By Kelly Rausch

What I know about pawn shops is limited to Bon Jovi songs about six strings in hock and the scene in “Pulp Fiction” where Bruce Willis’ character meets The Gimp. In short, I don’t have a real good feeling about pawn shops.

When I heard of the History Channel’s half-hour reality series “Pawn Stars,” I assumed the show would capitalize on the potential seediness of its Las Vegas location. I imagined degenerate gamblers and drug addicts trying to pawn their children and stolen property in order to get some quick cash. I envisioned a scheming shop proprietor taking advantage of people’s desperation and ripping off little old ladies while laughing menacingly.

“Pawn Stars” is not that show. In fact, it’s nothing like I expected and has proven to be much more interesting than any show about old stuff should be.

Family patriarch Richard Harrison, former Navy man and all around crusty son of a gun, opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 1988. He runs the shop with his son, Rick, and grandson, Corey. People from all walks of life, some looking for quick cash, others seeking a little notoriety (the store has an “As seen on T.V.!” sign hanging on the exterior), come bearing family heirlooms, garage sale finds and overpriced eBay auction winnings.

Some customers are convinced of their item’s value and try to drive hard bargains. I took sick pleasure in watching one poor self-described Kevin Costner fan learn that his prized antique saddle did not actually cradle Costner’s derriere in “Dances with Wolves” as he had been told. The man nearly wept on national television as he took his saddle back home, unwilling to sell it for the paltry amount the shop offered.

Others haven’t a clue what they have and are happy to walk away with any money at all. Some of it is genuinely valuable, like the sunken treasure of Indian rupees, and some of it is genuine junk, like the plastic bag of hundreds of worthless stamps (carried in by an elderly man in a Boy Scout uniform, but that’s another story). And there’s a lot of stuff in between.

While the Harrisons and good-natured but daft employee Chumlee are an enjoyable assortment of characters, the real stars are the items people bring in. Being that this is the History Channel, an object’s story and historical significance take center stage.

The Harrisons seem to know what most objects are before the owners can even set them down on the glass case.

Whether it’s a bottle of Prohibition-era hooch or a 50-piece Pez dispenser collection, they have a pretty good idea of what things are worth and whether or not the shop can resell them for a profit.

And for the items they don’t know everything about, they call on experts to take a closer look. Did you know there’s a man in Las Vegas who knows everything there is to know about restraining devices?

Bizarre, yet useful when someone wants to sell you a pair of early 20th century handcuffs. Maybe the producers of “Pawn Stars” don’t think this is enough.

Each episode involves some seemingly pre-scripted hijinx usually involving Corey and Chumlee doing something foolish like breaking something or, you know, buying a hot air balloon.

“Pawn Stars” doesn’t need this manufactured drama. The business, the people, and most importantly, the merchandise are interesting enough on their own.

Watch “Pawn Stars” Mondays at 9 p.m. on the History Channel.