Curry-Thomas Hardware Stores

Guys at Fort Surplus recommended this place to me because I’m pissed at the folks at St. Nicholas for giving me stinkeye every time I give them business.
This place was like stepping back into the 50’s, and not in a «colored drinking fountain» kind of way. There were a couple of old guys chatting with the gunsmith, a couple of old guys chatting with the cashier, everyone I passed by said howdy. So the gun counter guy greets me with a «howdy can I help» and then he sees I have a box in my hand and says «oh you’re the guy with the sights that need putting on.» SO he takes a look at the gun and concluded what I already knew, that my gun is a PITA to put new sights on, but if i didn’t mind waiting, he’d give it a whack. So he finished some other business and I sat and listened to people talk about politics and some guys who should know better call 1911 magazines «45 magnum clips.» I sat in a row of mismatched chairs, only think more country about this setup would have been a nice wood burning stove. So after about 45 minutes the guy comes out with my gun and explains what he did and apologized for the color not matching exactly. I just nodded because I couldn’t tell. From what I could see he had done a very professional job of custom altering my slide and installing night sights. Cost was a lot more than St. Nicks, but I don’t think they would have the know how to put sights on anything but the big three. Anyways, since it’s not a chain store prices aren’t going to be Wal-​Mart cheap, but you are going to get a personal experience. I plan on going back.

Been using C-​T for many years. Most of the time they have what you need. Or, they will be glad to order something special for you. Good selection of polishing compounds and they sell window screens too!

This is the first store that opened in 1946. It started out as a gun shop that morphed into a hardware chain of sorts. The inside is adorned with enough mounts that the zoo would be proud but surely not peta. Everything from deer, water buffalo, pigs/​boars, to animals like gazelles, antelopes, I think i even saw a few 4 legged friends like a panther or a leopard. I went and have been going here when I’m in the area and need anything in the hardware field. They make the best keys and my old job I needed a ton of keys. I have never taken one back cause it didn’t work. They cut their keys by hand and a machine of course but they work every time. The guys behind the counter are always willing a helpful hand or to give advice. They also have had the same guys working there for the 20 years or so that I have been going there and that is for all of the stores. Same folks and the same friendly customer service.

I love this place, it reminds me of the hardware stores I remember growing up with in the 80’s. Probably because it’s been around a lot longer than me along with the staff which means you can get some real help. Who can ask for more than Gun Smiths and home repair under one roof.

Unfortunately, last of a dying breed of true hardware stores. But still offers as much as the huge retail chains. Difference is the men in this store know what they’re talking about because they’ve done it before. Hands down the best and least expensive place to get keys made. Anytime I can make it in there I do. Famous for a gun shop in the back and walls full of big game. One of a kind.

Oldschool, Oldtimers who know what they’re doing. This is the type of hardware store I grew up going to when something needed fixing around the house. Everything you need and nothing you don’t need. What they didn’t have that I needed, they got really fast. The old guys are really friendly. I prefer coming here 1^st before Home Depot & Lowes.

We first went into Curry-​Thomas Hardware looking for a way to lock our beautiful old wood framed windows. Apparently at some point some of the locks had just been removed and, due to age, the locks that remained didn’t line up well enough to actually secure the windows. I’m the kind of person who prides herself on a home-​invader-​free living space, so this was a situation we needed to get under control.
The salesman we first spoke to could not have taken our problem more seriously. After talking to us for twenty minutes and showing us a few options [of various levels of handyman skill] he convened a mini huddle of the store staff to brainstorm with us about solutions. The result of 15 minutes of intense debate among five career hardware store employees and a few random contractors with time to kill? A solution that would cost about 60 cents per window and do zero damage to our rented home’s antique window frames.
While the prices in general won’t be as low [nor will you have as many options] as in the monster chain stores, the old school customer service is worth it if you happen to pay a little more for something. Especially for those of us who know little to nothing about these types of things [cough]. They also carry [and fix!] guns according to the signs, so there’s that.
And don’t worry, while there is obviously a bit of a club among the staff and regulars, they are totally welcoming and respectful to those not in the club.