Masked thieves broke into The Gun Exchange in the 2900 block of Almaden Expressway early Thursday morning and made off with more than 100 guns, including two rifles, San Jose police said.

The break-in occurred at about 4:40 a.m.

Police said the door had been pried open with some type of tool, which set off the alarm. Officer Jermaine Thomas said it appears that at least three men were involved.

After reviewing video surveillance, investigators say the men appear to be between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall. They drove off in a car, but police could not determine what kind it was. Except for the two rifles, all of the stolen weapons were handguns, police said. No ammunition was stolen.

The shop, a fixture in San Jose for at least two decades, is home to rows and rows of neatly stacked rifles and stuffed deer heads. It’s a popular place for members of the military, law enforcement officers and hunters, who are offered special discounts.

This shop is no stranger to burglaries. It’s been hit several times over the years, though on a much smaller scale.

In 2006, someone walked in and took a gun off a counter during lunchtime. The gun was later found at a church and a suspect was arrested.

In 1991, a suspect drove a stolen four-wheel-drive truck into The Gun Exchange, scooped up a dozen handguns and then escaped into another vehicle. Owner Mike Fournier told the Mercury News at the time that the truck left a 12-foot-wide hole in the front of the store.

Mercury News Staff Writer Scott Duke Harris contributed to this report.

Contact Lisa Fernandez at lfernandez@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5002.