OUTDOORS -- Lancaster's hobby becomes a profession

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on November 15, 2013 1:48 PM

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rhanchett@newsargus.com

Eric Lancaster took his hobby and turned it into a profession.

Nearly 20 years later, he is still thankful for every day he gets to spend doing what he loves.

Lancaster is a certified gunsmith and owner of Big E's Gun Shop on Hwy 70 East in Goldsboro.

"Really, I started tinkering and kind of working on guns for myself," Lancaster said. "Then my dad and I decided to start the gun shop together in 1994 and that's when it turned into a job."

Along with his father Wayne, Eric Lancaster began his enterprise in Pikeville. After more than a decade, the duo decided to move to their new location near The Village Green shopping center. The new building opened in April of 2012 and so far business has picked up right where it left off.

"Some nights we have people in here wall-to-wall," Lancaster said. "It just depends on the time of the year and what kind of products people are looking for."

Big E's features several makes of long rifles, shotguns and hand guns. The shop also carries a full line of accessories from cases to targets as well as a complete stock of ammunition. Lancaster is a Class III gun dealer, meaning he specializes in add-on components such as suppressers.

If Lancaster can't get a certain item, he can almost always find it through his suppliers.

"There have been times where I have spent a whole day tracking down one particular piece," Lancaster said. "In the old days you could just order whatever you wanted out of a catalog... Now it's a little tougher. But with that said, normally I can have things ordered from a supplier in two or three days."

At Big E's the business motto is simple. Treat customers with respect and they will do the same. A perfect example of that philosophy came to light a few years ago when the demand for AR-15's skyrocketed as speculation swirled that the weapon was going to be the subject of restrictive legislation.

Lancaster never marked up his stock of AR-15's. A move that has led to several repeat customers.

"I know of some places where AR's were going for three times what they were worth," Lancaster said. "I didn't want to do that to people. This business is built on repeat customers and I felt like eventually the frenzy would pass."

Lancaster spends most of his days working for a local construction business and finds time for Big E's each night from 6-9 p.m. The exception is Wednesday, which is reserved for church services. The shop is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday.

"A lot of folks like the evening hours because they can go home from work and not have to rush back out," Lancaster said. "I feel blessed to be in the position I am and that's why we are not open on Wednesdays. I was going to church on Wednesdays before we opened the shop and I still go every week. I don't want to give that up in order to try to make a buck."

Despite the busy schedule, Lancaster still finds time to shoot his personal guns and hunt during the fall. Two more hobbies that are now a part of his profession.