Kevins Guns

[Todd Poer]

Probably not many gun websites get by this forum without much scrutiny. Kevins has a great shop down in Tallahassee and Thomasville. They also have a diverse assembly of guns for sale. What caught my eye was supposedly 1 or 4 Parker 28 ga skeet guns for sale, just a smidge under $50k. He has some healthy prices on his guns and some I thought were more reasonable, like a Parker reproduction.

Anyway if not familiar with their here is a link, you might find it interesting.
http://www.kevinsguns.com/category-s/111.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=111&show=30&page=5

[Dean Romig]

He has some healthy prices on his guns.


:shock: Phew!... I'll say.





.

[Kirk Potter]

Wow, $30k for a reproduction A1..

[Todd Poer]

:shock: Phew!... I'll say.



.

Yeah!! But hey some folks a few weeks ago were worried about value of guns. If he is getting any of those prices and I believe he is then hey, all is not lost. Like I said he has a Parker Repro 20 ga dhe at a little over $6k, that is what I was looking at.

BTW that Parker 28 gauge is a sweet looking gun, but.....

[Scot Cardillo]

Their prices are nuts but it appears to be a pretty nice business. Kevins sells far more than firearms.

I bought a 28ga from them about six yrs ago. Had very poor fit & finish once it arrived. Although they ultimately accepted the gun back, let’s just say I got the hard sell for something else entirely and the return was not what I would have called gracious or, accommodating. I paid their inflated asking price btw.

I cannot stand overly aggressive salesmanship so, take my experience fwiw.

[Brian Dudley]

Wow, $30k for a reproduction A1..



For what the new-in the white A1 2 barrel sets go for, you could not engrave and finish one for too much less.

[Jeff Kuss]

The couple of times I have called them, they have not been very customer friendly.

[Gary Laudermilch]

You can buy a bunch of 20 ga repros for a whole lot of money less than what they are asking. Their prices are so ridiculous I quit looking at their ads.

[Chuck Bishop]

I walk by their tables and just shake my head in disbelief at their asking prices.

[Dean Romig]

Retailers have to start someplace and in today's market they need to start high in preparation for the low-ball offers.





.

[Todd Poer]

You sort of have to understand a little about the culture and targeted area where their stores are located. That North Florida, Southwest Georgia Thomasville area is Quail plantation and preserve mecca. These are extremely high dollar operations. It used to be fashionable for the Yankee industrialists to have a quail plantation to stay at and winter some on their way to Florida. Most of these estates are still private with a lot of them being contiguous. Hence there are folks that have the money to get what the want no matter the price and they have been doing that in that area since the height of Parker's gun production.

Just guessing but Kevin's has two highly sought after guns on their website that almost look like a matched pair. One is a 28 ga supposedly 1 of 4 ever made, the other is a 410. Who knows the story of those guns. Guessing they came from an Estate down there. Heck someone may just need to have that gun and has the cash and plops it down. He may even have the guns on consignment, who knows. Either way it seems he is bullish on the sxs market in an area that is fashionable to have a high dollar gun and in an area that some folks won't second guess on a premium price too much.

My guess is that one day there will be high dollar guest visiting that gets the bug that needs outfitting and wants the best and to look the part and sees that gun and buys it as an investment. Shoots it a few times a year and then just sits back in a nice case somewhere.

[Dean Romig]

Can't fault that logic Todd.





.

[Ed Blake]

At one time they also had a Purdey hammergun that was set up for pigeons. Heavy proofs, side clips, and Whitworth barrels. It was a prop in their catalogs and it was on their table at the Southern a couple years ago. Dang it was nice. I held it but at about $40k it was way out of my reach

[todd allen]

You sort of have to understand a little about the culture and targeted area where their stores are located. That North Florida, Southwest Georgia Thomasville area is Quail plantation and preserve mecca. These are extremely high dollar operations. It used to be fashionable for the Yankee industrialists to have a quail plantation to stay at and winter some on their way to Florida. Most of these estates are still private with a lot of them being contiguous. Hence there are folks that have the money to get what the want no matter the price and they have been doing that in that area since the height of Parker's gun production.

Just guessing but Kevin's has two highly sought after guns on their website that almost look like a matched pair. One is a 28 ga supposedly 1 of 4 ever made, the other is a 410. Who knows the story of those guns. Guessing they came from an Estate down there. Heck someone may just need to have that gun and has the cash and plops it down. He may even have the guns on consignment, who knows. Either way it seems he is bullish on the sxs market in an area that is fashionable to have a high dollar gun and in an area that some folks won't second guess on a premium price too much.

My guess is that one day there will be high dollar guest visiting that gets the bug that needs outfitting and wants the best and to look the part and sees that gun and buys it as an investment. Shoots it a few times a year and then just sits back in a nice case somewhere.

