The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Sad to hear York Guns is closing after 25+ years. We seem to have lost a few dealers and shops this year :(

Hadn't heard that, they will actually be a loss as i have bought a fair bit from them over the last couple of years

Hello
They were never the same when they moved from York center near the river in that quirky shop.
They always had a vast and very interesting range of firearms especially military I bought a few things, I purchased my Swedish Mauser and remember being invited upstairs to cherry pick, I chose an Obendorf 1899 model pre Swedish manufacture with beautiful tiger stripe walnut stock (I still have it) Think I paid £195 so it was some time ago....... They were not that popular back then.

Sad news, particularly for shooters in the North, who they have served for many years.
Thoughts are also with staff members.

Their old shop near the river (King St if I remember correctly) was a treasure trove. They lost their ambiance when they moved - tried to go upmarket. A sad loss and I empathise!

Anyone remember Fred Farmer?

I bumped into Gary Hyde last year at a Christmas market. He was OK but not in the gun dealing business any more as he did a little porridge due to doing a deal the government didn't approve of.
Regards
Peter.

It's a little more complicated than that! Another RFD that thought he was above the law. Greed controlled him and like those before, banged nails into the coffin of legitimate sportsmen and lawful dealers.

He deserves no sympathy.

The old shop was brilliant. For any shooter it is was fantastic.
They had everything.
I drove down from the north of Scotland to buy my s/w 686 and a few years later my .22 buckmark semi -auto pistol.

I would stock up with all reloading gear and consumables etc when on holiday in the area.
Funny how we seen to holiday where the gun shops are located?
On most trips I had to go get the car and park outside to load it up with the pile of stuff I had just bought.
There was no way I could carry it any distance.

The best bit was the wife could go shopping in York and leave me to it for ages.

Did anybody else get two receipts from them ?

One receipt had the proper price on it and the second receipt (which was not numbered) and showed a vastly reduced "cost " of the parts/firearm to show the wife!

I spent the last of my pistol compensation in the old shop.
I bought a new tikka continental rifle in 308 and S/B PM2 ( 10Xx42 ) scope. I still have them both, going strong.

I have visited the "new" shop a few times when down on holiday but it did not have the same appeal to it.
It seemed to cater more for the game shooter.
Cheers
Shoppe

I’m sure the old shop has many special memories for lots of people.
The front of the shop was tiny, with a little raised area to the rear, but whenever you wanted something specific, they disappeared and would return with whatever you’d asked for.
Or the time I heard they had a rare Swedish M41-B, I rushed to the store only to find there was a selection of them to choose from
I also used to stock up with reloading gear, and the Wife sometimes reminds me of the time I was there, and was overjoyed that they had 45-70 bullets. So I bought 5000, then proceeded to remove my daughter from her pram to use it as a trolley back to the car
Happy days