Went to a small local show today. Only 30 or 40 tables. One table had numerous nice Smith & Wessons on display and several well worn, probably police trade ins. I thought his prices were about $2-400 high. Thought I'd chare some of the prices I remember for comment.
These guns were all high 90% finish with boxes

19-3 nickel 6" $1599

29-2 Nickel 4: $1999

520 Blued $1799

29-2 Blued 6" $2499

32-1 blued $699 (I thought this was ok)

10-8 nickel 4" $895

The following were the police trade ins (my guess, based on several of each type and condition)

66-1 $995 several, all with multiple nicks, scratches

64 3" $995, again several as above--these did not have grips on them

I didn't buy any thing, nor did I make offers on anything.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Thanks. I appreciate when people post prices so I'll know a good deal if one comes along.

I can’t remember a show in the past 5 years or so where anything collectible (milsurp, pre-ban, vintage S&W, pre-64 Win, etc) wasn’t extremely overpriced.

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Some Might Say.

Since I (generally) know what guns are worth, and don't feel like haggling, I rarely go to gun shows except to gawk, and occasionally chuckle.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I’ve only been going to gun shows for the past 5 years or so now. But from what I’ve seen and learned is gunshots are best for sourcing parts and reloading components. First one I went to I had just purchased my m1 carbine and needed a new bolt and found one in great shape complete for $40. The last gun show I went to walking around seeing all the $1 a round 9mm and $1.50 it makes a quicker visit but I walked out with 900 pieces of 30 carbine brass+500 were primed walk down a little further I picked up 200 bullets to load with. As well as a couple 30 round magazines from a throw bin of old junk magazines all told I spent around $150 for all that. It really depends what your after as to how happy you will be with a visit to the gun show.

Check every nook and cranny cause you never know. I don’t smoke or drink so what’s 8 bucks to get in?

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Sure you did

When I started going to gun shows in the early 1970s it was the Wild West compared to now! by the late '70s I was "setting up" at tables and selling for myself. I haven't set up a table since pre-Covid, but I plan to do so this Spring, so I'm looking at prices I'm seeing here and elsewhere in hopes of getting some good work done. Looks like all of my old stock has gotten more valuable!

Froggie

I rarely buy guns at gun shows since everybody selling seems to believe his item is both extremely rare and gold plated, and priced accordingly. I do go to look, and to buy supplies and odds-and-ends.

Gun shows in the Richmond, VA area used to be really good. Lots of ammo, guns, parts, and supplies at good prices. Those days seem to have disappeared somewhere around 10-12 years ago. Bargains became fewer and further between and more art dealers, memorabilia dealers, and more food vendors became the norm. I went to two or three shows shortly before the pandemic and they just were not worth the drive, much less the admission fee.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Did you ever go to the old Arena (skating rink) near the Baseball Stadium for one of those shows? I set up at a couple of them about 1977 or ‘78 as I recall. Those were fun shows but they tore it down to enlarge the parking lot, IIRC.

Froggie

I would have walked away too at those prices. Plan on going to a show in Feb. myself. have not been in 7 years. Will post prices just hope they do not cause a coronary. Money still don't grow on any trees that I know of.

I know a regular circuit of LGS's where the stavs are friendly, appreciative, and helpful; And when at them I normally make some purchase to help with the lighting bill. When I cough the entrance fee at so called "gun showz" I smell the guilt emanating from beneath their Right Guard protection. I don't owe nuthin' to the table mountain sharks. "Snakes. Why did it have to be Snakes?"

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Nope, when I started going to shows they were held at the State Fairgrounds, now Richmond Raceway, and The Showplace, which is now a Roses department store. That would have been in the late 1980's and I went regularly until shows were banned, reportedly due to an accidental discharge at a show at the raceway.

When shows resumed, using the old Kmart in Midlothian, I went a couple times and was not impressed. Then I went to a couple at the raceway when those shows resumed. It was better, but I just could not find any real bargains. Have not been to one since the pandemic started.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I’ve been going to gun shows since sometime in the early 70’s and every time I go I tell my wife “same old stuff, just higher prices.” One thing though, high quality vintage classics aren’t growing in numbers.

I look at new cars and ask myself, what will be the next classic. It’s not a Toyota Prius or Honda CRV for sure. Ok then what’s going to be the next classic gun, Glock 17, Shield 2.0 or 442 S&W with a lock built in? I don’t see many true classics. Perhaps the Colt Anaconda or Python possibly but I sure don’t see any Tupperware gun anymore than I see a Yugo becoming a classic.

