Best/Most Interesting Pawn Shop Find...

mk70ss · January 22, 2020, 04:25 PM

What is your best or most unique/interesting score you found and bought at a pawn shop? Mine was a 1921 S&W Nickel pre M&P .38. I told the employee it had grips that were not factory and it was dirty. He said, yeah no one wants them old revolvers anyways. I stole it for $200. It’s a great gun and a terrific shooter.

kozak6 · January 23, 2020, 06:59 AM

Last year, I picked up a 6" stainless (Monson!) Dan Wesson 722 for $250 cash OTD. Almost no turn ring. The cylinder stop is welded in place, which is acceptable for the price.

It came with a strangely modified 1911 holster. I think the previous owner carried it with the hammer cocked, as that's really the only way the added strap fits

.

Cheapshooter · January 23, 2020, 01:06 PM

Well, not a pawn shop, but LGS.
Thompson Center stainless G2 Contender. Super 14 35 Remington barrel, 14" 22 Long Rifle Match barrel, Burris 2-7 scope, and Boyt soft case.
All for $250!

T. O'Heir · January 23, 2020, 01:23 PM

No firearms in pawn shops up here. Government made it not worth the effort. Everybody selling firearms and the owners must be licenced to possess a firearm in order to do anything with 'em.
Oh and that 4" revolver is illegal up here.

aarondhgraham · January 23, 2020, 02:22 PM

That would probably be Libby:

Plain Jane Model 36 with a 3" barrel and square butt.

Poor girl had been rode hard and put up wet,,,
But a little cold blue and new grips,,,
She's a fine shooter.

All for $299.00 out the door.

Two years ago I had the pleasure of taking 7 Canadian visitors to my rifle-pistol club,,,
I took a variety of handguns for them to shoot and play with,,,
They all were very interested in my smallest guns.

Libby, my Taurus 22-PLY, Bersa Thunder 22, and my snub-nose Model 36 all got quite a workout.

I wonder if it's because they aren't available in Canada.

Aarond

.

ThomasT · January 23, 2020, 04:40 PM

Best deal I got was a Marlin 883 22 mag rifle stainless steel and laminate stock for $130 OTD. I went with a friend who had found a Taurus model 66 357 mag and wanted me to check it out for him. The gun looked good but when I opened the cylinder it fell out of the gun and onto the floor.

I told him don't buy this gun Jon, its broke. The shop said right then they would take a $100 OTD. So he bought it. When we got in his truck I asked if he had a small screw driver. He did. So I tightened the screw that holds the crane in and that solved the problem and that gun was a fine shooter.

hemiram · January 24, 2020, 07:36 AM

Best pawn shop deal was in Vegas about 1979, when I found a nearly mint Dan Wesson 15-2 with a bunch of accessories for $225 or something like that. I already had a 15-2, but it wasn't as pretty as the one in the pawn shop was, so I grabbed it up. By the time I moved back East, I had 4 15-2's, ranging from near mint to pretty sad looking. I carried the sad looking one at work in a casino, and didn't care if it got banged up, and it did.

10-96 · January 25, 2020, 01:55 AM

The best deal I ever got myself into, as far as handguns, was a S&W 25-2 that the shop owner swore had been parts-swapped into shooting .45ACP's "Because he just knows all 25's are supposed to shoot .45 Long Colts!" Came with the wooden presentation case, screwdriver, and cleaning rod. $300.

J.G. Terry · January 25, 2020, 11:04 AM

This was years ago. Went into local pawn shop looking around. Left with a Smith 624 for 185.00 OTD. Gun had spots of corrosion on top strap and cylinder Otherwise, the gun was in otherwise excellent condition. We were out shooting some of the pawnshop finds yesterday. There was also a five screw S&W Combat Masterpiece for $135.00.

laytonj1 · January 25, 2020, 04:15 PM

About 8 years ago at a gun shop I found a Dan Wesson 6” model 40 Supermag (357 Maximum) in like new condition with all original packaging including an extra barrel, tools and even some ammo. $399.

Jim

deadcoyote · January 25, 2020, 04:26 PM

I picked up an old Winchester semi auto in .22 short only with the brass magazine tube in the stock. It was $89.

veprdude · January 29, 2020, 11:29 PM

2 years ago I got a WW2 production numbers matching Luger for $600.

