Hello:
Over the years I have met some of the all time great gun dealers. Some were funny, some not so funny. Some were patient dealing with the sick, the lame, and the lazy that walked into their store's and tents at major shoots, and some not so patient. I have seen some of them go out for lunch and dinner with a new customer after a purchase. I have also seen some of them throw the customer out of his or her shop with last words being heard, "don't ever come back".
Two memorable gun dealers to me where Frenchy Frigon and Elmer Fairchild. I would look forward each year waiting for Frenchy to arrive with his wife pulling up with his trailer full of guns at the Wisconsin state shoot.
Frenchy had some nice guns, and let's just say some less than nice guns. Regardless, I always felt he was fare to deal with. He would always say on a trade, tell me how much you want for the gun, I will either say yes or no. If I don't agree to your price, we are still friends, ok partner? After the deal I would sit with his wife and discuss how things were going as they traveled the country from state shoot to state shoot.
The last time I saw Frenchy, he just pulled into the Wisconsin state shoot and was informed that his sister had just passed away. That was the last time I ever saw him and his wife. I miss them both.
Now, Elmer Fairchild was something else to say the least. The best description of Elmer, well, lets just say, you had to see him sell guns in action. It was unbelievable.
There is a common thread among these seasoned old gun dealers, they could transition into selling used cars very easily. These gun dealers are part of what makes the shooting sports great. Without them, good or bad, the folklore of the shooting sports would not be the same.
We had a guy in my area by the name of Bob who would open the box the gun came in and proclaim the sight of great wood on the gun before he actually opened the box. If you brought the gun back shortly after to trade it in, he'd would ask, what did you do to the wood?
I could not sleep this morning, so I was looking at some of the descriptions used by some dealers in reference to their guns in magazines. Some comments and descriptions are comical to say the least.
Here are a few:
for sale Winchester model 12-Legendary gun, broken more clays than a careless trap boy. Now that's funny!
Beretta 391-Fired once, his wife didn't like the noise.
A real beauty for the most picky shooter.
Always a good one, "test fired".
A real sweet shooter.
Best wood I have ever seen.
You've been waiting for this one.
A real beauty.
A real bird shooter.
Great shooter, sat in a gun cabinet for 35 years, unusually clean.
As new.
Like new.
Nearly new.
New in box.
As new in box.
Salesman sample, best wood ever put on this type of gun.
Excellent value.
It goes on and on. These guys and gals could of sold Desoto's back in the 50's very easily. Without some of these snake oil salesman, trapshooting would not be the same. The majority of them are good honest people just trying to make a living, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of these adds are funny, enjoy them. Are there any gun dealers that you enjoyed dealing with from years past or even today?
Steve Balistreri
Over the years I have met some of the all time great gun dealers. Some were funny, some not so funny. Some were patient dealing with the sick, the lame, and the lazy that walked into their store's and tents at major shoots, and some not so patient. I have seen some of them go out for lunch and dinner with a new customer after a purchase. I have also seen some of them throw the customer out of his or her shop with last words being heard, "don't ever come back".
Two memorable gun dealers to me where Frenchy Frigon and Elmer Fairchild. I would look forward each year waiting for Frenchy to arrive with his wife pulling up with his trailer full of guns at the Wisconsin state shoot.
Frenchy had some nice guns, and let's just say some less than nice guns. Regardless, I always felt he was fare to deal with. He would always say on a trade, tell me how much you want for the gun, I will either say yes or no. If I don't agree to your price, we are still friends, ok partner? After the deal I would sit with his wife and discuss how things were going as they traveled the country from state shoot to state shoot.
The last time I saw Frenchy, he just pulled into the Wisconsin state shoot and was informed that his sister had just passed away. That was the last time I ever saw him and his wife. I miss them both.
Now, Elmer Fairchild was something else to say the least. The best description of Elmer, well, lets just say, you had to see him sell guns in action. It was unbelievable.
There is a common thread among these seasoned old gun dealers, they could transition into selling used cars very easily. These gun dealers are part of what makes the shooting sports great. Without them, good or bad, the folklore of the shooting sports would not be the same.
We had a guy in my area by the name of Bob who would open the box the gun came in and proclaim the sight of great wood on the gun before he actually opened the box. If you brought the gun back shortly after to trade it in, he'd would ask, what did you do to the wood?
I could not sleep this morning, so I was looking at some of the descriptions used by some dealers in reference to their guns in magazines. Some comments and descriptions are comical to say the least.
Here are a few:
for sale Winchester model 12-Legendary gun, broken more clays than a careless trap boy. Now that's funny!
Beretta 391-Fired once, his wife didn't like the noise.
A real beauty for the most picky shooter.
Always a good one, "test fired".
A real sweet shooter.
Best wood I have ever seen.
You've been waiting for this one.
A real beauty.
A real bird shooter.
Great shooter, sat in a gun cabinet for 35 years, unusually clean.
As new.
Like new.
Nearly new.
New in box.
As new in box.
Salesman sample, best wood ever put on this type of gun.
Excellent value.
It goes on and on. These guys and gals could of sold Desoto's back in the 50's very easily. Without some of these snake oil salesman, trapshooting would not be the same. The majority of them are good honest people just trying to make a living, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of these adds are funny, enjoy them. Are there any gun dealers that you enjoyed dealing with from years past or even today?
Steve Balistreri