67: Chapter 67: Old George’s Dragon Slayer Sword 67: Chapter 67: Old George’s Dragon Slayer Sword Allen Zhang sped on his bicycle to George Pawnshop, and after arriving, he noticed a pickup truck parked outside the store.
Pushing the door open, he immediately saw a group of people huddled together, seemingly discussing the price of an item, quite noisily.
George turned his head to see a familiar face entering the store and immediately smiled, “Hey!
If you have something to sell, please wait a moment, but if you’re here to buy, feel free to look around.”
“Ok.” Allen Zhang politely responded, not in a hurry.
He moved closer to where the crowd was, curious to see the rarity they were discussing.
Allen stood outside the crowd and glanced over, instantly a bit stunned, was that actually a machine gun?
It looked like a buggy with large iron wheels, supporting a shuttle-shaped machine gun, the magazine cover resembling a large integrated chicken steel dish, twin steel tubes forming a dark muzzle, and a tractor-like hand crank lever, displayed as if it were a delicate exhibit.
But undoubtedly, it was laden with lethality, bearing the whole style of 19th-century firearms.
Old George was negotiating the price seriously with the customer, “Originating from late 19th century Nepal, this Rabij machine gun was a replica of the Maxim gun.
Although only 15 were produced worldwide, your machine gun is merely a replica made in a small workshop, with no company markings, and most parts are not handcrafted.
The parts are non-interchangeable and the preserve is not in good condition; it’s basically unusable now.
I can only offer $9,000 to buy it.”
The gun seller’s face looked constipated.
He was so stunned as if his head had been chopped by the Dragon Slayer Sword, feeling numb on the scalp.
“My expectation is $35,000, you directly cut down to $9,000, do you think the price you offered is appropriate?” the pawnbroker retorted to old George.
Old George spread his hands, with an expression like a a dead pig not fearing boiling water, “The price I offered is quite reasonable, buddy.
Honestly, if you take this big fellow to a pawnshop in Las Vegas, it would be difficult to even sell it for $8,000!”
“That’s exactly why I contacted you, and drove hundreds of kilometers overnight to your city in California to sell it.
Back then, you said it was worth at least $15,000!
Why is it only $9,000 now?” the pawnbroker asked, quite discontent.
“You also mentioned that was the online price, I only looked at the photos then, not the real object.
How could I expect that your machine gun would be in such poor condition, with internal gears and structures all rusted.
It can’t be used anymore.
A machine gun that can’t fire is of no use to me, right?”
Old George patiently explained.
The pawnbroker, feeling helpless, said, “Alright, how about adding a bit more money, $10,000?”
The pawnbroker immediately became furious, unable to contain his anger, “You just said $9,000!”
Old George bent down to pull out a screw and a rubber ring from the bottom of the machine gun, “Look, I didn’t even thoroughly check the bottom just now, and didn’t promptly discover the issues with the firearm.
If you delay further, it will only be $8,000.
$7,900, $7,500, $7,000…”
As old George continued to scrutinize with a magnifying glass and pointed out issues, the price he offered kept getting lower.
The psychological endurance of the pawnbroker instantly couldn’t hold up, kind of collapsed, “I won’t sell it!!”
I’ll give you a friendly price, $8,900!
I’m taking a loss, and will take this big fellow!” Seeing that the seller was about to collapse, old George quickly gave his own psychological price.
The pawnbroker’s face turned from pale to flushed, resentfully saying, “If I wasn’t in urgent need of money, I definitely wouldn’t sell this antique.
Old George cheerfully agreed, gesturing to two movers in the store to move the item aside, then turned back inside to write a receipt.
He took a large sum of money from the safe inside, counted it after coming out, and handed it over to the customer.
“Welcome to visit again, customer.
Here’s a large discount coupon for you.”
Old George cheerfully said.
“I think I will never come again.” The pawnbroker took the money, sighed, and immediately left.
Allen also examined the imposing and awe-striking machine gun, $8,900 you can’t lose out, $8,900 you can’t be scammed.
He leaned in and whispered, “So, this thing really can’t be used?”
Old George spread his hands, “Indeed, it can’t be used.
But I never said it can’t be fixed.”
“How much is it worth if it’s fixed?” Allen Zhang began to doubt whether selling items in this shop was the right decision.
Old George smiled mysterically, “What do you think?”
“At least worth over 20,000 US dollars?” Allen sighed heavily.
Old George from Texas wouldn’t smile so happily if there wasn’t a profit margin of more than double; running a pawnshop is even faster than robbing money!
Next to him were two other people lined up to sell things, and Allen patiently waited.
A chubby middle-aged man with a beard took out a box and a black canvas bag, extracting a rough stone and a prosthetic…
It looked like a peg leg style from the pirate era.
Even a Barbosa-style prosthetic firearm.
Wow, another eye-opener.
This stuff can also be sold?
Allen couldn’t recognize it at all.
The chubby man confidently introduced, “This is a 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory fossil, which is highly collectible in the market.
This peg-leg flintlock gun prosthetic was allegedly a relic of a Caribbean pirate captain.
I’ve done my research, and knowing that your pawnshop also needs profit, I only want to sell both items for 5000 US dollars.”
“700 dollars,” old George examined it with a magnifying glass and immediately wielded the Dragon Slayer Sword, “A prosthetic flintlock gun, I’ve never seen it before, but inside it’s devoid of rifling, very shabby.
I doubt anyone would collect such an oddity, I’ll take it for 200 dollars.”
The chubby man’s brain froze instantly.
His facial expression solidified, utterly dumbfounded, questioning life.
He wanted to curse, but his good upbringing held him back.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that, what did you say?” His voice even lacked confidence now.
Looking at the ivory fossil in hand, are you sure it’s only worth that much?
“500 dollars,” old George smiled as he looked at him, explaining, “Upon my evaluation, this isn’t a mammoth ivory fossil but rather a walrus tusk fossil from a walrus species living in the saltwater lakes of the West.
Native Americans had a history of hunting them and liked to use walrus tusks as ornaments.
This ivory is probably only 1000 to 2000 years old, and in the market, it’s collectible value is only around 500 US dollars.”
Allen quickly pulled out his phone to check the prices.
Indeed, it was around 500 US dollars.
But it was 500 US dollars per pound.
Such a large fossil weighed at least about 4 pounds.
Walrus tusk fossils could be freely traded on the market and carving them into artworks could be even more expensive.
Damn, you old man, is the profit margin this huge from buying and selling?
“Okay, let’s both take a step back, how about 1000 US dollars?” The chubby man was somewhat persuaded, pained by the haggling.
Old George pondered for a moment, “750 US dollars.
That’s the highest price I can offer.
If you don’t agree, I’m sorry.”
I want cash!” The chubby man reluctantly handed over the two treasures to old George.
People who come to the pawnshop to sell things, apart from those who are really desperate for money or have various other reasons, such as items with questionable origins that couldn’t be sold at auction houses, who else would subject themselves to this ordeal!
“Welcome to visit again,” old George, filled with pride, went back inside, wrote a receipt, and counted out 750 US dollars in cash to give to the chubby man.
He then looked at the next lady in line, eying her as if she were a lamb ready for slaughter, and kindly asked, “Miss, what would you like to sell?
Is it for pawn or sale?”
The lady, intimidated by his previous aggressive price cutting, hesitated for a long time before taking out a black box.
She pulled out a gray and white photograph, starting her story.
“This is a photo signed by President Lincoln of the United States himself, and it comes with an expert’s certification.”
Old George immediately turned serious.