Throw away those empty 2-liter bottles, and check out the bowling pins available on eBay!  Bowling pins abound on eBay... vintage bowling pins, new bowling pins, painted bowling pins, glow bowling pins, trophy bowling pins...you name it!  Whether you need many bowling pins or just one as a gift for your favorite bowler, eBay is the place to be!  No more long nights with endless trips to the car liberating pins from the alley...one by one...under your shirt....with the simple click of the mouse, eBay makes it easy and brings the pins to you!

Bowling Pin Varieties

AMF Vintage Pin - These clear-coat bowling pins were used in the 1950s and 1960s.

Amflite Bowling Pin - This ABC approved bowling pin is produced by QubicaAMF Worldwide and is in use today.

Brunswick Max Crown Pin - This is an ABC approved bowling pin in use today.  The Brunswick pin features the trademark crown symbolic of Brunswick pins.

Twister Steel Coat Pin - This ABC approved pin in use today features a steel coating designed to extend the usability of the pin.

Diamond Duramid Glow Pin - This is a glow-in-the-dark pin manufactured in Houston, TX.  Other Glow pins are available in flourescent yellow and red.

Brunswick Score King Pin - This bowling pin is exclusively for players seeking to enter the Brunswick "300 Club" and a opportunity for bowlers to be part of an elite club of bowlers.

Brunswick Score King Graphic - This special pin is awarded to bowlers who roll a 300 game in a sanctioned game that used Brunswick Score King pins.

AMF Trophy Pin - This clear-coated pin is offered by QubicaAMF for use as a prize by bowling centers and/or leagues.  They are customizable and often found with the name of a particular center or tournament logo.

Brunswick PBA Pro Pin - This is the official gold pin of the Professional Bowlers Association tour and approved for tournament use.  It weighs the max allowed - 3 pounds 10 ounces.

A Few Bowling Pin Tidbits....

• Did you know....bowling pins are made out of Hard Rock Maple wood grown in the north (often in Quebec) where the winters make the wood harder and denser than down south where the trees grow year-round. 
• Did you know....skateboard decks are also made out of Hard Rock Maple wood.  Dude....
• Did you know....when the bowling pin is made, a laminated wood stock is placed in a lathe and cut in one pass.
• Did you know....the specs for the bowling pins are set by the American Bowling Congress. 
• Did you know....a bowling pin is 15" tall, 4.75" wide (at the widest point) and weigh between 3 pounds 6 ounces and 3 pounds 10 ounces.
• Did you know....the diameter of a bowling pin must be within a 32nd of an inch in each of 14 different places.
• Did you know....that in 1977, pins began being coated with a tough resin called Surlyn.
• Did you know....the life span of a bowling alley pin is 12 to 18 months.

And.... 

• Did you know....King Edward III ordered soldiers to stop bowling...and get back to archery practice.
• Did you know....the 10th pin was added to American bowling games when they outlawed "ninepin lanes" in the mid-nineteenth century because of gambling.
• Did you know....'dead wood' is bowling lingo for knocked down pins that stay on the lane or in the gutter after the pins are cleared.
• Did you know....'head pin' is bowling lingo for the front pin in a rack.
• Did you know....'light wood' is bowling lingo for unapproved pins that weigh between 3 pounds and 3 pounds 2 ounces.  They often result in higher scores and faster games.
• Did you know....'logs' and 'telephone poles' are bowling lingo for the very heavy pins that weigh up to 4 pounds.  They are often used by bowlers for practice.

Uses for bowling pins

• For Bowling - Yes, yes, you heard it hear first....  I can say with certainty that bowling pins are used for bowling.  Now for the less obvious....
• For Vintage Decor - Anyone can use bowling pins as decor....perhaps put to use as a door stop or even just for placing on a hearth.  Bowling pins sitting here and there are sure to lighten up even the most dour room. 
• For Juggling - Okay, you've burned out on golf balls and tennis balls, but still love to juggle.  Try bowling pins for fun.  They are not too heavy, have a nice shape for catching, and you're sure to make your parents so thankful for financing your education when you perform at the next family reunion.
• For Lamps - Did you ever think shop class in high school would pay such great rewards?  Get out the drill and put on your thinking cap.  With a little elbow grease, your bowling pin lamp will be ready in no time. 
• For Ashtrays - Tired of ashtrays getting dumped and helplessly watching ashes scatter?   By hollowing out a bowling pin, you will not only have a tidy ashtray, but also a great conversation starter.

Buying Tips for eBay Shoppers

• Do Your Research - Learn as much as you can about your desired bowling pin.  Not all sellers are knowledgable of the subtle variations found in bowling pins.  If their description and/or photo leaves a question in your mind, then remember to ask the seller.  This lets you clear up things before the sale and keeps both you and the seller on the road to a successful transaction. 
• Understand eBay Jargon - Check out the list of eBay acronyms so that you can more quickly distinguish NM (near mint) from MNB (mint no box).  Informed buyers make smart buyers!
• Use different keywords - The Advanced Search option provided by eBay lets buyers search titles or the title and description or completed items. Keep in mind that not everyone will precisely list an item as a PBA Tournament Brunswick Bowling Pin.   Rather than getting discouraged...expand your search, you might discover a piece listed simply under PBA pin or tournament bowling.   Changing your search increases the chances of finding your item. Save your search on your personalized My eBay page and receive an email notification when a new listing is posted.
• Remember eBay Stores - eBay offers buyers another area for bowling pins through eBay Stores featuring bowling pins. With great inventory selections and frequent updates, you just might find the perfect bowling pin.  If you are still in search of a particular bowling pin, be sure to post a notice to sellers in eBay's Want It Now section.
• Bid Safely and Smartly - Review the seller's feedback rating...are their customers consistently happy with their purchase?  Do they have experience selling bowling pins?  Are items sold "as is" or with a "satisfaction guarantee"?  Is there a shipping/handling fee? If you win the bid, keep in mind that PayPal provides buyers with a safe and secure means to purchase items without revealing their credit card numbers to sellers....this is a welcome (and free!) alternative.
• Enjoy the Ride - In conclusion....have fun with it! eBay is a great way to peek through an amazing selection of bowling pins and bowling equipment.  Discover rare pins you did not know existed and remember....your bowling pin awaits!