Honorable mentions are:

Bi-Tone XDM-9 without a magazine (oh no!) for $225
1911A1 US Army for $550
Waffen Marked Occupation Hi-Power For $550
Beretta 92FS INOX with Crimson Trace laser for $363

darkgael · February 1, 2020, 11:55 AM

i have never been in a pawn shop. Maybe I should find one and look.

Pete

Mike38 · February 1, 2020, 01:03 PM

Two years ago I found a new, yes new, Ruger MkII in a pawn shop for $250. Still had the inspection sticker on the frame and the long yellow stickers on the mags. If memory serves me, it came from a collector's estate. They could have very easily asked $350, and I would have very gladly paid it.

veprdude · February 4, 2020, 01:09 AM

Rule #1 for Pawn Shop Guns: Caveat Emptor. You are likely the most knowledgeable one in the room so don't expect them to address or find any issues for you.

mk70ss · February 4, 2020, 06:56 AM

Rule #1 for Pawn Shop Guns: Caveat Emptor. You are likely the most knowledgeable one in the room so don't expect them to address or find any issues for you.

^^^^^^^^^^^
This is 100 percent true. Buy on several occasions, the employee had no idea that the gun he sold me was worth twice as much because he had idea what it was.

jetinteriorguy · February 6, 2020, 05:55 AM

I've also noticed the opposite. Back when the big scare saw high gun prices a couple pawn shops I visited had ridiculous prices on every piece of junk gun in the place.

jmr40 · February 6, 2020, 07:55 AM

I have a couple of Marlin 39 Mounties picked up from pawnshops.

You never know what you'll find in a Pawnshop, or how it will be priced. A high school friend of mine used to own one. Sometimes people pawn a $500 hunting rifle for $50 and never come back for it. When it goes on the rack for sale he might well ask $500 if hunting season is coming up.

But if hunting season just ended he knows it will sit there for 9 months. In that case he might take $250 for it. That way he makes $200 profit right now, and he has an extra $250 that he can use to pawn other items and charge 20% interest/month. In 9 months he can make $450 profit on the interest instead of having the gun just sit on the shelf for 9 months. On other items he has much less room to work with.

And if you hang out in pawnshops long enough you figure out that different owners like certain guns and don't like others. And price them accordingly. I once found a Beretta 92 priced right from a guy who I knew hated Beretta, but loved Rugers. I drove across town and paid $175 for a Ruger P90 from a Pawshop where I knew the owner disliked Ruger. Went straight to the shop with the Beretta and traded the Ruger +$50 for the Beretta.

DaleA · February 6, 2020, 09:45 AM

Hmmm...I don't go to pawn shops anymore but my main memories are going to a couple of them when I was young looking for a portable radio. I dickered with the clerk over one I liked and got it at what my dad found out later was practically the same price I could have got it new at the big box electronic store.

Another experience was when I was with a friend that had just got a new Nikon SLR camera from a friend overseas. His friend got it for him for $500 when it was selling for about $800 locally. I pushed the pawn shop owner and he grudgingly offered $125 for it. My friend was mad at me for the rest of the day for just asking what the camera would bring.

You guys that have gotten real deals, I compliment you on doing your homework.

the45er · February 6, 2020, 10:01 AM

Ever since the internet became widely used, pawn shop shopping for guns has ceased (at least for me) to be fun. In the past I've made some amazing deals. Remembering:

Browning BSS 20 gauge "mint". Bought for $450. Sold 12 years later for $1450.

Smith & Wesson Model 25-2 45 ACP "mint. Bought for $250. Sold later for $450 (regrets!)

Browning A-Bolt 22 - Deluxe model. Stock was scratched up but bluing perfect. Bought for $150. Refinished stock to like new. Still own.

