Went to a local show in south Louisiana last weekend, and it was quite the experience.

Attendance was very good, so that was nice. I know we don't talk politics here, but given the current climate, it was reassuring to see the large, diverse crowd (it wasn't just 1 type of person, there were lots of folks, families, multiple ethnicities, everyone milling around and generally being friendly with each other in the crowd).

But the prices- wow. I know there's some anxiety about potential changes, and there's always a markup to give you wiggle room to negotiate your price... but it seemed like most things were so high that you'd insult the seller if you offered a "good" price as a buyer.

I made a mental note of some pistols I already own, and what I saw them ticketed at on the various tables.

A Norinco Tokarev, in 9mm, with the Tokagypt (wraparound) grips... $300. No box, one mag. I know it's been a long while since I got mine, but I paid $150 for one of those, LNIB with 2 mags and the cleaning rod.
A lone Daewoo DP 51 with 1 mag, $399, in fair condition. I grabbed one off Gunbroker earlier this year for $249.
I saw several older .32 acp pistols, I've begun to take an interest in these because they WERE cheap.
I saw several CZ 27's, they ranged from $650 to $900, all were just a gun in fair to good condition with 1 mag. And before you mention the historical context/WW2 angle, the cheapest of these was at a table with other WW2 guns, the others were just sitting in random groups, seller didn't try to call them wartime. I've picked up 3 of these since Feb 2017 (my son's birthday), the first was $225, the second was $150, the 3rd was $250.

Saw 2 Mauser 1914's, one was $850 and the other was $1000. I picked one off gunbroker last fall for $199, and honestly mine was in better (and more original) shape. The one listed for a grand had a far different bluing on the sideplate, so I think it was a mixmaster.

I did see a single, lone S&W 5906 and a 659 at one table, they wanted $400 for either. Both were scuffed up and no box, and the 659 didn't have original grips. I considered haggling on the 5906, but decided to let that one go.
Couple of Rugers, saw a 89 in decent shape for $350, and a lot of polished/shiny slide later models for about $375 or so.

Beyond that, disappointedly, I didn't see much in the line of used pistols. Didn't see a single CZ 75, only saw 1 Beretta 92S (wanted $400 for it).

I will say that I did see one very good deal (I beleive), but I ended up pausing, but passing because I don't shoot the caliber:
one guy had a Tanfoglio Witness in 10mm with 3 extra mags, for $399. It was in fair/good condition, blued, and it's the one gun I still find myself thinking "I don't need that, but maybe I should go grab it while I can".

As for other guns:
several tables were set up selling ARs, advertised as PSA, for $700+. A couple entire rows were taken up by local gun shops with new pistols, Glocks etc, with their regular instore markups listed.

Of note, I saw one guy selling a bunch of different mags, he lad them sorted and set in labeled bins saying what they were for (like he knew), but he couldn't tell me when I asked about the High Standard .22 mags whether they would fit my Sport King (I think they were for a Duramatic); when I tried to strike up a conversation he walked off, and it wasn't a busy table. He went to talk to another vendor . That aggravated me, because I own over a dozen different models of pistol, and definitely would have been in the market for some mags if the price was decent.

One old fella with plenty of older surplus guns was very friendly, we chatted awhile, and I bought the correct leather sling for my Argentine Mauser from him.

Overall, it was a fun time to walk through, but it seemed like things were more for display than for sale. This was the first gun show I'd been to that I didn't come away with at least 1 new (to me) gun in tow.

The show I went to last weekend had the same batch of tables they always do, but it seemed like I saw FAR more pistols than I did AR's. I was looking for the M&P-15 and saw a few in the $550-600 range, and told my friend that was with me that I'd seen them for $499 online. I didn't ask for a "what would you take" price, so they might have gone lower but it was the first day of the show, and the place was packed so they may not have.

I noticed a table with $299 AR kits was very busy, thanks to the gun climate of late.

I bought one with the stock grips for $75 a few years back.

The assorted 32 acp's from war-time, depends on who made them and if proof/acceptance marked by the germans. But, CZ27's usually sell for $450 and up - $650-$750 for a complete rig in very nice condition.

Gun shows usually have higher prices because the sellers don't know the market for specialty items, well, I saw a PPK go for $1500 - so this 7.65mm (32 acp) must be worth almost that!

