Nicol St Pawn & Paintball

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Nicol St Pawn & Paintball Come visit Vancouver Island's largest Pawnbroker & Paintball pro shop in person at 124 Nicol Street

Opal.. more than just October’s birthstone!Opal has had a pretty interesting reputation throughout history. Beyond its i...
10/15/2026

Opal.. more than just October’s birthstone!

Opal has had a pretty interesting reputation throughout history. Beyond its incredible colour, different cultures have attached all kinds of meaning and symbolism to this unique gemstone.

A stone of emotion & creativity
In modern crystal and gemstone traditions, opal is often associated with creativity, inspiration, emotional expression and imagination.

A stone of energy
Opal is sometimes said to amplify the energy of the person wearing it, both positive and negative, and is associated with passion, confidence and spontaneity.

Love & passion
Historically and symbolically, opal has often been connected with love, desire and strong emotions. Its flashes of colour have made it a natural symbol for something that is difficult to pin down but impossible to ignore.

Where does opal come from?
Some of the world’s most famous opals come from Australia, particularly Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy and Queensland. But opal is found in several parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.

And then there’s the folklore…
Opal has had a complicated relationship with superstition. At different points in history it was considered a symbol of good luck and hope, while later European folklore gave it an unfortunate reputation as a bad-luck stone. Much of that reputation came from stories and literature rather than the stone itself.

Whether you believe in the symbolism or simply appreciate what nature can create, there’s no denying that every opal has its own personality.

And honestly… that’s probably our favourite thing about them!

A little piece of Vancouver hockey history. 🏒Before the Vancouver Canucks ever played an NHL game, there were the origin...
10/13/2026

A little piece of Vancouver hockey history. 🏒

Before the Vancouver Canucks ever played an NHL game, there were the original Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League.

In 1969, that team captured the Lester Patrick Cup, defeating the Portland Buckaroos 4 games to 0 in the championship series.

And now, more than 57 years later, we have a piece of that championship history here in our showcase!

A 1969 Lester Patrick Championship Ring.

The timing makes this one especially interesting. Vancouver was on the doorstep of joining the NHL, and this championship came just one year before the Canucks made their NHL debut for the 1970–71 season.

The 1969 roster included some pretty recognizable hockey names, Andy Bathgate, Phil Maloney, Charlie Hodge, Jim McKenny, Bryan Hextall Jr., Don Cherry and Len Lunde, among others.

This isn’t a Stanley Cup ring… but it is a tangible piece of the pre NHL Vancouver Canucks, from a championship team that helped pave the way for the franchise known today.

1969. Vancouver Canucks. Lester Patrick Cup Champions.

Come have a look at a little piece of Vancouver hockey history. 🏒

It’s hard to put a price on some of these types of items.. but we have it Priced at $1299.99

You know.. we have been here a long time And we’ve actually gotten to know our customers pretty well! We’re a small, loc...
10/09/2026

You know.. we have been here a long time

And we’ve actually gotten to know our customers pretty well!

We’re a small, local shop, and after being here for 33 years, we’ve gotten to know a lot of familiar faces, and their families, stories, hobbies and sometimes even their dogs!

That’s one of the things we like most about being a neighbourhood pawn shop.

You’ll probably see Tania, Nico, John, Andrew, or one of the rest of us when you come through the door.

We’re local. We’re independent. And we’re pretty proud of that.

Just a reminder that we’re dog friendly! We love when our four-legged customers stop by the shop, and judging by this be...
10/07/2026

Just a reminder that we’re dog friendly!

We love when our four-legged customers stop by the shop, and judging by this beautiful gal, they seem pretty happy to visit us too.

So if you’re out running errands and your furry friend is along for the ride, bring them in! We’re always happy to see them!

Honestly, some days the dogs are the best part of the shift…

Hunting season is here! If you’re getting ready to head out this season, we’ve got plenty of stock in the shop, from Com...
10/05/2026

Hunting season is here!

If you’re getting ready to head out this season, we’ve got plenty of stock in the shop, from Compound bows, to Crossbows, accessories, and more!