Remington Model 870 Wingmaster 410 "mint". Bought for $250. Still own.

scorpion_tyr · February 7, 2020, 12:44 AM

Bought a Mauser for $75 a few years ago because they had it labeled as a Mosin Nagant. Same pawn shop a year later got an absolutely beautiful Mosin Nagant 91/30 for $60 because they thought it was a pellet gun.

armoredman · February 8, 2020, 01:07 AM

Only great pawnshop deal wasn't a firearm, but something else I had been looking for. A Forster case trimmer. They had no idea what it was, even after I told them. Had a pilot and a collet included. Sticker said $10. MidwayUSA carries the base model for just under $90. I said so, because I REALLY am stupid about not cheating people and the guy behind the counter shrugged and said, "You like it that much? OK, make it $5. "
Needless to say there is ONE pawn shop I do all my business with. They also do receives for $10.

Siggy-06 · February 8, 2020, 01:57 PM

About 7 years ago one of my local pawn shops had a C series Hi Power come in, from the 1960's made in Belgium, 95% bluing. I held it, loved it, they asked $900. I thought it was too expensive, went home, slept on it, and they still had it a few days later. It came home with me for $800 and with a free extra mecgar mag.

458winshooter · February 13, 2020, 09:25 PM

I'd have to say either my 340 Savage in 30-30 or my 1903 Springfield. I got them $100 each plus background check. The 340 is surprisingly accurate with any type of ammo I have tried.

Rondog · February 14, 2020, 06:31 AM

I was in a pawn shop in Grand Junction, CO, and spotted a funky looking little bolt action carbine with a scope, a sling made from an old leather dress belt, and some wierd funnel looking thing on the barrel. Also looked like someone had sawed off part of the top wooden handguard. And it was FILTHY dirty! But marked cheap.

After wrinkling my nose a couple of times and looking past the funkiness, I realized I was holding a genuine October 1947 Fazakerly Enfield No.5 Mk.1 Rifle, AKA a Jungle Carbine, and under the grime it was actually all correct and unaltered, except three holes d&t'd for the scope mount. The rear sight was missing, and it needed a correct sling, but otherwise it was the real deal.

Priced at $150! It went home with me right then. Picked up a rear sight and sling for under $50, and she cleaned up very well!

January 23, 2020, 01:06 PM	#3
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Well, not a pawn shop, but LGS. Thompson Center stainless G2 Contender. Super 14 35 Remington barrel, 14" 22 Long Rifle Match barrel, Burris 2-7 scope, and Boyt soft case. All for $250! __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

January 23, 2020, 01:23 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	No firearms in pawn shops up here. Government made it not worth the effort. Everybody selling firearms and the owners must be licenced to possess a firearm in order to do anything with 'em. Oh and that 4" revolver is illegal up here. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 23, 2020, 02:22 PM	#5
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	That would probably be Libby: Plain Jane Model 36 with a 3" barrel and square butt. Poor girl had been rode hard and put up wet,,, But a little cold blue and new grips,,, She's a fine shooter. All for $299.00 out the door. Two years ago I had the pleasure of taking 7 Canadian visitors to my rifle-pistol club,,, I took a variety of handguns for them to shoot and play with,,, They all were very interested in my smallest guns. Libby, my Taurus 22-PLY, Bersa Thunder 22, and my snub-nose Model 36 all got quite a workout. I wonder if it's because they aren't available in Canada. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

January 25, 2020, 01:55 AM	#8
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	The best deal I ever got myself into, as far as handguns, was a S&W 25-2 that the shop owner swore had been parts-swapped into shooting .45ACP's "Because he just knows all 25's are supposed to shoot .45 Long Colts!" Came with the wooden presentation case, screwdriver, and cleaning rod. $300. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

January 25, 2020, 11:04 AM	#9
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	This was years ago. Went into local pawn shop looking around. Left with a Smith 624 for 185.00 OTD. Gun had spots of corrosion on top strap and cylinder Otherwise, the gun was in otherwise excellent condition. We were out shooting some of the pawnshop finds yesterday. There was also a five screw S&W Combat Masterpiece for $135.00. __________________ Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems

January 22, 2020, 04:25 PM	#1
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	Best/Most Interesting Pawn Shop Find... What is your best or most unique/interesting score you found and bought at a pawn shop? Mine was a 1921 S&W Nickel pre M&P .38. I told the employee it had grips that were not factory and it was dirty. He said, yeah no one wants them old revolvers anyways. I stole it for $200. It’s a great gun and a terrific shooter. __________________ Say when.....