In my experience, almost exclusively in CA, guns at gun shows are uniformly overpriced. I have bought them there from time to time (nothing current production) because they had what I wanted and I was willing to pay the price.

The days of the $300 5906 police trade in are gone. Same for $200 foreign 9mm surplus pistols. Once the supply dried up, the prices increased.

CZ27s fetch stupid money IMHO. It's just an older, 380 blowback gun. The CZ24 holds far more interest for me.

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Release the Kraken

I've been going to gun shows since the early 1970s. I've never walked around one and thought "Wow! These are really good (low) prices."

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

It's been a long time since I've found any kind of deal at a gun show. Most everything is overpriced or at the least at MSRP. I'm not one to want to play the haggle game so if you can't give me the best price from the start I don't even try to buy from you. Most of the time I can get a better price online even with the FFL fee. The only reason I go is to check out whatever guns I might be thinking about buying.

And I have not been to a gun show since the early 70's....gun shows have gotten stupid.

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Hipcocked45

But you can meet some good people, and just look at all the eye candy on the tables. I sometimes buy a little ammo. I just wander around and look mostly. Some are interesting, some a waste of time.

Same here. I can't ever recall seeing a good price on a firearm at a show. Ammo? Maybe. Accessories? Actually, yes.

I go with the thought that my getting something is slim to none.

I guess it depends on the show, and what area its in. I go to a few now and then here in central PA, and usually I come across at least a few guns that are what I would consider to be "good deals". The big question is it something I want? Last show I went to a month or so ago, I picked up a new Kahr .380 for $275.00, which I thought was a good price. As far as prices go, I have generally had better luck at local garage sales and estate sales. A few years back I went to a garage sale that had two heavy boxes full of reloading gear - dies, scales, bullet moulds, and RCBS jr press, ect. $10 per box..

Larry

Dude, that was 45 years ago! How do you know it is the same now?
At least OP found his sling.


I have had the exact opposite experience in the past few years at local shows. Within 50 miles to be exact. I only make 4-5 a year but have scored some pretty good deals.

Last year I rented a table at a small show 25 miles away to sell my buddy's dad's ammo he had squirreled away but got sent to a 'home' and couldn't take it with him. I had a 2 1/2" model 19 walk up that was priced at $355 and wouldn't take a nickel less. I gave it to him.
At the same show I bought a Winchester 75 Sporting Model that is most likely the prettiest gun I own. Gave the vendor $600.

Four years ago on a Sunday I was manning my buddy's table at Dallas Arms Collectors Show early, before opening, and had a pre-19 walk up in the hands of a vendor who needed cash for something else. He knew what he had but priced it at $600. I tried not to look foolish in getting my wallet out so fast.

I have a semi-friend, really an acquaintance, a couple of years ago at the hometown show who had an Ashland 4" 617 he wanted to trade for a blued gun. I told him what it was worth but he wanted the pre-18 I had. I still feel a little bad about that one but he was warned.

At the same show, a vendor had a Model 700 Varmint Special from 1981 in .223 for $450. This was on Sunday and it is in extremely nice shape and shoots lights out with a 55 grain Sierra BTHP. I thought it was a good deal.


I don't find stuff every show but it does still show up.


Ed

Blame it all on site like gunbroker and the fools that buy there at inflated prices.

One needs to look no further than the Guns For Sale on this site to witness overpricing.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

We haven't had a gun show here in over year. I wonder if the dealers still think they can get over $700 for a nice M36 with no box or docs. . .one from the 1970's.

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Dr. B

Our gun shows have two types of sellers. Two or three dealers have decided to go high volume/low mark-up and do lots of business. The rest of the vendors are the usual small-timers who dream of finding the dummy of the day who will make them rich by over-paying.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

The last gun show I went to, I took a High Standard Victor. A guy offered me a nicer Baby Browning, extra mag, and original Browning gun rug and $150 for it. I had $100 in the High Standard.

You can still get a deal if you look around.

Well, I agree with the latter section of that statement for sure. I love gun shows but they have gotten stupid!

Ever since I got into bolt action shotguns the gunshows have been fun. Last show in Vallejo i picked up a like new western field slugster for $65.

