The old days

[Phil C]

Our local AM radio station KAPR had a daily “Trading Post”. If I recall correctly this was a free announcement done at the same time every day. You could have them announce what you had to sell or wanted to buy. Guns were regularly sold. The would state what the gun was, who was selling, the price and the telephone number.

My father in the 60’s and early 70’s had a 2nd hand store. Lots of great guns came through his shop. My dad had a friend Mr Bigalow that collected guns. Because we didn’t have much money to spare Mr Bigalow ( as kids we thought he was rich) had a deal with my father. If guns came in and my father didn’t have the money, he was to make a deal and Bigalow would front the money. Bigalow then would have an opportunity to buy the guns he wanted with a small commission.

[Dean Romig]

I bought a few Parkers through ads in the Gun List but many others were word-of-mouth offers and transactions. But many of the top collectors have a network of folks with similar interests and a lot of guns never get advertised at all except by word-of-mouth between friends and acquaintances.





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[Bill Jolliff]

Yep, what Craig Larter said above.

Below is a copy of an ad from the September 1968 issue of Shotgun News.

I got the DE12 gauge Fox. Paid $800.00.

I should have grabbed that DHE 12 gauge with all the options for a $1000 and the 20 gauge single barrel trap for another $2K.

Could probably do some serious trading with you guys if I had.

I enjoyed that minty DE12 gauge Fox for many years. Sold it to Dana Tauber.

Yep, Shotgun News was the place to get nice guns.

[Bill Murphy]

OK, Bill Jollif got the DE Fox, but I got the 20 gauge 34" single trap. Small world. I filed a stack of Gun Lists for years, knowing the Chaddick ads and Tom Gibbons ads would be interesting reading. My wife made me trash them when we moved into the new house six years ago.

[tom tutwiler]

Used to be some shops around in central Pa (Shumans) and a couple on the eastern shore where nice doubles just seemed to show up from time to time. Internet for both bad and good changed everything. Everyone now thinks their Parker VH 12 gauge with 30" barrel covered in rust is worth 3K because they saw one for sale at that price on the WWW.

PS. I bought my first graded Fox in a small gunshop in Front Royal Va. Place has now been out of business for years. Used to also be some nice gunshops in Alexandria Va but no more. Tough to make a living when black guns are what 95 percent of the population wants.

[Aaron Beck]

Location seems like it mattered more, before when. While maine had great hunting traditions, it likely didnt have the economy to support many fancy guns, and even if there were, they have long since been sold by less well off relatives.
I suspect that many of the shooter/beater type guns im in the market for end up on the net for the very reason stated above. Most walk in custom would like to see plastic guns so the shop owner moves the old wood along to the broader audience.

[J. Scott Hanes]

Gun Shows and Shotgun News! In my view, it was way more fun chasing down an ad or a lead to find those treasures. You also had more time to make a deal. Today's electronic ads are great in that you don't have to be in New England or at least the NE United States to find them at local dealers. The downside is anyone with a computer can compete for one. Good for the sellers but not so much for the buyers.
Bought several on Shotgun News. Anyone remember the Rich Wengel sale?

[Researcher]

In the fall of 1972, I was home on leave and went shooting at the old Seattle Skeet & Trap Club at Redmond. In the club house I thumbed through an issue of Shotgun News and found a 28-gauge Model 12 Skeet Gun. First time I ever found one without a Cutts, and it was in Imperial Beach, California. Every morning I drove within a block or so of it on my way to North Island Naval Air Station from my apartment in Chula Vista. Went to look at the gun, and at H. Kinder's was the first time I ever saw two .410-bore Parkers in the same place. Got a signature loan from Navy Federal Credit Union and the 28-gauge Model 12 was mine. My credit wasn't up for the .410-bore Parkers!!

[B. Dudley]

I have recently found some printed sale ads for some killer Parkers, Smiths and Lefever in a number of American Rifleman issues that I have.
From the 1940s…. I like the prices too.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I have recently found some printed sale ads for some killer Parkers, Smiths and Lefever in a number of American Rifleman issues that I have.
From the 1940s…. I like the prices too.

I bet. Glance back through some of your old DGJ issues as well for some friendly pricing compared to today. Probably didn't seem friendly then but....