January 23, 2020, 06:59 AM	#2
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Last year, I picked up a 6" stainless (Monson!) Dan Wesson 722 for $250 cash OTD. Almost no turn ring. The cylinder stop is welded in place, which is acceptable for the price. It came with a strangely modified 1911 holster. I think the previous owner carried it with the hammer cocked, as that's really the only way the added strap fits .

January 23, 2020, 04:40 PM	#6
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	Best deal I got was a Marlin 883 22 mag rifle stainless steel and laminate stock for $130 OTD. I went with a friend who had found a Taurus model 66 357 mag and wanted me to check it out for him. The gun looked good but when I opened the cylinder it fell out of the gun and onto the floor. I told him don't buy this gun Jon, its broke. The shop said right then they would take a $100 OTD. So he bought it. When we got in his truck I asked if he had a small screw driver. He did. So I tightened the screw that holds the crane in and that solved the problem and that gun was a fine shooter.

January 24, 2020, 07:36 AM	#7
hemiram Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 762	Best pawn shop deal was in Vegas about 1979, when I found a nearly mint Dan Wesson 15-2 with a bunch of accessories for $225 or something like that. I already had a 15-2, but it wasn't as pretty as the one in the pawn shop was, so I grabbed it up. By the time I moved back East, I had 4 15-2's, ranging from near mint to pretty sad looking. I carried the sad looking one at work in a casino, and didn't care if it got banged up, and it did.

January 25, 2020, 04:15 PM	#10
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	About 8 years ago at a gun shop I found a Dan Wesson 6” model 40 Supermag (357 Maximum) in like new condition with all original packaging including an extra barrel, tools and even some ammo. $399. Jim

January 25, 2020, 04:26 PM	#11
deadcoyote Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2009 Location: northern CA Posts: 674	I picked up an old Winchester semi auto in .22 short only with the brass magazine tube in the stock. It was $89.

January 29, 2020, 11:29 PM	#12
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 429	2 years ago I got a WW2 production numbers matching Luger for $600. Honorable mentions are: Bi-Tone XDM-9 without a magazine (oh no!) for $225 1911A1 US Army for $550 Waffen Marked Occupation Hi-Power For $550 Beretta 92FS INOX with Crimson Trace laser for $363

February 1, 2020, 11:55 AM	#13
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	i have never been in a pawn shop. Maybe I should find one and look. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

February 1, 2020, 01:03 PM	#14
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Two years ago I found a new, yes new, Ruger MkII in a pawn shop for $250. Still had the inspection sticker on the frame and the long yellow stickers on the mags. If memory serves me, it came from a collector's estate. They could have very easily asked $350, and I would have very gladly paid it.

February 4, 2020, 01:09 AM	#15
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 429	Rule #1 for Pawn Shop Guns: Caveat Emptor. You are likely the most knowledgeable one in the room so don't expect them to address or find any issues for you.

February 4, 2020, 06:56 AM	#16
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	Rule #1 for Pawn Shop Guns: Caveat Emptor. You are likely the most knowledgeable one in the room so don't expect them to address or find any issues for you. ^^^^^^^^^^^ This is 100 percent true. Buy on several occasions, the employee had no idea that the gun he sold me was worth twice as much because he had idea what it was. __________________ Say when.....

February 6, 2020, 05:55 AM	#17
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,173	I've also noticed the opposite. Back when the big scare saw high gun prices a couple pawn shops I visited had ridiculous prices on every piece of junk gun in the place.