One thing for sure, whether we feel the prices are out of sight right now or not, any quality gun we buy today will be worth much more ten years from now. You can take that to the bank.

Doing shows a long time.
Promoters simply have too many.
I could hit a show near every weekend if I choose to.

Long as vendors keep buying tables and the folks show
at the gate I suppose things will stay the same.

Value is determined by buyers - not sellers. In my area, gun show prices are sellers looking for suckers.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Speaking of gunshows in parking lots and abandoned buildings. About 10 years ago I went to a flea market in southern Indiana while visiting my wife’s grandparents. It was a huge ordeal they did every Wednesday. Had stock auctions and other auctions of odds n ends as well as farm equipment. Then they had hundreds of vendors with tables of anything you could ask for. And the thing I had never before seen at the few flea markets I’ve been to in my home state of Tennessee, were the amount of tables full of guns. Antique guns to ar-15s. I always chuckle when the media references the gun show loophole. But in the back of my mind I ask “what about the obscure flea market loophole?”. A little of topic but I figured it would fit nice here.

Couldn’t agree more. Years ago most guys that had tables of used guns were pretty realistic with their prices, and then you always had a table or two with stupid prices. I always looked at those guys as the guys that just liked to display their nice guns, and hang out with their buddies. If a sucker came by that was willing to pay the stupid money that was on the gun, then great, he’d sell a gun and make a giant profit. God bless America!

For the last several years (last couple especially), most guys just put stupid prices on all of their used guns and there seems to be a lot more suckers!! I’ve said to a few of the guys with foolishly priced guns, “are you looking to sell that gun, or just have it for sale...?”

I understand the market is up, inflation is real, and I’ll pay the freight for a good example of what I’m looking for. What gets me are the guys that price the junk guns, fair and poor condition guns, as much as the high condition guns. Are you kidding me!!

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NRA Life Member

I know the one you are talking about. Down the road a half-mile from the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association headquarters and shooting complex that owns 600 acres outside Friendship, Indiana. Been there since 1933.
While at the matches one year I had a couple of hours free time and wandered over to the flea market, not knowing to expect and not realizing the magnitude of the thing.
It was just as you said-everything imaginable for sale. Guns everywhere, some dating from the mid-to late 1700’s. Would like to have spent a couple of days there, but simply didn’t have the time. Was in a heavily wooded area so there was plenty of shade.

I actually saw what I think was a good deal at a gun show today. First GS that I've been to in several years. Or at least not too bad of a deal, and probably one that I should have jumped on.

Howz about a nickel M17-3, factory refinished with box & docs for $1450? Originally a blued gun, sent back to factory (didn't notice the date stamp), complete with star stamped under its barrel and boxed "RN" stamped on the left-side grip frame. Looked to be a real factory nickel re-finish to me; but not one of the Twelve Revolver nickel K-22's.

Upon reflection, I'm figuring that any good M17-3 LNIB is going for around $900 these days, and a factory nickel refinish is no longer possible, so add another $500 for maybe a top-o-the line nickel job from Fords, so it almost adds up to the asking price. Perhaps more so, if we add a premium for the factory provenance.

Did I make a mistake in passing it up? I am a bit of a recovering K22 addict, so it wouldn't take too much enabling to get me to go sneaking back there tomorrow. Way back in the 70's this would probably been around a $250 gun, but those days are long gone. I will not yet divulge the particular gun show venue where it may still reside, but some of yinz are surely astute enough to figure it out. What do you guys think? -S2

I still enjoy going to gun shows, even though the overpriced guns outnumber the fairly-priced by a considerable margin. While I typically return home empty-handed, I almost always see something interesting, and once in a while I’ll come across a legitimate bargain. Small tables sometimes have overlooked gems, and occasionally a seller has taken something in trade that he wants to turn into cash quickly. You never know!

Yup. Age old axiom.....gunshows always higher. But there is the occasional deal, which keeps me going.

Yep, they’re like Easter egg hunts. Very gratifying when you turn over the right rock.

