So today I went to the local gun show. The find - beef jerky, fudge, jewelry, coins, lots of overpriced ammo, tables after tables of knives, rifles and overpriced revolvers (junk). Oh well, hope for a better next time.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

The knives are all chinese **** too. Guns shows are turning into swap meets.

Well at least you didn't have to go to multiple stores!! One stop shopping.

Shows certainly are not what they used to be. But then there is the off chance that you
find that hidden gem! It is a flip of the coin.

Well damn, I was going to go but now no so sure-- nothing I need, but then again?? two hour ride up and then back,cost to get in-- not sure it is worth it--- maybe I can just order those full moon clips for that 1917???

Wait.........your gun show has fudge?

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Recycled Bricklayer

I went to this one once...

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Dave

Where's the Beef? or Elk or Buffalo or?

I like me some jerky meat.

All kidding aside, Most gun shows do look like a swap meet anymore.

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Dum vivo cano

I think we all go hoping to find "that" deal. There was just nothing that interested me.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

Hit one of the normally BETTER and larger shows this afternoon. ZERO interesting items that were not priced as if they were NEW IN BOX (and none were). Or simply priced +30% higher just for fun. I can barely keep my temper with the pricing.

A NEW IN BOX example sells on Gunbroker for $X dollars Now EVERY similar gun is believed to be worth that same amount. Doesn't matter if it's a 85% example, missing the proper grips, worn to heck, etc.


I'm a firm believer you have to attend to FIND anything good. But these DRY times sure get old.

Don't write off this show just yet. Back in 2006, I scheduled my leave from Afghanistan in order to make this show. Flew into Dulles airport, rented a car, and got a motel room. Went to the show that Friday evening and walked around. Nothing jumped out and grabbed me, but I decided to make one more quick pass.

I started down the aisle and saw a glass case that had several old revolvers. One was a nickel 5" N frame that I had missed on my first pass. An examination revealed that it was a .44 Special!!! It was wearing late '30s large medallion service grips. I asked the seller if he would remove the grips and there was a factory stamp from Febuary 1942 there. I talked him down $50 and bought it.

Checking the SCSW 2nd edition showed that the first third model .44 Special was serial number 28358. The one in my hand was 28363. Later on, a factory letter showed that it was part of the the first shipment of 3rd models sent to Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth, Texas on January 27th, 1927, seventy (75) 5" nickel .44s.

To date, this is the lowest numbered surviving 3rd model in the S&W collector's data base.

So, gold CAN be found at a gun show.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

When I hit gun shows I totally ignore the non gun stuff. I move as quick as I can through the crowd focusing on a specific gun I
want and do not focus on any gun that I have zero interest in. Then I go back a little slower and look again. I have found things on the third trip that someone just traded for.

Usually I'll take a break after the 2nd trip at the food counter watching to see if someone walks by with something neat. Bought a Ruger 357 cheap, doubled my money before I got back to start the 3rd trip. Guy wanted it for CAS and this was all he could afford. I found a 27-2 in 3.5" on a 3rd trip, tucked into a corner. I'd seen the guy and his gun at other shows. Stopped and talked, discussed the S&W, he let it go really reasonable.

Sunday as folks are packing up is another great time to get a bargain. Sometimes they will let one go cheap to pay for the motel, food and gas home.

Of course this was before I retired and had disposable income. Now I might be able to afford a piece of that there fudge.

I haven't been to a regular gun show in years...too many newbie amateurs waving guns around, too many dealers with unrealistic prices, too much expensive, wildly overpriced ammo...not fun!

I do love to go to the Maryland Arms Collectors show in Timonium every year, just to look at all the antique and collectible guns that I'll never be able to afford to buy. ("Oh, I see...$18,000 for that rifle...I'll take two, please!")

Sorry to hear the bad news about Chantilly. I have never been able to attend until just lately and was hoping to make the show soon.

Previously, many local dealers had related it as one of the best around.

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wanna do right-- not right now

I've been to Chantilly several times. Never found anything I was interested in. I think the promoter should limit display items to guns and gun related items. All the other **** is offensive.

Looking for a good gun at one of these gun shows makes me feel like a crow trying to find a kernel of corn in a pile of cow manure.

Good luck with that. The promoter's gonna sell as many tables as possible, try his best to fill the venue. What dealers sell is a secondary consideration, so long as it isn't something that might get the feds involved. I never get my hopes of finding that kernel of corn you mention too high. Just look at it as a way to spend a few hours on a weekend morning/afternoon.

theres always hope something really good might show up . Yes i think some of these s show are like the neighborhood yard sale.

Gun collecting is a dying past-time. The gray-hairs far exceed the young. And with us, the old memorabilia is disappearing. But I still go to find that one item that may surface once in a while.

As to the jerky and pepper cheese, I enjoy these for a healthy lunch when I'm doing out of town GSs. Better than the snack bars. And without these vendors, the shows would die out faster.

I've seen a few good knives here and there. The sellers say they're "Damascus steel" and I know what that is but I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell quality or were it was made so I pass

I used to think the jewelery tables will not make it at the shows because who buys that junk. Well they are still renting tables.

Maybe its a ruse by some guys who want a excuse to get to the shows.

Who buys the jewelry? I do for one. My wife will pick out some inexpensive earrings about every time we go to one. It's a cheap thank you to her for going. Sure they're cheap but they're good enough for her to wear for everyday use.

Jerkey dealers, beanie babies, jewelry dealers are there for one reason. That's where the people are. If the people weren't buying that stuff, they wouldn't keep coming back. Plain old free enterprise. Seems like a good thing to me. If I don't want any jerkey, I just walk on by. They don't cost me anything. And I still a lot more gun related stuff than I do "junk."

We love to go to gun shows. I think I've bought one gun in all the years I've been going to them. Sold a couple others. My wife and I drive to ones out of town just to have a destination. We enjoy a nice drive, stop for lunch or dinner. Walk around the show. Talk to people. Watch the people. Go home.

Cheap entertainment.

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John 3:16 .

I know the deals are out there - I always love reading about them; just recently a Pre 29 was located at a gun show in Ohio. I did find a Baby Chief, half moon front sight, numbered everything and red box. Owner had it labeled as a pre 36 - he was correct but....................

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

There are a couple of vendors I always check out there. Every once in a while I see something I want, but usually I buy primers and powder. I always look at the tables of Lugers and wish I knew more about them. I'd really like to get one someday.

Last year at the August Reno show I found a 4" M-19 for $450 on a table. Nice finish, wearing a God awful set of pachmayr knockoffs.

Upon closer examination it was revealed to be a four screw , non model stamped gun. I bought it immediately.

The Combat Magnums started at serial #260001 , with the first production gun completed on November 15, 1955. Mine was #260026
shipped to their West Coast Rep in June of 1956.

Mine is a solid 95%+ gun with beautiful bluing that appears to possibly never been fired. I later found a set of period correct stocks for $150 and it now looks pretty darned proper.

That's MY "Why you need to persevere" at gun shows, story.

Lets see. Went to our local range show at middle school gym. Found a Win 1977 9422M xtr. Not a steal, but did talk him down several hundred. Went to guy selling books and got several older Speer/Hdy reloading manuals, and reprint copy of Ed McGiverns fast and fancy revolver shooting.

Then got 2 of the best tasting grilled brats I ever ate from the soccer club.