Which cities in Oklahoma or north Texas are good for shopping for quality vintage guns?

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AlongCameJones

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In my opinion, the most efficient way to shop for particular guns is online via Gunbroker, Guns International, Texas Gun Trader, and message board classifieds.
I really don't want to drive any farther than OKC or even DFW from SW Ok/Comanche County to look at a gun in person. I'm gun-shy about ordering a firearm by mail order sight unseen IN PERSON. Most pawn shops don't have a website nor a listing of firearms inventory. Pawn shops should be a rich environment for vintage guns. I'm thinking about going to all my local pawn shops and maybe some LGS and getting business cards from them with email addresses. I could periodically email them and ask them if they have any of the special guns I want in stock. Naturally they are interested in selling only what they have in stock. I don't have infinite time and gasoline money to shop for special firearms.

I do have the guns I seek actively listed on Armslist. I'm trying to get rid of two of my own guns too right now and advertised that I'm willing to consider trades for any of the guns I want. My Armslist subscription is $6.99/mo. Then again, local pawn/gun dealers may have some other nice older firearms that suit my fancy and necessary the specific ones I've been dreaming of.
 

AlongCameJones

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I really don't want to drive any farther than OKC or even DFW from SW Ok/Comanche County to look at a gun in person. I'm gun-shy about ordering a firearm by mail order sight unseen IN PERSON. Most pawn shops don't have a website nor a listing of firearms inventory. Pawn shops should be a target-rich shopping environment for vintage guns. I'm thinking about going to all my local pawn shops and maybe some LGS and getting business cards from them with email addresses. I could periodically email them and ask them if they have any of the special guns I want in stock. Naturally they are interested in selling only what they have in stock. I don't have infinite time and gasoline money to shop for special firearms.

I do have the guns I seek actively listed on Armslist. I'm trying to get rid of two of my own guns too right now and advertised that I'm willing to consider trades for any of the guns I want. My Armslist subscription is $6.99/mo. Then again, local pawn/gun dealers may have some other nice older firearms that suit my fancy if not the specific ones I've been dreaming of. I haven't been dreaming of a Browning BAR lately, but if a hock shop has a nice one at a price I like, I could possibly grab her.
 

adamsredlines

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Well save your pennies and time and hit Wanenmacher...that'll be your best shot to see all of those with minimal effort and chances are you'll find more than a few of each of those at the show. What you MAY pay in a premium there (I've had luck with good prices there), you'll save in time and money driving all over the area hoping to see one of them on a whim.
 

AlongCameJones

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The Wanenmacher gun show has 4,200 vendor tables. It's a long drive from Lawton. There is probably a cover charge to get in. Walking through there to comb the whole place for specific firearms is probably like hunting for a needle in a haystack. I think I will start by combing the local pawn shops in town and getting their email addresses. I might get lucky on Armslist too. I've been to gun shows many years ago but they weren't that large and it wasn't when I was looking for a specific firearm but just a good working gun. Sometimes dealer specials on new guns can be had at shows. I've purchased two used guns at gun shows in my life: both at the Boise gun show in Idaho. A nice, barely-used Glock 21 in .45 ACP in 2002 and a fairly-good (not minty) older Smith Model 10 in .38 Special in 2005. The Glock was stolen from my home in 2003, probably by scandalous roommate. I did make a police report but never recovered. I sold the Model 10 in 2011.

If I had a gun collection I wanted to get rid of, I might rent a vendor table at a show but I would also list my inventory on Armslist too. People these days like to sit at their computer or smart phone and shop these days than burn fuel.
 
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GlockPride

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In my opinion, the most efficient way to shop for particular guns is online via Gunbroker, Guns International, Texas Gun Trader, and message board classifieds.
Exactly. A shop my reach tens of people a day, a show thousands, but the internet? Millions. You really up your chances of selling that way, plus I can “visit” dozens or hundreds of gun shops within a few minutes.
I know op said he doesn’t want to shop this way, and that’s ok, but you’re going to rack up dozens of hours and thousands of miles. But, maybe that’s the point. Best of luck to you.
 

