Gunshop honesty

[victormeldrew]

If you don't often buy rifles/shotguns, it's never a bad idea to bring someone along. Four eyes are better than two.

Good advice this. If I'm buying anything, I have difficulty in remaining totally calm & unexcited, which "blurs" one's vision. My pal on the other hand has a wonderful knack of staying totally cool & objective during the whole process & he has saved me some cash.

victor

 

[Overlay]

Bought a Sako 75 in .243 sight unseen from Neil Sutherland a few years ago. Far too far to visit in person from Dorset so I took a punt. Neil had several in the rack. He selected what he said was the best one, emailed a ream of photos and went over the whole rifle, inside and out, over the phone in great detail.

Sounds good, I said. Send it down. He did. It turned up absolutely as described, if anything, better. A mark he'd identified on the fore-end, I couldn't find.
The grade A rifle I was expecting turned out to be mint. Still got it and it's one of the best rifles I've ever bought. Wouldn't hesitate to buy from Neil again on a verbal description and I know I could trust his word.

Yep

There are some good un’s out there

I purchased a 22 hornet Annie ( unseen) from Steve at Ivythorn, he sent every picture he could muster and sent a detailed report of the rifle by E mail, when it arrived it was in perfect condition, and it looked like new, more so that what he described and a bipod as well included and he rang up to see if I was happy with rifle and as the rifle came in with a bipod he popped that in as well FOC

Brilliant service and 100% back up

It can be done

 

[paul o']

Got to tell this story,

Went into one shop to buy the rifle I've always fancied, a Sako 75 iii in a laminate stock, heavy Varmint barrel and stainless steel.

So asked the little grey haired owner,
A slight hesitation while looking at the collection of rifles behind him,

Th an turned round to me and said,
"Ooo you don't want one of those sir---- you want one of these"

Taking a Remmington off the rack nd making me smile as he kind of dusted it off.

"Why do you want a Sako they're too heavy you know" ?

Well I like them,


"But Remington are really good accurate rifles, it's what I use"

" you don't want a heavy barrel"

Well I want a rifle that's accurate and i dont mind the weight as it will be a truck rifle and i intend to reload for it.

" ooo you don't want to reload for it, "

" these bullets are really accurate in mine, you only need a 2 inch group at 100 for fox, you won't be shooting much more than that anyway"

I then asked if he had any Sakos in and was told no he had Tikka's that a few the same but cheaper. But he could order one if I wanted.

It was just like a clip from the fast show.

Needless to say he didn't get ANY of my money, Just looking back on all I've spent since, Just like the film "Pretty woman" he made a mistake, a big mistake.

That sounds like cat-hill and Joe pmsl ( why did you buy that you need to buy and use xyz ?? )

 

[User00025]

I use two Gunshops. If I go to one and the owner is not there I will not deal with the miserable B he leaves in charge and although the owner can appear a little "Too good to be true" he has always done me well shotgun wise. The other shop I use rifle wise is different, both the owner and his right hand man have always been honest with me and genuinely pleased to see me and have the craic. I will go nowhere else as the rubbish you get told elsewhere I have been is unbelievable.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Hardy's Gun Shop in Forfar (now long gone) was my favourite haunt

I loved that shop! I use Robbie's place in Dundee now, despite the two in Blair being closer. One never has any bloody stock, and I'm sick and tired on being talked down to in t'other

 

[JTO]

I think the most 'misinformation' is given out about the stuff they DON'T have on the shelves, rather than the stuff they DO have.
When I was 14, I wanted an air rifle. My mother went off to town and came home with a .410 for me.

 

[Motul1974]

+ 1 for Mike Dickinson at Charlton Moor

 

[CarlW]

I loved that shop! I use Robbie's place in Dundee now, despite the two in Blair being closer. One never has any bloody stock, and I'm sick and tired on being talked down to in t'other

What's the story with those two shops next door to one another?

 

[Hunt-Inter]

Some gunshops are run by idiots and just are double glazing salesmen type who’s sell anything to earn. Others are proper experienced folk.

Best I found in my travels, Greenfields , Ivythorn, Braces and Rigbys

 

[Woodsmoke]

What's the story with those two shops next door to one another?

No idea. I always had it in my head they were related, and that one dealt more with shooting, and the other fishing? That's jsut me though, and I've never been told. It's an odd setup though, for sure. And Fleming's definitely seems to be the poor relation of the two. I won't use either, to be honest

 

[CarlW]

No idea. I always had it in my head they were related, and that one dealt more with shooting, and the other fishing? That's jsut me though, and I've never been told. It's an odd setup though, for sure. And Fleming's definitely seems to be the poor relation of the two. I won't use either, to be honest

And here was I hoping for some juicy gossip involving spurned lovers, jilted brides, and a be-cobwebbed country house where every day a quiet woman plots her revenge...

Come on, Woodsmoke, time to investigate, methinks!

Best,

Carl

 

[Woodsmoke]

Come on, Woodsmoke, time to investigate, methinks!

I'll work on it

 

[benjrush]

I'm lead to believe the two in Blair were husband and wife, when they split the wife set up shop next door.
This could be BS though as it is probably at least 3rd hand information. (now obviously 4th hand).

 

[CarlW]

I'm lead to believe the two in Blair were husband and wife, when they split the wife set up shop next door.
This could be BS though as it is probably at least 3rd hand information. (now obviously 4th hand).

That's more like it! So perhaps my romantic fantasies were not too far wrong after all...(your sensible caveats aside, of course).

 

[John Gryphon]

“ you might think I’m a c#$t but I call no one back, if you want the gun you’ll call me “
Yes I said I do think you’re a c#%t and I’ll be taking me money elsewhere !

That sums it up nicely.

 

[gerarddwatts]

What's the story with those two shops next door to one another?

Quite funny really...

Used to be a husband and wife...Kate Fleming and Robert Jameson in one shop.

They got divorced, Kate had/has one half, Jameson had/has the other.

Kate is great, but mostly for fishing stuff...haven't been in the other one for years....'nuff said.

 

[CarlW]

Quite funny really...

Used to be a husband and wife...Kate Fleming and Robert Jameson in one shop.

They got divorced, Kate had/has one half, Jameson had/has the other.

Kate is great, but mostly for fishing stuff...haven't been in the other one for years....'nuff said.

That really is very funny. Would make a good sitcom in a late 1970s 'Never the twain'-type way...

 

[Cut+Squirt]

I've used Stuart at Glenluce Gun Room for a number of years now. We'll priced, trustworthy and an excellent inventory of stock on the shelf. No BS and a genuine nice lad.

I'd also have no hesitation in using Ed at Edinburgh Rifles if he wasn't opposite side of the country. Again, an actual rifleman not a salesman.

 

[Woodsmoke]

They got divorced, Kate had/has one half, Jameson had/has the other

That's it! I asked a couple of mates in the area and they've said the same.

If Fleming's actually stocked what I needed I'd use her shop. As it is, I'd rather get in the car and drive from Blair to Dundee than use that w anker in t'other one.

 

[benjrush]

The assistant/no 2 man in the other one is a nice chap and always manages to do a deal. Enough stock of ammunition and shotgun carts in an emergency too. I never go into Fleming's because as you say they never have any stock.

Think its quite lucky there is a gun shop in Blair at all really. That said, I use Edinburgh Rifles for anything major and can't rate Ed highly enough.