Butter-Nut Sport Shop
Butter-Nut Sport Shop opened in 1953 when William Greene returned stateside after serving with the Marines in Korea, where he earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Greene was placed in charge of an armory after his discharge—that's where his firearms expertise took root. He started the busines...
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Butter-Nut Sport Shop opened in 1953 when William Greene returned stateside after serving with the Marines in Korea, where he earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Greene was placed in charge of an armory after his discharge—that's where his firearms expertise took root. He started the business on Butternut Street, then moved to the current location at 249 N Main St in Minoa back in 1969.
Today, retired Syracuse Police officer Mike Serrao (Greene's son-in-law) and his son Mike handle day-to-day operations under Greene's guidance.
The building is packed floor to ceiling with firearms across multiple categories:
- •Rare collector items dating back to the Civil War era
- •Current production firearms across all major categories
- •Hard-to-find ammunition — this is what the shop is known for locally. When other dealers are out, shooters check here
- •Thousands of motorcycle parts from the 1960s onward
The shop has a documented Colt Fitz Special revolver stamped "Detective Special"—estimated to be one of only 40-200 produced between 1918-1944. This is the prototype of Colt's Detective Special line.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Gunsmithing | Full repair work in equipped back shop with lathes and machine tools |
| Firearm Safety Training | Hands-on instruction available |
| Motorcycle Repair | Full repair services and parts sales (1960s-present inventory) |
- •Address: 249 N Main St, Minoa, NY 13116
- •Phone: (315) 478-2225
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00am–7:30pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00am–7:30pm |
| Thursday | 10:00am–7:30pm |
| Friday | 10:00am–6:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am–4:00pm |
| Sunday–Monday | Closed |
"It's known as the place to locate hard-to-find ammunition." — Syracuse.com profile
The shop publishes detailed technical articles on their blog about shotgun chokes, shotgun barrels, firearm history (Ithaca Model 37s, Colt revolvers, etc.), and ammunition performance. Owner Mike Serrao is actively involved in firearm education and testing. His personal experience carrying the Smith & Wesson M&P45 professionally and recreationally informs the shop's inventory and recommendations.
Beyond firearms: The unique combination of gun shop + motorcycle repair/parts makes Butter-Nut a one-stop destination for a specific type of customer—working shooters and riders who appreciate vintage and specialized equipment.