Ha! That reminds me of this guy I met on a skeet field, some years back.
I was an A, or AA Class SC gun about that time. A pretty hardcore gun guy, but just a country boy.
I walk out to the skeet field, at the Las Vegas Gun Club, to jump on a squad and do some warm-up shooting. There, waiting in the same line as me, a guy so impeccably dressed in shooting attire, he looked like a model for Orvis. Head to toe, he was equipped, and holding a brand new MX 2000 Perazzi.
I, on the other hand, am wearing a 70% worn out vest, jeans, and an old MX -8, with a couple hundred thousand rounds thru it. Up walks his trophy wife, a beautiful lady, with a strong Latin accent.
I felt a little intimidated, at first. Then we start shooting. I watched BANG-nothing for enough rounds, until I had to ask. "New to the sport?" "Yeah, a friend got me started a few weeks ago. The guy was a doctor, had a very successful practice, and just wanted to take up shooting.
I'll bet Kevin's would buy you a nice dinner, if you sent them a customer like that.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Kevin has had over the top prices for at least 15 years. Everything he has, he considers the best. If he is trying to buy from you, yours is junk in his wyes. He came into a gang of money and liked the business. Not a good experience. JMHO

[Mills Morrison]

I am not a fan of Kevin's. Our experiences have not been good.

[Bill Murphy]

He has had the .410 for many years. He should adjust the price because it is getting near the right price. The 28, not so much.

[Gary Laudermilch]

This reminds me of a visit I made to Woodcock Hill years ago. WH is a small place in the middle of nowhere. It does not have a sign out and you need an appointment to visit but it does house some fine and very expensive English sxs's. When I arrive at my appointed time there are two guys from Texas there finishing up a transaction. I could tell by the way they were dressed that they lived in a different neighborhood than me. They purchased two English guns valued at $50k & $65k. After paying for the guns they asked the owner if he would take them outside and teach them how to shoot them. There are all sorts of people in this world and I suppose a business willing to cater to all.

[Dean Romig]

Kinda reminds me of John Kerry and his(?) Purdey...

Oh, and his loafers too...

No idea who he borrowed those O/U's from.





.

[Todd Poer]

He has a wide range of goods that are reasonable to get you in the door and some stuff that is just, lets just be polite and say expensive. But he is like everybody else that buys low to sell high. I love watching Pawn Stars and chuckle every time they get into a high low game of negotiations on stuff on every single episode. Its almost like watching bass fishing, what do you think they will negotiate on next. Mostly I tune all that out and like the unusual firearms and weapons and the experts they bring in. Only if the providence proves out will they pay out big numbers since they think they can find someone that has a want or need for that specialty item.

A needs based discussion is what Kevin wants in selling an expensive gun, just like those Pawn stars. I'd say he has been successful enough at that it makes business sense for him. If he sells one then its a windfall, if not, then its nice prop in the store to look the part of an old classic sporting good store that can deliver on a broad spectrum of goods. Besides guns don't take up too much space. I'd say if all his business was selling guns then those prices are way different, maybe.

BTW not an advocate for Kevin but just understand the model. Have only been to his store a few times. So far have only bought a pair of pants and a shirt, on sale. Maybe one day I will be the demographic that he wants to sell those high priced guns too, but for now I am just fogging up the windows. Heck if pick one of those guns he may even go W.C. Fields on me and tell me "Go away son your bothering me, a nice man in an expensive car just pulled up".

[Todd Poer]

This reminds me of a visit I made to Woodcock Hill years ago. WH is a small place in the middle of nowhere. It does not have a sign out and you need an appointment to visit but it does house some fine and very expensive English sxs's. When I arrive at my appointed time there are two guys from Texas there finishing up a transaction. I could tell by the way they were dressed that they lived in a different neighborhood than me. They purchased two English guns valued at $50k & $65k. After paying for the guns they asked the owner if he would take them outside and teach them how to shoot them. There are all sorts of people in this world and I suppose a business willing to cater to all.

Yep, exactly, but are you sure they were from Texas. I haven't met anyone yet from Texas that didn't know how to shoot a gun. Maybe they were from Oklahoma, or better yet Missouri.

[Ed Blake]

Prolly from Houston via Manhattan.

[Todd Poer]

Maybe that makes sense being from Houston and all that earl money. I know a good many fellas from Houston and not a damn one of them would admit they could not shoot, makes sense they would sneak of somewhere and buy and expensive gun and get some instruction to act like they were old hands at it. Sometimes there are fellas that are big hat no cattle.

[Randy G Roberts]

I walk by their tables and just shake my head in disbelief at their asking prices.

I agree. In the past I never even offered a courtesy look at their tables. Having said that I have recently made 2 offers on Parkers I acquired that have just about convinced me that in the future I should probably just view the price tag as ornamental and make an offer if so desired based upon the merits of the gun in question as I see them. I was discussing a gun at the recent Vegas show with a prominent member of the Parker community when he commented "asking prices mean nothing here", he was right and I will thank him the next time I see him.

[Dean Romig]

Asking prices at such shows merely indicate a used gun is for sale.





.

[Richard Flanders]

Mercy! That's a good site to peruse when you're perhaps feeling a bit fat in the head and a tad too proud of yourself and need to be knocked down a notch to where you're somehow feeling a financial failure and absolutely and totally inadequate and undeserving of the planetary oxygen you've been utilizing in your efforts at a productive life!

