Black powder Store - Ideas?

Bin there are two smokin guns, my last post was for sg
in cal just so we are on the same trail, cool pics of your
shop, ifn one day i was out that there way i would drop
in for a gander. and one last thing
CARNT WE ALL GET ALONG:D
 
There is only one smokin gun! It ain' me , since I have a ' after smokin! But Smokin Gun- I loved your pics, Are both those remingtons originals.? Send me a pic of you shootin um. Not to be selling but if you have some things you need we can get um I don't want to carry real black powder because it's just too much cost and hassle. And all you guys that said nice things--I'll get you deals at just a tad above our cost. Only folks here--my friends!
Billy
 
Thanks Smokin' I'll see ifin I got some shootin' pics ... I got one I know of from last Rondy shootin' a Mowrey I bought from a Trader there. I'll piull up some Rondy pics for ya. The Admin of Muzzleloaders for cheap forum met me there. He goes by Dryball over there. His Son took Pics of us.
MoweryRecoil.jpg

SmokinMtManGun.jpg

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1840s.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/Range Day 30SEP08/09-30-08_1357.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/CrittersNpeople/562_Jack_s_powder.jpg
Here's sumfin' I hunt
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/CrittersNpeople/snake1.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/CrittersNpeople/cowboy-5.jpg
Me and Young Smokin_Gun with Remingtons
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/CrittersNpeople/02-06-07_1159.jpg
 
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Great Smokin---I lost something in the previous threads -something about you not having brass frames. Remington never made brass frames. I think there was a confederate company out of texas J. dance that did. You didn't have one. Anyway , I'll scroll back and try to figure all that out.

The guys that come in our store want brass frames. and they know they are'nt as good but they want them anyway to help support the Rebel army. They bring um back in and that brass is so shiny a Mexican general would pay a fortune for them LOL:}
 
Smokin_gun: That's a terrific shot of a 'hawk throw. The thrower's poise was captured perfectly with the hawk in flight. Kudos!

Now, the camp scene with the modern chair needs some work. :D
 
Sam was sayin' I wasn't showin' any brass guns ...
Well I sold about 15 of my Brass & Steel frame guns in the last year due to attrition (needed Bucks)
So I had some very nice used brassers and they sold fast...I din't wanna sell any off. I have a Schneider & Glassick .36 by High Standard, and a Spiller&Burr .36 ... I that and the Colts with Steel and Brass backs, ect...I like the looks of the brassers and they shoot good too.
 
I was advised to post this from suggestions from a previous thread in this catagory. I'm not here to endorse or sell our products but to get good info from all of you that know and have a passion/knowledge and experience with mostly cap and ball revolvers. We have a lot of antiques, curios hunting etc. But I want to get an interest going on these guns! So far the cheaper brass frames like the Piettas Reb Confederate and similar types (but not the higher end ones) are selling...but no one seems to want to buy the good ones here in S.C. They like looking at them----I won't go any further yet but I'm the only store around that has a variety of these percussion revolvers in a display case. Please offer advice if you want to.:} Billy Hardy
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I'd stick to the better made guns like steel frame Remington and Colt patterns, and stainless guns. The brass frame guns although cheaper, may lead to customer complaints, and if one shoots loose on a customer, he'll think twice of buying from you again. Sell them a good strong gun that will last and you'll sleep better at night, and your reputation will benefit.
 
Smokin_gun: That's a terrific shot of a 'hawk throw. The thrower's poise was captured perfectly with the hawk in flight. Kudos!
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Thanks Gary that pic was taken some 20-25 years ago(of Me)...I got lucky when my friend captured that one. Was just a Kodak moment that came along. As you probly know the practice it takes to get a hawk on target let alone stick...I wish I had that pic in my pocket and a $1 for every moment spent tryin' to get someone into that zone.
 
we tell them that. But here in Sc, the boys want brass frames. They also don't want to pay much more than a 225 for a gun---yet! The gunnison reb confederate is popular along with any 44 c brass frames. I don't have a Spiller and Burr in the shop but the pic looks good. Believe it or not, we only sold 2 steel framers. All the rest are brass. There was an independent movie that came out a few years ago called "The last Confederate." It was, of course a civil war pic made in Sc and the star used a brasser all the way through it. If you see it at your video store, it's worth watching because there is more cap and ball action since Josey Wells--but the acting ain't too good.Also, great pics Smokin!!! As long as we can keep the doors open--I guess you'll be a legend( to some extent) in your own time! I tell you---we have forked out too much trying to stock up for muzzle loading season which starts in Oct. I pray we sell enough to keep the shop goin==I'm scared, nervous ============================Oh, Smokin, the comment about brass frames I think was adressed to someone else and they confused you as being that someone
 
Ideas! if you saw that video, I have 1,2,3 colts in the display at hefty price. I thought by having them there would make the replicas look more economical. I'm wonderin if I should take them home and just have 199 to 250 priced guns. Are those colts making the replicas look like crap, cheap instead of economical. I can't sell the Uberties! I like Uberties but I can't sell most of them for under 300 and make a profit. We have these things priced not much difference than if someone ordered on line and paid shipping and handling. SO FAR everyone wants a gun around $200.00 So, would you take those colts home? Seriously, I'm having a hard time figuring this market here in SC.
 
You could keep one or two there of the Colt 2nd Gen and tag um higher than you'd take or put For display only. Then you can compare um and the prices ifin anyone asks. ... only an interested buy knowing what it is would ask about it. As I think you said you can order for anyone that wants a more than $225 gun plus you have a good assortment. Your store will get popular by word a mouth and the Inet.
 
we tell them that. But here in Sc, the boys want brass frames.
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because brass is perceived as being more affordable.

I picked up a steel frame 1860 on gunbroker for only $130, and (2) steel frame Remingtons apart/needing assembly for $80 and $90 each respectively. At a gun show there was a Rogers and Spencer for $100 steel frame, and locally picked up a 3rd model Dragoon steel frame for $200. there seems to be a lot of good c/b buys out there, but you have to ferret them out
 
Good find W.T. Sherman... Let me ask you this if you bougtht those to say fix up and turn around and sell, or just plain sell what would you charge for them if you sold um.
I'm jus' curious as I'm guessin' you bought um to shoot. What would they be with in good shootin' order? Then how much is a brass Rev N.I.B.?
The Old supply and demand...people are a gonna buy what they like, and buy another that's liked but differant next time.
Hell I been doin' that since the first old beat up brasser I got too long ago to count. I don't have that one no more but I do still have the Big Ol' Bowie throwin' knife I took in trade for it :O)
 
I guess sherman has a point. You got to spend a lot of time /research and travel to pick up these 50 to 100 dollar deals or get lucky. I don't think our store will survive if all customers are doing this. We show them the suggested retail price--discount them and most have factory warranties. I did sell a 1970 something 36 Navy Arms=never (supposedly been fired for $189. I see where someone has that same gun for 225 on the internet. So it is possible to get good deals from your Mom and Pop stores. Not just me---but we need small guys back out there retailing or we just sold out completely here in the USA. I mean everything-not just guns! And the young people need to get a grip because they are the ones that are going to face the trouble coming! And the only way to do it is get away from high rent districts. I'm a certified real estate appraiser and know what all these 6 lane highway stores with red lights at every 200 yards cost! Let's get away from all that and start simplifying. Billy
 
But no one is goin to do that. Hell--fly the flag and buy Chinese. Order on the internet and pay the shipping and handling ---or go to the big box store and hope someone is at the counter, or maybe some teenager from the electronics section will come over and sell you what you want after walking across acres of parking lot and more acres inside your favorite store. I am guilty of this!!! And wondering if this will ever change or are we going to be working in soup kitchens in Asia one day! Awh, hell had a bad Monday. try doing appraisals for banks these days that won't accept responsibility for naking bad loans and now blaming the appraisers and expecting crap that goes way beyond our scope of work. I'm gonna fire a few rounds out of my gun, I like the 1861 navy ubertie. It is easy, breaks down easy and shoots great!!! I done vented it out--whooo,I'm tired!
 
Let me ask if you have an FFL license?
Not many shops can survive on just their black powder business even on their best days.
Most shops take in all kinds of guns on consignment or trade in's for the purpose of helping folks to trade up to more expensive and more desirable guns.
But without an FFL, then doing some horse trading involving the transfer of centerfire guns becomes more difficult if not impossible.
So do you take in trades, consignments and deal with centerfire guns too? Do you plan too?
Being located in what looks to be a small town area especially, any new gun shop would need to diversify just to survive in these days of internet competition. Have you considered getting involved in the pawn or consignment business in any limited way i.e. - coins, gold, electronics, cameras or used guns to help supplement the BP business to help it survive in the long term? :rolleyes:
 
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I see what you're saying. Yes we are applying for an ffl but for certain items such as cartridge converters, reloading etc. If we start selling ammo--then insurance goes up and of course paperwork etc. to keep the costs down, I plan to convert 1/3 of the shop to our appraisal business--then the cost for the shop and of course the real estate operation will go down considerably. The shop is a sideline for me and my daughter. People will start buying muzzleloading stuff this month--the season is in October and then you have Christmas. With all overhead down to a minimum--we'll see after Christmas what we can do or not do. Thanks Articap-Billy
 
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