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213th FBINA

I’ve been wanting to go our “big” local show since Covid hit. Finally went yesterday.
A bit disappointed. Lots of empty tables. I don’t know if it was because of the reports of the current surge in Omicron infections or the snow that hit Thursday night. Probably both.
I really just wanted to recharge my testosterone batteries and check out components. As expected, the primers ran from $90/1K to $150/1K. Powder was $35-$50 a pound.
Guns were mainly overpriced. I did see one “deal”. A blue Beretta 84 in .380 for $300. Real nice condition but I really didn’t examine it too closely, as I wasn’t in the market. I have a CZ83 that fills that spot.
The one vendor’s table that I usually enjoy visiting is the $2 table. Piles of odds and ends, mostly junk, but sometime you run across a jewel. He wasn’t there. I hope the virus didn’t get him.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Exactly where was this Gunshow?
I live in Southern Indiana & have never heard of such a show
I Really Want To Know
I'm Two Miles From Louisville Kentucky just about as far South as you can go in Indiana

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

Old Richmond Va gun shows were at the Mosque arena (long gone), antique arms show downtown. Went to them from 60’s til Mosque was torn down and shows were everywhere. Mosque show used to be once a year,IIRC, that was a Real gun show.
Major problems with gun show is there are just Way To Many these days, folks just don’t have the $$$ .

Just keep waiting for those overpriced classics to go down. Probably gonna happen tomorrow. Texarkana show results yesterday sold 8 bought 4 . The key is don’t tell the vendor what you paid for that same gun in 1972. I promise he doesn’t care. JM Marlins are the current hot item cause there’s still some out there but they will soon be deep in collectors safes . Again my advice is hold off from buying till a marlin 336 regularly sells at one thousand. Won’t be long.

Hers is one I picked up in June of this year for $900 at Ace Sporting Goods in Washington, PA. Factory nickel on a previously blued K22. I think the gun you looked at has been floating around Western PA gun shows for at least 5 years.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I understand the economics of inflation with certain items but as far as used guns goes, I see no real reason to jack up the prices as high as they are right now.

Those are some pretty crazy prices, but I think that's the norm now both at shows and online. However, I've actually had some pretty good luck at gun shows over the past couple of years. But like ladder13 wrote, you've got to dig deep sometimes. My Christmas present this year was a minty 4" nickel Model 57...I found it at a local gun show mixed in with other S&W, Taurus, Charter Arms, and Ruger revolvers at a little table operated by a local pawn shop. Asking price was $1500 + tax (not too outrageous), but after a little negotiating I walked OTD with it for $1200. I was happy and so were the sellers. I've had similar luck with some 28-2s and 29-2s. Our local shows down here in the Sunshine State usually charge around $5-$8 to get in, so it's worth a trip to poke around.

Around here everyone except the wife and I are driving brand new cars. Not junk, Beemers, Mercedes, Ford King Ranch etc. Stock market making everybody rich. Folks are paying whatever the asking if they want it, who cares what it costs with easy money. Guns are the same. I used to see a local surgeon at the Orlando show before it became the "Travelling Shoot Straight Store" with a "gun bearer" buying half a dozen guns at a whack, paying the asking every time. When the Fed 10 year note goes over 2%, let's see what happens. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I especially thought the prices on the used stainless guns were nuts. The guns were beat and the fixed sight guns did not have grips.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I went to the Dulles Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia. Crowds were not that large - on Sunday, it was so slow that vendors were able to go around to "checkout" the other vendors. Prices on guns were obscenely high--- ammo prices were up there, too. I guess if you are "hard up" and desperate -- this would be a great time to spend all your money. I hope the next Gun Show in February is better -- more people and lower prices.

Gunshows over the past 1-2 years are a joke. I just go now to maybe find an old pocketknife or fixed blade to buy at a reasonable price and to get a good laugh at the ridiculous pricing of firearms. All handguns, from excellent condition to pieces of junk, are way overpriced and I don't see them coming down anytime soon. Most of the dealers have the same guns on their table from many gunshows back and they don't seem to care to dicker as they did in the past. They have the attitude of I don't care if I sell it or not but I'm not coming down on the price. They also give you an absurd low price for anything you have to trade.

Thanks for the posts. Haven't been to a gun show since Covid began. Mostly just to look around. Only twice in the last ten years have I bought a firearm at a gun show.

1. When S&W M&P 15-22 first came out they were hard to find about ten years ago I really wanted one. I bought one from a small regional dealer at the Roanoke, Va. gun show. Went first thing in the morning and he only had two in stock so I jumped on it.

2. Had been looking for a Model 10-7, nickel 4" for several years. Went to a small annual collectors gun show in Northern Va. Got there first thing and went to a table where I heard the vendor specialized in Colt and S&W revolvers. Found one and a great negotiated price and was headed home before the frost was off the ground. (see picture)

I passed on guns on two different occasions at shows that I regret. One was a S&W Model 18 (like new) priced at $750 from a older small local dealer going out of business. The other was a large vendor out of Fredricksburg, Va. that had at least six "red box" (factory reconditioned) Sigs that were LE trade-ins. All in .40 caliber. Price in $600 range. Went back later and all were gone!

