Pawn Stars Review: December 12, 2011

On a cold and wet Monday in Las Vegas, it's time for Christmas shopping and what better place, if you own a pawn store, is to buy Christmas presents at the your local pawn store. There were actually a couple of articles in the local newspapers suggesting this. I'm not sure if I would want to buy used toys, tools or jewelry Christmas presents for my closest family members.
Norm, from the LVRJ had a small piece about the Gold and Silver shop: This Christmas season feels different at Gold & Silver Pawnshop.
Ever so slowly, optimism is creeping back along once-booming Las Vegas Boulevard.
"From what I'm hearing, people aren't bleeding money anymore," said Rick Harrison, co-owner of the shop featured on "Pawn Stars."
He hears it from the river of humanity, 4,000 to 5,000 on most days, who stand in line for hours to pocket some quick cash to feed their families, meet monthly payments or buy Christmas presents.
Most arrive with jewelry. For a while, construction workers were showing up with their tools.
"We don't take tools anymore. There's no construction in town and they are hard to sell," Harrison said.
Many people just need fast cash, "20 bucks to get by until payday. That's every day. They come in with a little TV, a boom box, Xbox or a little wedding band," he said. http://www.lvrj.com/news/-pawn-star-shop-s-patrons-doing-better-135399803.html
And on to the first episode. Te first lady brought in a police badge from the TV show Dragnet (co-starring Harry Morgan, who passed away this past week). The lady wanted $500 and Rick offered $300. The badges were mini versions of the badge. Then Rick offered $350 and that was the selling price.
The next guy brought in a steel mandolin. It was in rough shape and it was made by a company named "National". The guy didn't know a price and neither did Corey who then called in an expert. Jesse from Cowtown Guitars. Jesse said mandolin was from the 1930-40's. He said the mandolin was worth $1000 in the present condition and if restored, it would be worth around $3000. Corey offered $300 and the countered $500. The Old Man said ok for $500. They redid the mandolin and it look quite good after the work. It cost about $150 to fix it up and they thought it could sell for a little over $2000.
The guys then went to the gun range to see a Parade Cannon, It was used after the Civil War in parades to salute Civil War veterans and it belong to the Gran Army of the Republic. Sean came out ad they fired the cannon and it was pretty loud. Chumlee had to clean out his pants afterwards. Rick does not buy fire arms prior to 1890 because of federal law and because there was no documentation when it was made, there was no sale.
The next guy brought in an Abraham Lincoln print and signature. The signature said A. Lincoln. Rick told the story about a autograph forger. Then Rick said the guy had a copy of the forgery, so it wasn't worth any money. No sale.
In the second episode, the first guy brought in a certified copy of Saddam Hussein's fingerprints when he was arrested. He got the fingerprints from the FBI and they were done by the FBI. Rick offered $1500. The guy wanted $10,000. There was no sale.
The next guy brought in a Olympic Urine Test Pin. You got the pin for peeing in a cup during the Olympics. the seller was an Olympic bicyclist and wanted $500 and Rick offered $100 and then $150 and that was the selling price.
The next guy brought in a 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago. Te guy got the car from an IRS auction for $111,000. (see the picture above) The guy wanted $115,000 and time for an expert, Danny. The orginal sale price was $281,400. http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/pricing.aspx?year=2003&make=Lamborghini&model=Murcielago&trimid=97027
Danny said it was worth about $85-95,000. Corey offered $90,000 and the guy wanted $110,000. Corey then offered $95,000. No sale.
The next guy brought in an antique duck press. And it really does press ducks and squeezes the blood out of a dead duck. It's from the 1800's. It's used to make fancy French food. The guy wanted $9000. The Old Man offered $1500. (Seriously?) No sale. This segment seemed so staged, like it was a fake product. But then again...



The next lady brought in a Sony Walkman from Tiffany. It was made for a band member of the Who, John Entwistle and his wife was selling the Walkman. The lady wanted $2000. Rick offered $700 and then $900. The wife wanted $1250 and that was the selling price.
And that was the end of the show. Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a nice warm week. Or at least, if it is cold out, have fun sitting around the fireplace drinking hot chocolate.