Originally Posted By CbtEngr1:
What happened to the Lexington area gun stores?  (Exception being BUD's).

I didn't care for the owners of CLassic Arms after they were caught lying to me. But the arrogance was always a factor.
Went in there the other day to look around and I couldn't believe it. Did they sell out ?  The shelves were half bare from what they use to be. Lots of ammo and accessories werent restocked. The light fixtures themselves were half burnt out.  Archery seems to try and fill some of what the higher price things were at.

Went to Evans and they seem to be pretty decent but some of the tags in there are ancient, lighting always was inconsistent, dust on all the non-selling accessories laying around an many shelves had lots of gaps. Ammo wasn't stocked so well either.

Haven't gone to the shop in Georgetown that use to be in Lex---wondered if its same condition as these others.  

Buds run them out?  Economy? People tired of owners and prices? What is it?

Originally Posted By scottr:
Never had any business dealings with Classic, but I did go in there a few months ago just to check it out. Think I talked to Frank IIRC. Wanted to see what they had in the way of knives since I'm the buyer for those across the street. I don't want to compete with them if I can help it and would be glad to point people over there if they have something we don't. Had a pleasant conversation but agree with the above posts that the store seemed a little neglected

Bud's is weird. They put a crap load of money into a really nice facility but there's still the typical gun store employees behind the counter. I've wandered through there a few times and not a single person said hi except the lady sitting at the front desk

Originally Posted By scottr:
Never had any business dealings with Classic, but I did go in there a few months ago just to check it out. Think I talked to Frank IIRC. Wanted to see what they had in the way of knives since I'm the buyer for those across the street. I don't want to compete with them if I can help it and would be glad to point people over there if they have something we don't. Had a pleasant conversation but agree with the above posts that the store seemed a little neglected

Bud's is weird. They put a crap load of money into a really nice facility but there's still the typical gun store employees behind the counter. I've wandered through there a few times and not a single person said hi except the lady sitting at the front desk

Originally Posted By craig24680:


Buds doesn't honor online prices in the store
Screw them

Originally Posted By craig24680:


I tried to get them to do it with some 10mm ammo, 2 different people, and told no
was told online is cheaper as it doesn't factor in shipping

Originally Posted By RWEIII:
Regarding Bud's - I seem to recall that they state somewhere (can't recall where and couldn't find it in a minute search of the site) that the store Bud's Gun Shop and Range and the internet site Budsgunshop.com  are separate businesses.

Brick and mortar prices will be higher than warehouse.  Same with Centerfiresystems.com and The Gun Shop at Centerfire in Versailles.

Originally Posted By RWEIII:
To be honest, I only go to Bud's as a last resort.  I don't like the help and too many people...  CenterFire is good, Gilbert's, and two shops in G'town are okay, new one shows promise.  Needs a bigger shop, better location.

I have not been to Mike's in Frankfort in years, or that one at the Simpsonville exit at the flea market, how are they these days?

Internet is killing brick and mortar stores.

Originally Posted By RWEIII:
To be honest, I only go to Bud's as a last resort.  I don't like the help and too many people...  CenterFire is good, Gilbert's, and two shops in G'town are okay, new one shows promise.  Needs a bigger shop, better location.

I have not been to Mike's in Frankfort in years, or that one at the Simpsonville exit at the flea market, how are they these days?

Internet is killing brick and mortar stores.

Originally Posted By CbtEngr1:


Well Buds use to have bad counterpeople. Lots of women with the "why the hell are you here" attitude/face.  Amber was good to look at but she got married  

The only older guy in the store I would deal with is Jack. Dark hair, heavy mustache, VN vet I believe and may be a little gruff but knows his stuff. The Heavier dudes---meh ...no thanks.  New guys, just don't know much. They seem to hire whoever they can get.

my go to store is Mikes in Frankfort, have gotten some great deals on used stuff and he will be the cheapest on new stuff and will order what you want if he can. Unfortunately he has aged to the point he is looking to sell.  He has interesting items and priced fairly. Ammo is about the best i can find price-wise locally.
I wouldn't go (and haven't gone to since 2011) to Gilberts. Rude and only reason they are alive is due to online sales.

My 2nd GO to place is Centerfire. Very friendly, have gotten deals there too. Always something interesting to find. Sometimes prices are wacky but offset by others that are good.  Bill and Chris and John are great to work with.

The Simpsonville Flea Market store (OPS SUPPLY?) is very high priced in my opinion. they had rape prices during the ammo shortage ($50 for box of 9mm). Navy Seal owns it but is never there, think he is running for state office of some sort (legislature?). The store seems to have a lot of consignment guns as an inventory process.

Haven't been to Georgetown stores except for the new pawn shop that Monty half owns /runs.  I could always deal with him at Dan's Pawn. He even sold me an AK once that was labeled and priced as an SKS [url]/images/smilies/icon_smile_cool.gif[/img


Forgot about Antique and Modern. Are they still in business in the same place???

Originally Posted By JMD:


I don’t go to Mikes anymore.  He tried to screw me over on a gun I needed to part with.  

I wanted 1300 and that was below retail for a gun I had  for a while.  He offered 1000 max.  

Went to classic in Lexington and they offered me 1550 for the same gun.  More than I originally wanted but enough meat for them to make a profit.  

Originally Posted By JMD:



I disagree with you on that he wasn’t trying to screw me.  He was low balling me.   So I left.   Even classic said that offer was way too low.  And another person who is a big fan of Mikes agreed with me that his offer was too low on that particular firearm.  He would have walked away too.  

And I have looked at the prices on his guns. Some are reasonable and some I can get a better price somewhere else.   It is hit or miss.  

Glad you like him but my experience with him has not been the best experience.  

But then again my experience with Buds has been positive and others have not had a positive experience so I guess it depends on what a person’s expectations are.

Originally Posted By JMD:



If you ever want to sell or trade a colt SAA at a gun store the Antique and Modern would be the place.  They would give you approximately 80 percent of it’s value which is more than any other gun store in town.

I agree Buds and KY gun company do not give enough on trades or buying used guns.

Originally Posted By JMD:



If you ever want to sell or trade a colt SAA at a gun store the Antique and Modern would be the place.  They would give you approximately 80 percent of it’s value which is more than any other gun store in town.

I agree Buds and KY gun company do not give enough on trades or buying used guns.

Originally Posted By craig24680:


Buds doesn't honor online prices in the store
Screw them