February 6, 2020, 07:55 AM	#18
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	I have a couple of Marlin 39 Mounties picked up from pawnshops. You never know what you'll find in a Pawnshop, or how it will be priced. A high school friend of mine used to own one. Sometimes people pawn a $500 hunting rifle for $50 and never come back for it. When it goes on the rack for sale he might well ask $500 if hunting season is coming up. But if hunting season just ended he knows it will sit there for 9 months. In that case he might take $250 for it. That way he makes $200 profit right now, and he has an extra $250 that he can use to pawn other items and charge 20% interest/month. In 9 months he can make $450 profit on the interest instead of having the gun just sit on the shelf for 9 months. On other items he has much less room to work with. And if you hang out in pawnshops long enough you figure out that different owners like certain guns and don't like others. And price them accordingly. I once found a Beretta 92 priced right from a guy who I knew hated Beretta, but loved Rugers. I drove across town and paid $175 for a Ruger P90 from a Pawshop where I knew the owner disliked Ruger. Went straight to the shop with the Beretta and traded the Ruger +$50 for the Beretta. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

February 6, 2020, 09:45 AM	#19
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,312	Hmmm...I don't go to pawn shops anymore but my main memories are going to a couple of them when I was young looking for a portable radio. I dickered with the clerk over one I liked and got it at what my dad found out later was practically the same price I could have got it new at the big box electronic store. Another experience was when I was with a friend that had just got a new Nikon SLR camera from a friend overseas. His friend got it for him for $500 when it was selling for about $800 locally. I pushed the pawn shop owner and he grudgingly offered $125 for it. My friend was mad at me for the rest of the day for just asking what the camera would bring. You guys that have gotten real deals, I compliment you on doing your homework.

February 6, 2020, 10:01 AM	#20
the45er Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2008 Location: The mini-hill country of Texas Posts: 254	Ever since the internet became widely used, pawn shop shopping for guns has ceased (at least for me) to be fun. In the past I've made some amazing deals. Remembering: Browning BSS 20 gauge "mint". Bought for $450. Sold 12 years later for $1450. Smith & Wesson Model 25-2 45 ACP "mint. Bought for $250. Sold later for $450 (regrets!) Browning A-Bolt 22 - Deluxe model. Stock was scratched up but bluing perfect. Bought for $150. Refinished stock to like new. Still own. Remington Model 870 Wingmaster 410 "mint". Bought for $250. Still own.

February 7, 2020, 12:44 AM	#21
scorpion_tyr Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,326	Bought a Mauser for $75 a few years ago because they had it labeled as a Mosin Nagant. Same pawn shop a year later got an absolutely beautiful Mosin Nagant 91/30 for $60 because they thought it was a pellet gun. __________________ “Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science, by rendering them my supreme delight.” - Thomas Jefferson

February 8, 2020, 01:07 AM	#22
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,297	Only great pawnshop deal wasn't a firearm, but something else I had been looking for. A Forster case trimmer. They had no idea what it was, even after I told them. Had a pilot and a collet included. Sticker said $10. MidwayUSA carries the base model for just under $90. I said so, because I REALLY am stupid about not cheating people and the guy behind the counter shrugged and said, "You like it that much? OK, make it $5. " Needless to say there is ONE pawn shop I do all my business with. They also do receives for $10.

February 8, 2020, 01:57 PM	#23
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	About 7 years ago one of my local pawn shops had a C series Hi Power come in, from the 1960's made in Belgium, 95% bluing. I held it, loved it, they asked $900. I thought it was too expensive, went home, slept on it, and they still had it a few days later. It came home with me for $800 and with a free extra mecgar mag. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

February 13, 2020, 09:25 PM	#24
458winshooter Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Transplanted to Ridgeland,SC Posts: 606	Pawnshop finds I'd have to say either my 340 Savage in 30-30 or my 1903 Springfield. I got them $100 each plus background check. The 340 is surprisingly accurate with any type of ammo I have tried.

February 14, 2020, 06:31 AM	#25
Rondog Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 61	I was in a pawn shop in Grand Junction, CO, and spotted a funky looking little bolt action carbine with a scope, a sling made from an old leather dress belt, and some wierd funnel looking thing on the barrel. Also looked like someone had sawed off part of the top wooden handguard. And it was FILTHY dirty! But marked cheap. After wrinkling my nose a couple of times and looking past the funkiness, I realized I was holding a genuine October 1947 Fazakerly Enfield No.5 Mk.1 Rifle, AKA a Jungle Carbine, and under the grime it was actually all correct and unaltered, except three holes d&t'd for the scope mount. The rear sight was missing, and it needed a correct sling, but otherwise it was the real deal. Priced at $150! It went home with me right then. Picked up a rear sight and sling for under $50, and she cleaned up very well!