Gun shops in Portland Maine?

[gerry@fundy.net]

I will be visiting Portland Maine next week and would like to know of any good gun shops there.  Thanks.

[EVOC ONE]

I'm not from Maine, so I don't anything about whats up there.  But what I do when I'm going to visit an unknown area is to go to the area web site and find the yellow pages.  

In this case search for Portland, Maine.  Then look for the yellow pages and search for "Guns and Gunsmiths".  This has worked well for me.  You can also check "Sporting Goods Stores" but you'll get the "Jock Shops" as well.

Once you find the list of shops, you should be able to get to Map Quest to find the location.  One more thing, call the shops and ask what they are about.  That may save you some traveling time.

Good Luck

EVOC ONE

[Steelbanger]

South of Portland in Kitterry, Maine you'll find The Kittery Trading Post. Huge selection of new & used guns. At the same time, your Mrs. can browse through the rest of the shop looking at clothing, nick-nacks, souvenirs, etc. As I recall, it's just a short distance off I-95.

[pagris]

Have to agree with Steelbanger on this one - Kittery's Trading Post is the place to visit - Kittery is just off I95 about 30 to 40 minutes south of Portland, just across the river from New Hampshire.  I am looking forward to stopping there on our trip to Maine in October.  Return to Portland on the old highway (Route 1) and stop at the Maine Diner in Wells for a great meal while you are down there.

http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/

[Mainer]

I'm a lifelong Mainer, so trust me on this one.  Pagris and Steelbanger are correct.  The trip to the Kittery Trading Post is WORTH IT.  It's a straight shot down I-95 from Portland.  The prices are competitive and their gun room is huge and fully stocked.  If I were to guess I'd say it's 150' x 75.'

The other option, and I'd say it's a far second place, is LL Bean's hunting store in Freeport, about 25 mi north of Portland.  No handguns.  No used guns.  Far more limited selection than what the Kittery Trading Post has, but it does have some nice mid-to-high end rifle and shotguns.

[tacshooter]

Take a drive to Freeport about 20 miles North of Portland. Drive up Route 1 about a mile from L.L. Beans to The Freeport Trading Post. The owner is Paul Bennet. He is a great guy, and has a neat old time store place. Good deals can be had. If you go,  tell him Dale Bond, a former Mainer,now Floridian by the wifes choice sent you and says hello!

Tacshooter :sniper:

[MSP Ret]

I agree with tacshooter, in that area, next after KTP is Bennetts Gun Shop, just north of LL Beans by a couple of miles (off the left side of the road, look for the sign!!). Unless your a high end spender and enjoy ritzy gun shops with high prices don't even waste your time in the LL Bean gun section. Bennets is great, usually a coffee pot on and always time to talk and discuss guns, and you never know what you will find for shooting, hunting or reloading, a great old fashioned place, great prices, new and used gear, and it's run by a real friendly guy!!!....<><.... :grin:

[gerry@fundy.net]

Thanks for the advice.  I've been to the Kittery Trading post and agree it's great.  If I get that far, I'll certainly stop in.  I tried the Yellow pages and came up with 15 names in Maine, none of which I have heard of before, none in Portland.  There are several gun shops in the Bangor area that I always visit, bun none of them were listed.  Neither was the KTP!  So much for yellow pages.  I will be spending most of my time in Portland so was looking for gun shops there.  
  I am Canadian, so I'm quite limited by the BATF as to what I can buy but hope to pick up a shooting rest, reloading equipment, etc.  It seems strange that BATF is more concerned about what I take out of the country than Canada Customs is about what I bring back.