[Mills Morrison]

Kevin's is for wingshooting. Wingshooting is hunting only a lot more expensive

[Todd Poer]

Mercy! That's a good site to peruse when you're perhaps feeling a bit fat in the head and a tad too proud of yourself and need to be knocked down a notch to where you're somehow feeling a financial failure and absolutely and totally inadequate and undeserving of the planetary oxygen you've been utilizing in your efforts at a productive life!

Ha! I don't need that site for that. If I need that kind of correction just need to ask the wife to me help me out. She may even put a little extra stank on some of those comments, just for posterity.

[Craig Budgeon]

You boys don't understand Kevins business plan, prices are set high so he doesn't have to replace inventory and he adds in the depreciation the customer will endure when they walk out door with there new acquisition.

[Rich Anderson]

I stopped in there once while in Georgia Quail hunting. He is very, very proud of his inventory. While at the Southern a year or so ago he had a gun I was moderately interested in. I asked about a trade and took a 90% DHE 20 with straight grip, BTF, SST, and 30 inch vent rib barrels. His evaluation of my gun was $5K:eek: I have never looked at his site again and if he has something on a web site like Guns International I just skip over it.

[Brett Farley]

I lived in FL about 25 years ago and was fortunate to hunt some of the GA. Plantations. He’s always been high priced even back then. His business, his perogative. As someone said his clientele have deep pockets and he probably gets some of those crazy prices. Makes me chuckle.

[CraigThompson]

Yep, exactly, but are you sure they were from Texas. I haven't met anyone yet from Texas that didn't know how to shoot a gun. Maybe they were from Oklahoma, or better yet Missouri.

I think the more appropriate response would be " you hadn't met anyone from Texas that would ADMIT they didn't know how to shoot a gun" .

[Mark Ray]

Easy Boys!! Some of us Texas boys can accidentally knock “sumthin outta the air” with a scattergun!

[CraigThompson]

Easy Boys!! Some of us Texas boys can accidentally knock “sumthin outta the air” with a scattergun!

I've shot Skeet with several over the years that were rather decent . They usually had an All American pin of some sort on their cap or shell bag .

[Mark Ray]

Thanks!! One of these days I am hoping I can find the time to travel and shoot with some of the “ regulars” on our site! For the fin of the shoot, and to put a voice and a face to the posts!!

[Alfred Greeson]

Spent some time in Texas and you need to figure which generation you are speaking to......the old generation that earned that old money are often some super guys but some of the later ones want to own it just to show it off and will pay whatever it takes to have it, whether it is a gun or a high dollar Shelby Mustang convertible. I can see some who would pay ridiculous prices just to show off a Parker but I enjoyed knowing the first generation and some of them could shoot like Doc Holiday.

[Mark Ray]

Just hand me sumthin’ that goes bang when you light the fuse.....and i’ll be okay. If it is is “purty” I might aim a ‘lil better, but not much......

[Todd Poer]

I think the more appropriate response would be " you hadn't met anyone from Texas that would ADMIT they didn't know how to shoot a gun" .

Touche'

[Todd Poer]

I lived in FL about 25 years ago and was fortunate to hunt some of the GA. Plantations. He’s always been high priced even back then. His business, his perogative. As someone said his clientele have deep pockets and he probably gets some of those crazy prices. Makes me chuckle.

Well, just goes to show you that if he has been around that long, obviously knows something about his niche market and maybe submarket. Like I said if he is getting some of the prices for the guns he has in inventory its hard to say if that is good or bad. Good if your selling, bad if your buying. But the sell of one or two or maybe even a dozen guns does not make a market.

Gut tells me the person that is buying his guns are not necessarily the same ones that buy off the sites. As far as him going to shows and events. He might sell a gun there, but he is probably looking to buy low and sell high, maybe astronomical is the right word.

BTW have never listed a gun but I think its maybe a low barrier to entry to list a gun on some of those sites. He might sell one there, if not its just another marketing piece for him. Again I don't know the guy and have no dog in the fight. I don't have a gun to sell him and I won't be buying from him anytime soon. But he does have some neat guns and a dedicated section devoted to SXS. So not a bad a thing.

[David Dwyer]

The interesting thing is they sell guns . I have met people at the Fall Southern that have and continue to buy from them
David

[Dean Romig]

Its all about marketing.

When my mother was in the antiques business and a nice piece of furniture or other fine antique sat in her shop often being admired by 'tire kickers' but no offers were made, she would increase the price by 50 - 100% and the item would be sold within days.

In 1981 while I was working at Boston Volvo, Volvo North America Corp decided they wanted to address a more affluent market so they simply increased their entire line of automobile's prices by about 100% (while never making a single change in the cars) and they accomplished their goal.... and never looked back.

Its all about marketing.





.

[Kirk Potter]

The bad part about pricing like this, is people see this when they’re looking to sell a gun and they base their price off of it.. Which is why we see beat up VH’s on gunbroker with $15k reserves.

[Todd Poer]

The bad part about pricing like this, is people see this when they’re looking to sell a gun and they base their price off of it.. Which is why we see beat up VH’s on gunbroker with $15k reserves.

Yep. Good or bad it does bring price diversity.