Gun shows here in Pensacola are mostly sky high and I suspect they take home most of what they bring in. I normally can find a deal on mags, powder, primers and beef jerky but not on guns. I've always done better on local gun ads. I don't expect it get any better any time soon.

Were the pupils of his
eyes dilated large with red rings around them?

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

The High Standard is a $700 to $800 gun. The Baby Browning is a $500 to $600 gun. A Baby Browning would be a neat gun, but I'd rather have the Victor.

I stopped going to the local gunshow as I got tired of seeing the same overpriced junk. Many dealers refuse to haggle and won't take the wire tie off so you can check the condition of the barrel. I even offer to replace his wire tie with one of mine. Hate to spend good money and find out the barrel is toast. At least the ones I have all have excellent barrels and enjoy shooting them. I had one dealer tell me that the wood on my Browning take down semi auto 22 was not original. Told him I still had the original browning box with all the paperwork. And gently took it out of his hands and went home. I imagine now with the specter of new gun laws looming shows will be a madhouse anyway. Frank

I thought we all went to gun shows for the loop holes.

Is that really what High Standard Victors are going for in the USA? Here in Australia, they are generally around $400 AU on the second hand market.

When I go to shows, am trying to be early in the door. Most of the tables best buys are already sold to other tables, but if there are any deals left over, they go quick. A lot of people have new or slightly used at over regular store prices.

Not very many AR's lately, tough to compete with the stores prices.

Best bet is watching the people come in who are trying to walk and sell.

I gave up shows sometime back for most all the reasons posted above, and I agree that at the better shows around here (and there are at least two big-time promoted events), the table guys have already swapped/bought/sold all the "good stuff" prior to first day opening to the public.

Like Fishinfool said above in post 12....my best shots are estate sales. Here in Virginia the estate executors are normally not gun guys/gals and paperwork is minimal if at all, and best of all "cash is king".

Some of my better "wins" at sales:

Model 31-1: .32 S&W Long, absolutely brand new, in box with all docs. This gun was never farther than 11 miles from dealer to original owner to me. Neat backstory...after buying, getting home found original sales receipt date Oct 11, 1975 to a woman (the Estate being settled) and talked to the Son (Executor) who said neighbors had convinced his mom she needed to have a gun around when her husband passed on in the 70's. The gun was found as you see it in the pics...still in the drawer, all these years later when she passed in early 2017.

Model 36 no dash: This is a 1965 gun, also new in box with docs, and vapor paper. Funny story on this one is the S&W thumb break holster that came with NIB unwrapped gun. The holster was well used, the gun brand new. Backstory: still trying to document & confirm, the estate was for former LEO, gun purchased for BUG or off-duty but was never put into service, so ? remains....what did put the wear to the holster, and better yet.....where can I find that gun.

Model 10-5, 4" pencil barrel (pinned), no box, no docs, no story, but getting there early you can't buy before public opening, but you can find the executor and tell them you will pay cash for firearms if condition is right for you, and I have found that they really don't want firearms on display during public times, and will at least show you and you can make a quick evaluation and offer. If your lucky, your deal will be the first made as soon as the public hour is reached, and you are out the door

Model 17, .22 LR, sweet gun, no box or docs, but sitting for years in a Charles Daly gun rug, either never shot, or hardly ever with pristine bore, and very slight turn ring

Anyway.....works for me better than gun shows, but I can tell you none of the Estate sales I've attended had beef jerky for sale...so if that's your thing then E.S. aren't for you.

Attached Images

	Model 31-1 I.jpg (71.1 KB, 37 views)
	M 10-5 left side.jpg (40.9 KB, 38 views)
	M 36-E.jpg (103.2 KB, 36 views)
	M 36-F.jpg (83.6 KB, 35 views)
	S&W M17-3A.jpg (39.6 KB, 34 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

The local gun shows around here are not great. They are mostly store front FFLs in the state who close their shops for the weekend and show up with their regular inventory. 90% of it are current production new in the box guns. I guess a positive is that you can see what's around without wasting gas.

I miss the old shows way back in the day where almost everything was used and/or surplus and/collectible firearms and accessories. I also miss the larger shows that attract a broader collector market where the balance is maybe 50/50.

