I’ve been able to luck into some good deals at the pawn shops I try to frequent. One shop has rarely had a “great” deal, but, I keep stopping by in the off chance they’ll have something interesting.
In the other shops, I’ve picked up 1971 vintage 4” S&W Model 19 with a lot of “drawer wear” on the cylinder, no rust or other blemishes, and virtually unfired for $200. Also from them, a clean AMT/IAI (yeah, I like AMT 1911’s) 10mm Javelina (I haven’t seen another 5” Javelina). Another shop, a nice Bersa Thunder, 3rd generation S&W SIGME .40VE, Tula SKS (detachable magazine) with scope, and 6” S&W Model 686. At yet another, a very clean 6” S&W Model 586 no dash (I wasn’t looking for a 6”, but I couldn’t pass it up, but I really hated the vintage Rogers composite grips).
Since there aren’t many new guns I’m interested in, pawn shops are a great resource. I try to spend some money and show I’m not just “kickin’ the tires” when I’m there. On one recent trip, I was looking for a 4” Model 586/686 for a friend to use in IDPA. I was talking to the guys at the shop and they told me they had just sold one! When I lamented my bad timing, they told me they had another 4” 586 in the back that would be clearing their waiting period in a few days. They showed it to me and it was as close to 100% as you could get without the box and papers. I told my friend and he was there on the day it became available and picked it up for only $20 more than I paid for a well worn but tight LE trade-in 4” 586.
If you know what you’re looking for and spend some time establishing a relationship with pawn shop folks, it can be very rewarding.
Keep in mind, since Maryland isn’t a very gun friendly environment and the State’s largest newspaper banished gun classified ads over 20 years ago, it’s almost impossible to buy/sell FTF. Online forums help though.
Matt