Aries

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The Wanenmacher gun show has 4,200 vendor tables. It's a long drive from Lawton. There is probably a cover charge to get in. Walking through there to comb the whole place for specific firearms is probably like hunting for a needle in a haystack. I think I will start by combing the local pawn shops in town and getting their email addresses. I might get lucky on Armslist too. I've been to gun shows many years ago but they weren't that large and it wasn't when I was looking for a specific firearm but just a good working gun. Sometimes dealer specials on new guns can be had at shows. I've purchased two used guns at gun shows in my life: both at the Boise gun show in Idaho. A nice, barely-used Glock 21 in .45 ACP in 2002 and a fairly-good (not minty) older Smith Model 10 in .38 Special in 2005. The Glock was stolen from my home in 2003, probably by scandalous roommate. I did make a police report but never recovered. I sold the Model 10 in 2011.

If I had a gun collection I wanted to get rid of, I might rent a vendor table at a show but I would also list my inventory on Armslist too. People these days like to sit at their computer or smart phone and shop these days than burn fuel.
Last time I drove down that way, I was surprised how quick it went, best I remember Lawton was around 2 1/2 hours give or take?

It's $10 to get into Wanenmacher's per day. It is open Saturday and Sunday, so if you spend the night in Tulsa and go both days, it will be $20. You CAN cover the whole thing in one day if you're just basically walking past tables where you don't see anything interesting, and only stop when you see the kinds of guns you are looking for. There are tons of individuals walking around selling guns privately, too so if you pay attention it's possible you'll see something interesting that is not on a table.

The thing is though, you may find almost anything there. And even if you don't, it's an entertaining way to spend a Saturday or a weekend, and you can look at a lot of interesting stuff, and talk to a lot of like minded people, and maybe come home with a treasure or two.

Local pawn shops are a good source too, and shooting off an email is certainly easier, but if you LIKE shopping for guns, Wanenmacher's is a fun way to spend a day or two. It is billed as the biggest gun show in the world, and while I haven't been to every gun show in the world, I wouldn't really doubt it... it is huge.
 

AlongCameJones

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I wish pawn shops and other firearms retailers did make it their business operation to have websites with their gun inventories listed and constantly updated.
Do they sell more guns by just having people to come in and browse to make impulse buys on the spur of the moment? It would make life easier for the collector and serious buyer to shop. But I guess good things come to those who wait or do leg work. The pawn/gun shops don't want choosy customers who are cherry-pickers, maybe? Naturally, they want to unload their stock as much as possible and as fast as possible. The don't care what you want but only care about getting rid of what they have.
 

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Just like internet message board users, not all pawn shop owners are techno-savvy. Putting up a website and keeping it updated can be expensive and time consuming, and introduces other elements like shipping firearms, etc. It probably opens up new markets, but also creates new headaches. Plus, markets are different and what works well for one business owner may not work well for another.
 

retrieverman

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Guns that especially interest me are top-quality:

1. Colt Lawman Mark III and Trooper revolvers
2. Pre-1980 Colt Government Model 45's
3. Savage Model 99's with rotary magazine and round counter
4. Husqvarna Swedish-made bolt-action hunting rifles
5. Mossberg 500's made BEFORE 2000
Any Colt revolver is going to be premium plus priced, because Rick Grimes carried a Python in The Walking Dead. You should be able to find a good clean Colt 70 series for under a grand pretty easily. I paid $750 for mine (and then had it completely gutted and rebuilt by Steve Owens at Integrity Arms). Savage 99’s are all over the place in prices…good luck. Most people don’t have an appreciation for Husky rifles, so you should be able to find a deal on one. I may be wrong but wouldn’t think finding a Mossberg 500 would be much of a stretch.:anyone:

Edit to add…Be careful buying on Armslist, because it’s a known scammer den. Honestly, Texas Gun Trader is getting just as bad, but most of the scammers on there have “tells” and are easily spotted.
 
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