On the other hand their are some vendors at the local shows who make the shows worth attending. For example there is a regular vendor who bids on police surplus guns and then sells them at very attractive prices that are as good as on-line deals with the advantage that you can hand pick. He makes it worth getting up early on a Saturday.

There is also a vendor who sells a lot of reloading supplies. If you call him a few days before, he'll bring you what ever you want. That beats on line pricing as there are no haz mat or shipping fees involves. he also doesn't take it back to the shop, what isn't sold at the show is sold to other gun shops on the way home, so the Sunday afternoon deals can be really good.

And there are a few gems out there to be found.

I recently found and excellent condition 1950 vintage Model 94 carbine for $600 - on a table full of Glocks, AKs and AR-15s. I suspect it got overlooked due to what was on the table around it, given that I had a half dozen offers for more than I paid for it before I got to the door.



Consequently, I go to the local shows with low expectations, but I still go.

That's not very nice-you just called everyone who bought on this forum fools. It's called free market-participate or not, it's entirely up to you-but understand that today is a LOT different from years ago. There are NO local isolated markets anymore. I sold recently a nice gun. I asked for and got TOP dollar for it because I did my homework-the seller knew it was top dollar but he wanted the gun and it was worth it, both to him and to me. Most sellers do not HAVE to sell and it takes a price point for them to let go of the gun. In today's climate, there is a premium to me to let go of ANY gun. Likewise I do not HAVE to purchase anything. I'll pay a price to get something I really want but some things I just don't want that much. Witness the 27's. I have bought and sold more than I can relate and made money on each one. Currently I am without but just don't feel the need to get one at the prices they are now fetching. It's a hobby for Cryin' out lour....don't be calling people who partipilate fools.

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Forum consigliere

Picked up a Uberti .357 single-action Remington replica 1890 Police in almost new condition for $330. Saw it sitting for two days on the table untouched and unwanted. It needed a good home. Did a little work on the trigger pull (spring) and it's as good as new (for 1890, I guess). Used S&W revolvers are like hen's teeth at our local shows. Some prices (for example, a Victory .38 S&W British in half decent condition) are down and out ridiculous (asking $700). I did see a couple of my old trade-ins on display that I got what I had asked for (little bit of profit) marked up by 30-50%, and I think to myself that these sellers are indeed waiting for W.C. Fields (there's a sucker born every minute) to step up to the table.

If anything, Gunbroker has given me the price perspective to realize how overpriced stuff was.

I say that, accepting that GB has about a $50 hidden markup (shipping and FFL transfer total).

CZ 27- I got 2 off GB. One had nazi marks scrubbed off, it was under $200 total. It's actually nicely reblued, and as a shooter it's great. The other is a fnh model with stamps and such- got that under $300 total. Has the rough blue finish.
So based on that one, I saved at least $350 on it, and none of the ones at the show had any extras like a holster. I did find a holster at another vendor that is possibly correct (it does fit, and the guy had CZ27? on it) for a fair price.

The Daewoo DP51- after everything, mine was right about $300 to bring home. I'd say it was in comparable condition to the one in the show listed at $399, I guess I could haggle him down if we both were in the mood to do so. Still, another hundred saved.
Probably a little higher savings on the Beretta 92S I got, maybe $120 saved.

The Mauser 1914 I got on gunbroker- I got it for $199, so I saved $600 minimal. No amount of haggle gonna catch up to that.

Got my Star BM from gunprimedeals for $237+ FFL, so for me that was approx $260 ((20 for the FFL). I got the box and 2 mags. There was one at the show for $399 and 1 mag, so again I saved around $150ish. Of note, I didn't see any mags for it, so I came ahead in that area.

I'm a careful shopper, and I take my time. In doing so, as I've said a couple times on this forum, I've not exceeded $325 (+ the shipping and FFL) for anything I've ever bought; and that upper end is for a Sig P226, a Beretta 92FS, and a CZ 75 pre B.
So I'm not intending to exceed that price range, especially for a gun I may consider inferior (or just don't want as much) as those.

I doubt I've EVER been to a show at any time where I didn't see stupid somewhere, it can be the highlight of the show. Less, small/inexpensive parts & such of late with more of the beef jerky stuff it seems. Some great deals (mainly from other visitors), & ALOT of guns with issues/problems trying to be pawned off as "minty" as always. You gotta be in it to win it. I no longer go unless I have a purpose, OR it's close with a low admission fee.