Don't plan on going to any in the future until Covid passes.

Stay safe and well.

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Even ordinary folks have become wealthy through stock and real estate holdings. I know many people who have more money than they know what to do with, but you would never know it.
They frankly don’t care what things cost.

I remember back in JHS we were taught how stock markets work, and they handed us those colorful company brochures. I was mesmerized.

I never forgot that and started investing in a savings plan starting my first real job at 20 yo.

It’s a shame they don’t teach investing in school today to the young.

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Sure you did

A neighborhood stock club in Enterprise, AL all bought Wal-Mart stock in the early 80s. Wish I had joined their club.

And 8 bucks to get into a gun show? You don't want to come to ATL!

Actually I do. My cousin lives in Winder, and I haven’t seen him since he escaped NY about 8 years ago.

A friend of mine bought Amazon and Apple about five years ago. He prodded me, but I am more conservative and just need to hold onto what I have. Slow and steady now.

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Sure you did

It’s a shame they don’t teach investing in school today to the young.
__________________ 100% SIR.
Last show I went to and Bought was Summer of 2000 at Metroliner show CLT, Bought a 1941 Johnson in perfect cond and a DOD papered M1D $2500.00 each which was BIG money 22 years ago but still a good deal then. Most Shows today have Bean-e-Baby's and 8*10 Black and White pics of Hitler along with Nazi arms and uniforms... as I told 1 Guy I owned a Nice K 98 Ac 44, my Uncle took it from the Nazi he shot... got a few angry looks.

Gun Shows started out to be a place where “Gun People” traded and sold.
Shooters, Hunters and Collectors attended, no membership was required for most. Then some time in early 80s ATF made it legal for FFL holders to set up at shows. For display and orders only. Guns could only be sold from address on FFL. Then it expanded into commercial sales at shows. Big promoters came in with the dealers. The hobbies were run out by tables being sold to vendors selling food, Cheap knives and tools, ect. The present panic is just fuel to the fire.

Come get your cousin and head to the ATL Expo Center the 22nd-23rd. My tables are up front and easy to find. No bean-e-babies or jerky at my spot.

Most of the show was plastic 9mm with very few 40 and .45 plus a smattering of .380 semi autos. Very little in revolvers and all overpriced just like you experienced. 9mm ball ammo ranged from $23 to $40 a box of 50.

I had high hopes to repeat my awesome deal at the same show over the summer where I picked up a blued well worn 4" 19-3 pin and recessed with Herrett Jordan grips for $350. That gun locks up like a bank vault and seems most of the wear came from holstering. Good times.

This one cost me a grand total of $7 for the entry fee.

Going to be busy at that time. I’d sure like to attend and look you up at a future show.

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Sure you did

I reluctantly messaged my mother in law to ask here info about it. It’s called “whites farm flea market and auctioneer” located in Brookeville Indiana. It was a neat experience.

The Orlando Show (Traveling Shoot Straight Store Show) just went to $13. At least parking is free. A single table is $100 last I heard. Khaled killed off a lot of business crushing private sales. Foot traffic is way down and by now all the liberals have made their purchases. A dozen FFL's with stratospheric prices remain and more junk than can be imagined. I have asked more than once: "What does this do/ what's it for/ how's it work" on items that increase every year, replacing guns. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Gun shows I visit need just 2 sections:

1 - The traveling museum section.

2 - The flea market area.

And as we know, MILSURP stuff isn’t MILSURP but imported “replicas”.

Had tables a smaller show near JAX this weekend, less than 100 tables but got my belated Christmas presents as a 65-4 4” walked in the door. Former LEO revolver as kinda dinged up but not fired much. Disassembly, cleaned out years of gunk, action job and better grips, going to range tomorrow. Talking to guy with tables behind me when guy walks up with a rifle case, Nice Clean early Ruger 10-22 with Metal Butt plate! In the safe waiting til get time to clean it as he said had been sitting in a safe for many years.
So, pretty happy with show results.

Was that Green Cove? That's where I went. Did you get any discount on the 65?

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Two weeks ago I hit 4 gunshows in 2 days, all in all I drove 500 miles paid
$7 -$9 to get in, ate out. All I bought was a Gerber knife. Had a great time. This weekend I hit 2 shows, Picked up a lettered Baby Chief (1953). Next week there are 3 gunshows within 100 miles and I'll hit them all, never know when you'll strike gold. One benefit of being retired.
SWCA 892

Deleted.

Posted in wrong thread.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.