Savannah's Cranman's Sporting Goods evolved from a pawnshop in the 1940s to a first class sporting goods store, fishing and hunting, until it changed hands in the 1980s. Edward Cranman was the owner. Mr. Cranman neither fished nor hunted but employed those that did and some had considerable knowledge. He offered from low to high end fishing and hunting gear. He patrolled the store with a cigar clenched on one side of his mouth. He was old school and expected negotiation on any item for sale. He carried a small paper pad, and would scribble down his counteroffer and hand it to you. If he didn't have it, he could get it. I once swapped with him a Ruger Red Label 20 ga. O/U for a NIB Sako Mannlicher stocked .308. I paid a little boot, but don't recall the amount. I won the Ruger in a raffle at a DU dinner. Ruger made the guns available the first year of production to DU dinners and they were scarce. Folks from all over the lowcountry and beyond were his customers as he was the only game around. Outside his store on the sidewalk were the familiar steel drums containing Calcutta cane poles for fishing. K-Mart and the box stores led to the demise of his successors' business. Here's the oral history of the store by his daughter, Harriet, 20 years ago, beginning at about 9 minutes in. I sure miss his store.
https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/collections/994/collection_resources/29865?embed=true
