Today was the day. My gunshow pard and I decided we weren't going to get a table, but instead just walk the show and enjoy it as we did back in the day. Like before we had a ball and chain of a table. When you're an exhibitor, you've got to lug all the junk in, set up the table, then trade off walking the show. I can't remember when the last time was I got to see an entire large show. This time I forced it. And it was a remarkably good show for one of Dixons December shows. More vendors than expected (hall 2/3rds full instead of nearly empty.) Better still, there were a bunch of customers.

The day started out well. We got there early and my buddy Joe and I executed a trade we've been discussing over the phone. He got my M19 grips that were really nice if Magna's, bookend grain. I got his newly acquired smooth N targets. And he even brought me a present! I got 9 loaded rounds of 32 Colt longs (different from 32 S&W). A big gap in my education, Colt New Police are the same as S&W, the 32 Colt rounds use a .299 bullet.

I found a shell holder for my Lee Autoprime, #6. It'll make priming my 32-20s a whole lot easier than trying to use the 9mm holder.

Better still, I found a really nice knife. Its a filleting knife made by a Blackton out of Mt Clemons, MI. Can't find anything on the internet about it.

Then hiking along, I picked up a full box of 32 Colt shorts for $25 and another for $20. In this day and age, ammo costs $.50 to $1 a shot. We're back to the Jimmy Carter inflation I fear. The prices I paid somehow seem reasonable. Besides, you need ammo for every gun you've got!

Somehow I feel good about today. I got most of the things on my short list. There was only one bookseller, and he wasn't the one I was looking for. Also only one reloading supplier, usually there are 3 or 4.

We didn't pull any tricks or stunts. But Frakes had to make a mad dash home for his A W Mellon engraved K22. Anybody know anything else about Mellons guns? We had a big thread with pixs and everything back a while. Someone even mentioned there was an auction where they were sold off. Anyone remember?

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Dick Burg

Well Burg the "A W Mellon engraved K22" stayed with our mutual friend...



... but I think not for long, could be a buyer is in the wings.

It was nice to have for awhile, but it's cool that it and the 38/44 mate are now back together. I never could add anything to the story other than the factory letter of an early 1932 shipping of two units. Maybe now someone with deeper pockets than mine will post up some history on the revolvers and the engraving.

Or they might end up in the gun cave of a private collector - never to be seen again until death do they part!

Thanks again.

GF

I'm not a worrier. But in this situation, say you yield 4 or 5 times your investment. What gun could you or would you buy to be as good as the one you let go? My advice, find the 1940 K22 Joe says you've got a line on and buy it. Its about the only "step up" you could take.

The problem here is K22s are still smokin' hot. Everyone wants another. I even liked the K861 or whatever it was. But I don't need it because its got the "high number". Now Drew's gun, K117, would be another matter. Better still, finding K107.

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Dick Burg

Good Show! I like them big ol Kershaw knives from the 1970s and I found 2 that I needed bad! Always fun shooting the breeze with gun people and NGD does bring out some of the best.

I wish you'd post a picture of the sword you bought, Dick. It's a striking piece of craftsmanship and I expect you bought it for pennies on the dollar. Wish I didn't have the ball and chain of a table to watch and was free to roam the show like you. But, on the other hand, you do miss set up day and we all know that's when the big deals are made, as evidenced by the Melonhead gun Frakes found. Whoever said that gun belonged to Andrew Mellon in the first place?

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Dick, Google "Andrew Blackton Knives" and you'll find some info and examples of his work. He was from Mt. Clemens, MI.

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John

Actually, Frakes found the 22 on Sunday. Joe'd been torturing himself the entire weekend over it. He just couldn't bring himself to buy it (all scratched up.) So to relieve the pain, I had to lead the horse to water, so to speak. The seller just wanted to sell it, so Frakes made him a rock bottom offer and the guy accepted. Afterall, who'd want a mellonhead?

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Dick Burg

Burg, if it doesn't get iced in we're looking at the next show. Is it in February?

