Was sad to see that Great Northern Guns is going away. First bought guns and ammo there as a teenager in the 70's. That was a mandatory stop on my occasional trip down from Fairbanks to buy black powder. Are there going to be any retailers in Alaska selling real black powder with them gone?
Great Northern Guns
- Thread starter Louis
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Alaska Bush Hunter
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Same here my must go to store in Anchorage for 25 years.
coming from Fairbanks…..,,,dropped a few dimes their over the years.
coming from Fairbanks…..,,,dropped a few dimes their over the years.
Float Pilot
Well-known member
Very sad. This is the only place I have heard that.
Yukon Cornelius
Well-known member
My experiences at great northern guns were pretty meh. Customer service was worse than a bush service and their prices were higher than they should have been.
I have a can of can of Goex Fg (1 pound) that I don't need. I purchase it from GNG a few years ago but never used it. If someone wants it shoot me a reasonable, pre-ridiculous price ammo, primers, etc offer and it is yours. Not looking to pad my 401K account. I am in Anchorage.
4merguide
Well-known member
I didn't care for the place myself. One time I was in there and wanting to possibly do a trade, the guy treated me like sh*t. I tried being patient, but finally had enough, gave the guy a few words, and walked out. With me went about a half dozen other guys after they experienced what went on. Just so happened the owner was walking in at the time we all were leaving. When he asked what was going on I just pointed to the guy that I had dealt with and said...."Ask that guy." and went on my way.
That attitude seems to be endemic of a lot of gun shops. I guess they must just get sick of people. The kids at the Sportsman's know about 1/2 of what they think they know but at least they are pleasant and willing as long as you're buying a new.
urbanhillbilly
Active member
That is super unfortunate for both you and them, always a pain when customer service is thrown out the window. GNG was one of the only places I went where they didn’t treat me like an idiot because I’m not an expert.
I don’t know a whole lot about firearms, but I’m not clueless. I kept going back because of that.
WinterHawk
New member
I haven't been in Fairbanks since 2001, but if Down Under Guns is still in business, do they carry the Holy Black? Just curious...
When I was in the state, I thought about checking with some of the blasting companies if they would bring up a 25 pound box of black powder in one of their shipments. Something to think about.
~Hawk~
When I was in the state, I thought about checking with some of the blasting companies if they would bring up a 25 pound box of black powder in one of their shipments. Something to think about.
~Hawk~
iofthetaiga
Well-known member
Down Under shuttered soon after the damned box stores invaded.
There's a newer gun store in town called "Iron and Wood." They carry cool stuff including some muzzleloaders. I was hoping they'd carry black powder but apparently the demand is far too small to warrant the hassle involved with shipping and storing it. The Midnight Sun Muzzleloaders used to do group orders of black powder for members but, as far as I know, that club is no longer active.
WinterHawk
New member
Which box stores? The last time I was in Fairbanks (2001) there were a bunch of them already. And back in the 1960s - mid 70s there were Sears and JC Penney who carried guns. Down Under opened in the mid 1970s, and Frontier Sporting Goods was a staple for everything for hunting so they didn't get enough competition to put them out of business.
Not picking an argument. I'm just really curious which box stores closed Down Under.
We got Sportsman's Warehouse and Walmart. There was a Sports Authority who also sold guns (gone now) Frontier Outfitters is still in business. I was surprised that Down Under couldn't stay in business. Iron & Wood seems to be doing okay. Great Northern Guns in Anchorage filled a similar niche in Anchorage and survived a much greater onslaught of big box stores. Of course the Anchorage area has a much larger customer base. Just speculation on my part. I know nothing of their actual finances.
Daveintheburbs
Active member
GNG is up and running.
I was glad to hear they had continued after the owner retired. Does anyone know if they've been able to resume stocking black powder yet?
iofthetaiga
Well-known member
We lost the battle against Walmart and they opened in about 2004, if memory serves. Then Sportsmans Warehouse in '05. Fred Meyers sold firearms/ammunition also, and they opened their new West store. Frontier had the diversification of the hardware store going for them, and they expanded upstairs and became Frontier after Ben Franklin left. Fur/Fin/Feathers was a couple doors down in the mall. Don't recall exactly when they closed, but it was in that same general era.
For the record: I didn't say what caused Down Under to close (I can't speak for them). I just noted that they closed shortly after the box stores showed up. I can say that in general, the box stores were bad for many local businesses, everything from sporting goods, to groceries, to book stores closed. The town is the worse for it.
*I had forgotten about Sports Authority; didn't realize or remember that they sold firearms. Save for Sportsman's I've never set foot in any of those *******es. Sportsmans was only under duress, due to no other option.
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WinterHawk
New member
Thanks for the reply! Frontier Sporting Goods was Dick McIntyre's shop. It was a thriving business when I came to Fairbanks in '66 to go to college. The last time I was back was 2000/2001 and the store was boarded up. Frontier Outfitters sounds like another store entirely.
Doesn't sound like the two stores were related but I don't know for sure. Dick McIntyre sounds like he was quite the guy. I never met him but certainly heard a lot about him. I imagine you knew that he was also the one who started Frontier Flying Service. Pretty cool you were here in 66. Certainly some changes since then. Were you here the next year when things got a little damp?
WinterHawk
New member
Sure was. I had a ham license and was helicoptered to the Civil Defense building where I set up a 2 meter station for communications. Then I was relieved and started wading back to the University. Was picked up by a couple of GIs in a johnboat who gave me a ride. Good thing, as the water was getting towards my waist. It's a wonder I didn't drown myself!
Once it had dried out they were hauling things out of the Samson Hardware warehouses. They had stuff going back to when they were the Ford dealer in the early 1930s. We were inundated with folks from the lower 48 looking for new, old stock model A & T parts.