From the little things you may have forgotten to the gear you’ve been looking for, there’s a good chance we’ve got something that’ll help get you ready.

Come have a look!

October’s birthstone: OpalThere’s a reason opal has been admired for centuries. That shifting play of colour can make ev...
10/03/2026

October’s birthstone: Opal

There’s a reason opal has been admired for centuries. That shifting play of colour can make every stone look a little different depending on the light, blues, greens, pinks, yellows and everything in between.

Opal is traditionally associated with October, and it’s one of those stones that really doesn’t need much introduction. The colour does the talking.

We’ve got some beautiful opal pieces in the shop right now, whether you’re shopping for an October birthday or just like a little colour in your jewellery box.

Some Opal Facts;

- Australia dominates the opal world. Australian opals are particularly famous, with major deposits in places like Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy and Queensland.

- In ancient Rome, they were associated with hope, purity and good fortune.

- Opals can show almost every colour. A single opal can flash reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues and violets as it moves in the light.

Local paintball event @ CIP.
10/02/2026

Local paintball event @ CIP.

Some people wear sunglasses indoors because they’re cool… We’re just doing our best to keep up.. So, while we’re clearly...
10/01/2026

Some people wear sunglasses indoors because they’re cool…
We’re just doing our best to keep up..

So, while we’re clearly experts in the field of looking unnecessarily cool, we figured we’d pass along a deal:

35% off sunglasses!
Social media special only!

If you’re seeing this post, you’re in. Just show us this post when you come by and we’ll take 35% off any pair of sunglasses.

Because looking this cool shouldn’t have to cost full price. 😂

OMEGA × Swatch MISSION TO EARTHPHASE The MoonSwatch collaboration was one of those unexpected partnerships that immediat...
09/29/2026

OMEGA × Swatch MISSION TO EARTHPHASE

The MoonSwatch collaboration was one of those unexpected partnerships that immediately got the watch world talking.

In 2022, OMEGA and Swatch teamed up to reinterpret the legendary OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch, the watch famously associated with NASA’s space program and the first watch worn on the Moon. The result was the Bioceramic MoonSwatch: unmistakable Speedmaster-inspired design, but built in Swatch’s innovative Bioceramic material and offered in a collection of wildly different colours and “missions.”

And then there’s Snoopy…

Snoopy has a surprisingly deep connection to space exploration. OMEGA received NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award in 1970 for its contribution to the Apollo 13 mission, and Snoopy has remained closely associated with OMEGA’s space heritage ever since.

This particular MoonSwatch takes that connection even further.

The MISSION TO EARTHPHASE features an Earth-phase indicator showing how Earth appears from the Moon, along with a Snoopy and Woodstock illustration in their space gear.

It’s also made from Swatch’s Bioceramic, a material composed of two-thirds ceramic and one-third biosourced material derived from castor oil.

What makes these particularly interesting to collectors is the combination of OMEGA’s Speedmaster heritage, Swatch’s design language, Snoopy’s NASA connection, and limited-time releases, all wrapped into a watch that was never intended to be just another ordinary Swatch.

This one is available now for $1,299.99.

🎺 A little brass history in the shop.Coming up for sale is a Bach Stradivarius Model 43 Bb Trumpet, made in Elkhart, Ind...
09/27/2026

🎺 A little brass history in the shop.

Coming up for sale is a Bach Stradivarius Model 43 Bb Trumpet, made in Elkhart, Indiana.

The Stradivarius line has been a professional standard in brass instruments for generations, and the #43 bell is one of Bach’s best-known configurations. The larger #43 bell is designed to give the instrument a broad, projecting sound while retaining the versatility to work across everything from concert and orchestral playing to jazz and solo work.

For players who know their Bach, the Model 43 is a pretty special horn.

And for everyone else… well, it’s just a beautiful piece of craftsmanship!

Address

124 Nicol Street
Nanaimo, BC
V9R4S9

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 8pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+1 250-753-3355

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