to find 18.5" barrel. So it was a win win situation.

I went to several shops today, and I gotta say that for the most part, many the guns were over priced.