Gun shops and their knives

I think knives are a second thought with most gun shops. There is one in my area, though, which has a really good range of quality blades. That's because one of the key personnel is a true knifeknut. I think that's the difference.
 
One of my best friends owns a gun/outdoors shop in northern Wisconsin and he has an amazingly poor selection of knives - mostly Schrades and a lot of Chinese knock-offs. When I criticized him for the lack of quality he replied that he knows his market. Based upon his years of experience selling to the same people in a small town, he knows that a $100 knife will just gather dust -- no matter how much he pushes it. $20-$30 is the most his customers are going to pay for a knife, so he doesn't see the reason to take up display space with something that won't sell.

On the other hand, one of the best selections of knives I've ever found in a non-knife-specific store was in the heart of Manhattan during a trip to New York last year. I was killing time walking in and out of shops when I came across a big sporting goods store. I'm wandering around in there looking at everything from camping gear to basketball jerseys when I see a sign directing me upstairs for fishing equipment. There, at the top of the stairs, is a huge display case with probably 100 knives in it -- Spyderco, CRKT, Buck, Timberline, Puma, Busse -- most of the major brands and many smaller ones represented. The prices were a little higher than I would normally pay at home or over the net, but I was in NY -- everything's more expensive there. I didn't buy anything that day, but I sure looked a long time. It was true diamond in the rough.
 
The one I go to around here now has a mediocre selection, some Shrades, Bucks, CRKT, Western, and a few chinese POSs. Not bad, but not what it used to be. Their bow selection has gone down hill lately, too. Mostly Matthews and PSE. Great bows, but not a lot of selection. Need more variety. And I would second the Mossberg 500 suggestion. I have had really good luck with mine, even won some turkey shoots against much more expensive shotguns (3 out of 5 trys!).
 
My favorite pump shotgun is the Benelli Nova, hands down. I have 2 Mossbergs, and a Winchester 1300. They're great guns, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Benelli. I went hunting for ducks and geese in North Dakota last fall and the Nova got rained on, snowed on, dunked in a pond (yuk!) and was the only gun in our group that did not require disassembly and cleaning at some point during the trip (including the 870). It's built like a Glock...'nuff said.

Patrick
 
The new Gander Mountain surprised the hell out of me. I got there about a week after it opened and they had a whole rack of used shotguns and rifles. Prices seemed good too. Lots of shotguns mostly 12 guages and a few 20's. About 10 different .22 rifles too all in the used rack. The rack of new guns was probably stocked with over 200 rifles and shotguns total, and the counter had at least 100 different hand guns. Great selection , black powder and air guns too.

As for knives. they had Kershaw ( boa, blackout, some others) A spyderco delica 98, a couple benmchmades, buck folders and fixed blades, browning folders and fixed blades, and some nice fixed blades that looked semi custom ( knives of alaska or somehting like that)
Also had every leatherman and almost all gerber 600 models as well as the gerber legend for multi tools.

I'll be going back fairly often :D
 
If you live in the Ft. Lauderdale area we have a nice gun shop with a large selection of knive - Gun & Knives, Inc. A good selection of Case, Microtech, Spyderco, Benchmade, CRKT, Marble, etc.. They also have a limited selection of cutoms. Not to mention long guns, hand guns, and single action for the Cowboy Action people.

They usually get in the latest of everything but don't expect any discounts as they do not. Their prices will be a little lower than suggested retail.

Gray_Wolf :)
 
I know exactly what you mean about the cheap crack knives in most local shops. I try to keep a selection of Spyderco, Benchmade, SOG, and of course CASE knives in stock at my gunshop. The CRKT knives have also been a good seller, and I will continue to stock these as well. I will not stock those cheap pieces of $@&% knives that look like a Spyderco, BM, Boker, and so on. I just sold our local police chief a new combo edge Spydercard, and he is very happy with it. This was his first, tactical type knife, and I know he will be back when he wants a good quality knife instead of going to the local hardware or feed store for a cheapie.
 
Hey Matt, do you have a number for Gander Mountain? I used to get this catalog from them, and they had some pretty good deals.
 
Rattler

Gander Mountian sold off their catalog business to Cabela's a few years back and focused their efforts on their retail chain. I believe they've since been purchased by the Holiday Corporation out of Minnesota. I always liked their selection and pricing better than Cabela's, so I was disappointed to see them go. Check out a store if there's one near you.
 
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