I know it's only Monday but I have to ask.

HOW WAS THE BIG SHOW IN TULSA!!!!!!

There where no updates all weekend and it was killing me.

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George Jamison

My feet hurt! I now can say "been there, done that." It's really a great show, So much history, and fine art of the gunmakers. Very little ****, lots of S&Ws. I didn't buy any guns, just a mag, some grips, and a t-shirt. I got to meet our fearless leader, joined SWCA, and ate some fine BBQ on Saturday night. Met several good folks. Overall, I really got a kick out of it, but it's just too big. Saturday, I went in at 8 AM and left after 4:30. I think I'll stick to the "little" shows around the Metroplex. They're just 1000-1200 tables, and easily covered in about 3 hours. Thanks Lee, for letting me hang around a while. It's cool just to see what people bring by to show him.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I hear ya brother. I got in Friday early on an exhibitor's badge and also spent the entire day Saturday. Went through the whole thing twice.

You shut your mouth!

Even though it's physically taxing I had a great time, bought some interesting stuff. Found a gun (in nice condition at a reasonable price) that I've wanted for years, only because of the name - a Model 1898 Rast-Gasser, an ugly Austrian service revolver. Picked up a tiny Llama .22 revolver that appears to be a knockoff of a S&W .22/.32 kit gun, as well as a 1930s(?) vintage Llama .380 baby 1911, both in great shape. And another one I've wanted for years, a shooter grade Marlin 1897 .22 lever action that had been reworked into nice condition.

Also a 4" S&W Model 24-3 (posted about in the 1980 to Present section.)

Great show for me.

went all day saturday, sore feet but enjoyed the show overall. i liked ever table i saw with loits of nice S&W revolvers, and a few 3rd gen pistols i liked. very glad i don't have a credit card, saw many dealers that as usual wanted way too much but made a few good deals. walked in with 3 guns and was down to 1 within an hour. lots of shotguns and old rifles.

Went Fri and Sat walked about 20 miles and spent all my money on small stuff. Hung out at Lee's table, went to the Southwest Bunch BBQ, and just had fun. Can't wait until the fall show.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I made the mistake this time of not going on Friday. Rolled into Tulsa Saturday morning about 9:30 am. Big mistake. You could barely see the 11 acre building from where I had to park. I have never parked that far away before.
I went in the 'public' entrance and immediately went to the top deck and sat down with Lee and Dave B. Had a good chat then I started out scouting through the top deck. I spent the whole day up there.
It was brutal.
I was shucking, jiving, bobbing and weaving through the whole day. It was crowded. You basically had no leisure moments because you could hardly get to a table and ask questions.

Went to the BBQ that night. Always the best part of the trip from Dallas. Met up with a good bunch of people, as usual. I won't remember all the stats but I think there were 102 attendees from 22 different states. Now that's a party.
Show and tell is a highlight at the BBQ. Some of the finest stuff gets put out on the table for all to see.
They had the silent auction and the proceeds are to go the Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation.

I went back to the show on Sunday morning after having breakfast at the hotel with Bill Edmiston and his traveling partner along with Jim Burris and his son William. It was a wonderful meeting at the breakfast table.
When I got back to the show Sunday I proceeded to methodically do the lower level.
Then I went back up and said goodbyes to Bob Radaker and thanked him for showing me his engraved Model 35 with a hint of gold and adorned with ivory stocks. Stellar looking gun. It was nice setup in a very classy motif.

Said goodbye to Jim and Judy Fisher as they were heading out.

Overall, it was a good trip. It was also good to get home.

I didn't spend a dime at the show other than what was necessary to sustain life.

My collecting at this point has become very narrow and focused. Wasn't anything out on the tables that I couldn't live without and couldn't find the time to approach any table holders and ask for the 'good stuff'.

As wbraswell stated "I think I'll stick to the "little" shows around the Metroplex." I have been doing that since the first week in January. I am going to branch out further. And, I will consider my approach to Tulsa in November.

bdGreen

How was the Sunday morning crowd compared to Saturday's crowd? 1/2 as big? 3/4s ?

Are there any empty vendor tables/bare spots on Sunday where vendors pull out on Sat night?

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I had to miss the show this time... but I'm savin up for the November event!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

Since I got an early start on Sunday morning parking was good. Wasn't near the carnage as Saturday. I believe that Saturday was also 'Flea Market' day at the fairgrounds in another pavilion. That was probably why the train wreck for convenience.
The crowd Sunday was typical and doable. Putting a percentage on it is tough, but, I would say it was less than 3/4's of Saturday's at that time of the day. Having said that I pretty much bailed out before the non-heathen brethren arrived, post church service. I left about noon thirty, gassed up and hit the road.

Got nothing for you on the table situation. Didn't pay much attention to it. Of course I was pretty glassy eyed by then.

bdGreen

I got back home about 1730hrs this afternoon. I was there at opening on Saturday and left about 1630hrs. On Sunday, got there about 0830hrs and left about 1530hrs. I think I covered most all of the show, my knees and feet think I did anyway! Only saw one 60-4, priced a little high for me @ $550.00 and was offered by an individual. I didn't have my ducks in a row for the transfer from an individual, will have that corrected by next year. That was at the top of "look for" list. Saw a couple of rifles that are on the "someday" list, both still a little high to be a "buy me now", so the search continues... The Saturday night meeting was a treat, as always. I always learn something just sitting and listening, a wealth of knowledge at the tables. The Model 629 Pinto was a neat Show and Tell. I will definitely be back, with more cash. As has already been said, you should go to Tulsa at least once, most of us end up returning again and again.

Dane

And here are the pics:

The Rast-Gasser, a gun that only its mother could love. In 8mm Gasser, of course.





The bitsy Llama .22 kit gun.











Its cousin, the baby 1911 Llama .380.








And the svelte Marlin 1897.