:shock: I guess the good times are gone. While I was in Germany (Bitburg AB) during the early 70s we had an exceptionally good Rod and Gun Club. The prices in the retail store were great. For example, I bought a Winchester 101 Skeet Set, (12, 20 and 28 gauge plus the .410 gun) for $1200. A Sako Finbear sold for about three hundred dollars. I purchased a Browning Hi-Power for $175, Mannlicher, Mauser and Steyr were really cheap in the clubs. The guns were mostly new in the box, but they also had some great used guns on consignment from a German dealer. Several of the other bases also had good Rod and Gun Clubs, but Luxemberg and Belguim had some good buys on the economy especially at antique shops. There was no restriction on the number of guns you could own, and no special requirement for storage while I was there. As "key personnel" I had to live on base and the guns were kept in my quarters.
I know what you mean about the Germans getting rid of their old heavy oak furniture. Trash night was Thursdays, after 10PM they put things they wanted to dispose of on the street. A friend had a VW van with all the seats removed except the drivers, we picked up some really nice antique furniture from their trash and hauled it away in the old VW. My friend found a ton of clocks in the trash, most needed repair or refinish. After some work, many were sold to other Americans. I am sure he made a ton of money off the trash. :wink: