Pawn Shops

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mars5l

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Mar 18, 2014
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I wanna hear some pawn shop deal stories. I havent check any around me yet but have been thinking about it. Last I went looking around in some for fishing gear they wanted $80 for $30 Big Lots combos and tools werent much than new. What kinda pawn shops do you typically find the best deals at?
 
I don’t go into pawnshops as much as I use to. You spend a lot of time looking at overpriced junk….A lot of time. But if you know what you’re looking at and you’re persistent you will find some good deals out there…. Not often, but sometimes. Some of the things I’ve bought.

-Marlin model 60 in great shape for $100 out the door. Not a steal, but a good deal.

-Pietta Model 1860 Army black powder .44 revolver in awesome shape for $40. A total steal. The gun was “broken” and I took a chance. The action was locked up because it wasn’t put back together properly. I fixed it in like 5min and it was flawless after that.

-Showroom condition Eddy Merckx track bike with full Campagnolo Super Record for $500 out to door. I rode it a few times then sold it for $1500.
 
I tend to find various models of Leatherman. Would like to eventually have every model. :cool:
Long ago I got the Pulse for $20, and SOG Power plier for $35. I haven't found any good Knives though. Especially custom. They use the Internet now to price what the take in. They can't find customs so they don't take them. Also they tend to only take 10% off retail. That's not acceptable for a used item. Hard to find deals anymore
 
Pawn shops in my area mostly have junk knives. Except for leatherman and SAK.
 
Stories about finds at pawn shops? Let's see...

Estwing framing hammer, $6

KA-BAR USMC with box, paperwork and sheath, $25

Old model Buck 110, $8

Buck Omni 397 with sheath, $12

Countless DVD movies, $2 each

All manner of screwdrivers, new and old, $1 a piece

Ames entrenching tool, $10
 
I blame the internet. It's too easy for every shop to identify and maximize prices so the deals are getting fewer and fewer.
 
Got a Benchmade AFO for 35.00 cash couple of Gerber MP600's for like 15.00ea, Leatherman Charge for 25.00, Kershaw Barrage and Whirlwind for 30.00 but the same Pawn Shop had a Frost Cutlery Ka-bar next gen clone for 89.99 so they are alittle derpy when it comes to knives. Quality knives are often cheaper than the junk at this place.
 
Yalius said:
I blame the internet. It's too easy for every shop to identify and maximize prices so the deals are getting fewer and fewer.
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I'll second that. We even have pawn shops listing things for sale on places like craiglist around here. I even got a call from a pawn regarding a want to buy add I listed on craigslist. Next weekend a new pawn shop is opening here in my city. It's a chain of the pawn shop on that show hardcore pawn on tru tv. I'm not quite sure what to expect out of that place. They built a rather large steel frame building with a pretty serious safe, so it looks like they really intend to do quite a bit of business. I'm hoping a nice pawn shop will bring in some nicer items than found in the small shops around here. Mostly all you see is old job site tools, car audio, old video games, dated/stolen electronics and cheap beat up firearms in this area.
 
Bought a 1990's era Buck nightwing for $15. Pretty stout knife for the price. Other than that most of the pawn shops in my small town have Pos knives like Frost or flea market junk.
 
There's on here that's owned by hunters and from talking with them, they kind of only like to buy gear that is decent and price it so it doesn't sit in stock forever. So I could get a Leatherman Rebar for $35 as marked, or probably talk them down to $30.
 
Within the last year, knife-wise, I got a nearly pristine Pro-Tech TR4 for $50, a Western W49 "B" (1978) for $60, a 1960s Western BSA L66 for $10, a 1866 Chassepot bayonet, no sheath for $50, a Camillus VN era MK2 for $30, an Ontario Mk2 for $45, to name a few. Part of my technique in getting good deals at pawn shops is to get to know the managers and over time, let them know what you are interested in. I get calls about 2x / month advising me one of my pawnshop buddies has something I might be looking for.
 
I find pawn shops to be way overpriced with few deals. I don't even go into them much any more.

I still visit thrift shops, flea markets and garage sales and find deals there but pawn shops are no longer worth my time.
 
Wow, I wish I had been paying more attention to the forum lately, I have been missing out on a lot of good threads. I manage a pawnshop in Middle TN, I have been working there since I was 15. Let me tell you there is no better place to find deals on knives! I would suggest checking all of your local shops weekly if possible and building a relationship with the management and workers. Let them know what you are looking for and give them your contact information. I have several regulars who look for knives that I have no interest in myself and I have no problem passing them along at a lower price than what I know I could possibly get for them if I sold them elsewhere.A lot of people are negative about pawn shops, but not all are ran equally,

A few good deals I have ran across at pawnshops in the past.....$15.00 Camillus Beast, 5 CASE knives all new for $25.00 each, SOG Topo $20.00, and the HOLY GRAIL OF PAWNSHOP HUNTING....$10.00 for a small William Henry carbon fiber spearpoint:cool:

That one find was worth the countless hours spent searching the competition stores on my day off.

Keep hunting and DONT GIVE UP!
 
Most pawn shops are chains.

Finding the one that isn't part of a chain is what you want. The have better things to buy, and will haggle better too. There is a local pawn shop here in indy that isnt a chain. And I have spent probably $1000 in there on tools, knives, ammo in the last 2 years.
 
It's rare to find something good - as pointed out numerous times.

About a year ago, I picked up a perfect condition mini grip for $15. About a month ago I found a small cold steel voyager (new style) for $20.

I stop by pawn shops in towns I'm in on business. Lots of real bad knives for lots of money.
 
Found a pretty rare Spyderco Q advertising knife at a pawn shop about 4 years ago. Paid $20 for it.
 
I got a ruger 10-22 with a bx25 mag in tip top condition for 150 dollars. I became sort of friends with the dude so I asked why so cheap. He said the longer stuff is there the cheaper it gets. So I had to ask "what else you got in the back. A flawless HandR break action 12 for 50. bought it too. But that was in Arizona. guns are cheap out there.
 
macheteman.rico said:
. But that was in Arizona. guns are cheap out there.
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Without a date to your story, it's tough to comprehend. The gunshows here used to be awash with used guns, but not since Obama. People truly seem to be holding on to their guns. Either that, or they've grown educated enough to sell them on their own, rather than to trade them in with dealers. While we can only get good at spotting 'deals' within our personal realm of expertise, I'd say I only encounter one or two deals per year. Rarely does my fun-fund balance match-up with what I find, LOL. :D
 
I've never bought a knife at a pawn shop. Bought an N64 for $15 that included 4 controllers and 8 games. That was back in 2001 though.
 
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