I enjoy having a table at gun shows around here in Texas.
I end up buying a few, and selling a few.
All Laws carefully followed.
Keeps my brain active, and up to date with what is available.
Last show, ended up with a KAHR CW45 with an extra magazine.
Please notice I did NOT call it a clip.
A "clip" has NO spring in it. Please call the parts correctly.
Remember this and pass it along.
I will go shoot this .45 Kahr soon, and then will know if I will keep it as a carry weapon.

You can get an ammo can full of 44 SWC bullets for cheap on a Sunday afternoon.

Reading comprehension is a lost art!

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

As is clear writing!

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Lots of dealers out there, fishing for suckers. Often, they find one. God bless America.

In the last two years of going to gun shows in Reno and Carson City, I bought two military ammunition boxes and a carton of .22LR. The boxes are good for storing stuff. Gun prices; mostly laughable.

I believe people have widely varying expectations of pricing at a gunshow. They are not curbside flea markets or garage sales. Surprise at 30-50% markups or prices over their expectations are not grounded in reality. Sure, if an individual table seller is trading for the fun of it, or unloading a collection and likes the comaraderie, then low prices are to be found, just like finding them with a friend or family member, but sizeable markups are more the norm. Those low priced deals leave the market quickly. There is also the issue of an non-liquid, low volume market. Guns are not fungible stocks, bonds and cash. There is transaction cost and generally a lengthy aging period in inventory. I would make one qualifying observation. Small venue gun shows rarely have bargains, let alone decent pricing. You are paying for convenience, and that has a real cost. If the prices are too high, just walk. If you want to see some truly illogical prices, see what the average pawn shop is charging to reclaim a firearm vs. what they paid the owner as security.

At least we can still complain about them instead of telling our grandkids, " Yeah, I can remember when it was legal to hold a gun show. We used to have a great time walking through them and complaining about all the high prices while still getting to
'coon finger' sweet guns."

Gun shows are where dealers go to have people bring them guns to buy at low prices. I've thought about getting a table, setting up all my guns at prices too high to sell, and then spend two days buying granddad's old guns that the kids do not want to hassle with selling themselves.

The best I've gotten was hard to find components.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

When I was going to gun shows I would make one lap just to look it over. On my second pass I’m looking harder. My third pass I’m looking past the table to what’s behind it. Not too many good finds. My best find ever was a all matching ‘95 Chilean Mauser $250.

Everyone says there are good buys on ammo I never seen a good buy on ammo yet.

I don’t bother going to gun shows anymore the best ones were in the fall.

I to miss the days when you could walk into a local shop and find a very nice firearm that you could get out the door at a very attractive price. That was usually because it was a firearm that appealed to a limited market and took a long time to sell.

Guns that are just sitting on the rack or shelf are just tying up money. Consequently, back in the day, LGS owners would sell those slow moving firearms at a steeply discounted price to turn them back into money when the "right" buyer hadn't shown up after 6 months or so. Those sales were below the potential market value, but that potential depended on finding the right, highly motivated buyer.

The internet has permanently changed things. It allows local gun shops and private owners to actually reach those highly motivated buyers, and it allows those highly motivated buyers to actually find the firearms they are looking for.

What that means is that those firearms can actually sell at their true market value.

----

Some folks, like yourself, feel those buyers are paying too much, and claim it is over the market value. But the fact that they sell at those prices, and do so everyday supports the that the market value really is what people are willing to pay.

I've also noted that folks who think that the prices are over market value usually tend to regard prices as being too high and thus rarely buy firearms.

I used to be that way, but I adjusted to the new reality. firearms will appreciate, so you never pay too much, you just buy a little too soon.

For example, I paid $550 once for a 9422 XTR in like new condition at a time people insisted they were not worth more than $450-$500 tops. But try finding a similar rifle today for that same $550 price or anything close to it, and understand I've only owned it about 5 or 6 years.

I am lucky that I have most of the guns that I want. Sellers are free to price their guns how they want. I am free to take it or leave it. If they cam sell them for more than I want to pay, then good for them.

We should organize “Old Farts” show . No ARs, AKs, polymer, or anything factory new.

Preferably no guns manufactured in the 21st century.

Oh, yeah, and no dealers.