I Bought My First Gun In a Pawn Shop…Here’s How That Went

By Garrett Owens Surely designed to withstand doomsday, the exterior of the store is blood red cinder blocks. The windows are barred and it’s located just on the other side of the tracks from our sleepy, happy town. In bright yellow paint, “Don’t be a Victim” and “Second is our Right” is enscribed on the … Read more

How to Buy A Used Gun

A recent commenter asked for some advice on buying used guns. At one point I was frequenting about a dozen gun shows a year, with almost weekly trips to pawn shops, gun shops, secondhand stores in search of the elusive bargain. I’ve bought and sold close to 30 firearms (all but three were used) in … Read more

Buying A Gun In A Private Sale? Is There a Way to Check If It’s Stolen?

By David Katz You’re looking for a gun for everyday carry, a shotgun for hunting season, or perhaps you just want a nice used gun to add to your collection. You also want to find a really good deal and the gun market is tight right now. A private sale might be just the way … Read more

Police Trade-In Guns – What to Look for and What to Avoid

Every so often, a local police department, state or federal law enforcement agency will trade in their firearms for new ones. When they do, the manufacturer or the dealer/distributor of the new merchandise gets a flood of trade-in used guns. They either sell them as-is where-is, or refinish and refurbish and then sell them. This … Read more