I went to the Amarillo, Texas Gun Show today. Most Model 36 revolvers, nothing special were priced from $550.00 to $750.00. I saw a nice Model 15, nickel for about $600.00....

I had one of the employees of a local Gun Shop tell me last week that they are now pricing all of their used guns based one what they see on the internet. They have some of their used guns now priced higher than the new guns right next to them that are the same make and model. I'm sure that'll get changed quickly.

I think some sellers have just lost their minds.

Sure didn't see any of these over priced firearms changing hands.

Rule 303

He's apparently deceased. I saw the examples before, and there are similarities, but the examples are all short knives.

The TBO site has obits that show him listed, but I need to join their group to get the details. He was 77, and a member of the Knifemakers Guild. The quality of his work makes that part pretty easy to understand. Mine is probably an early knife, too. The examples on the website indicate a logo. Mine has a much different stamp, and the Mich instead of the more modern MI. My guess is there won't ever be much on the internet if its not already there.

Its also interesting how you can walk down an aisle at a gunshow and look at the pile of knives a vendor has on display. Then almost immediately pick one of the crowd that just reeks of quality workmanship.

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Dick Burg

Its February 25 & 26, 2012. Hope to see you. Maybe we can have an extended bull session while Jr. runs himself ragged trying to see everything at the show.

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Dick Burg

Family commitments out of town made me miss the show this time around. Glad there were lots of dealers and lots of deals! It's been a couple years since I made the December Show. Last time around, the hall was remarkably empty! There is a smaller show there on 12/30 - 1/01. Usually go just to get out of the house after all the Christmas cheer and family!

Yes, Joe and I are talking about going to the New Years show. Its an RK show I think. We'll probably to the same thing as this past weekend, just go and walk the show. The problem is that its the same weekend as their big flea market. Means hoards of people.

There's another show the following weekend in Lexington, and we'll probably get a table for that one. Not sure why, neither of us have any guns worth selling! The only good part of having a table is we've got a place to sit and rest. With any luck by then I'll have loaded up all my 32-20 cases and be off on a different project.

I haven't heard a report from Doublesharp or Frakes on Sunday's goings on. Last year the crowd was so thin on Sunday, the promoter actually apologized to the vendors. Everyone has a job to do, the vendors need to show up with good stuff at prices it will sell. The customers need to show up with enough money left from parking and admission. The promoter needs to advertise well enough the hillbillies come out of the woodwork. If anyone fails, the show can be a failure.

Of course you just need to score one flaming deal and all is well. I did well scoring a spectacular knife at a fair price. Doublesharp found 3 knives cheap enough he could resell one that paid for the other two. Frakes dumped that ratty old engraved 22, probably for mulitiples of what he paid. Don't think Joe did all that well. We did pull off the grips trade, and he bought a couple of boxes of Lubaloy 38s. He likes those for some reason, and vendors always seem to sell them for what Walmart sells economy rounds for.

I'm guessing David Carroll did OK. He had some friends looking awful hard at his guns. With any luck he was out the door and gone early. I think its a lot faster to drive home from Louisville than from Wilmington.

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Dick Burg

Sunday was just ok. Fair crowd, many dealers left Sat night but the remaining ones did a fair job of filling holes so it didn't look too empty. I left at 2:30 and over half the dealers were gone. Saw DC loading as I was leaving. All I bought was the Kershaw knives but I did get a prize in them and did sell the boot knife for more than I should have so I'm in the two that I wanted pretty right.

You know how RK shows are; they bring out a more thuggish crowd than the NGD and the flea mkt is in the west wing so parking is a pain if you don't know the ropes. Dealers park in the gravel lot across from the cattle pen where they hold the show and if I'm a customer I'd park in the yellow stripes next to a parking place or get in front of a dumpster or docked trailer. Got to do your part to add to the congestion donchaknow.

Park on the Ky Kingdom side and go in west hall is the shortest distance. Most of the flea sniffers park on the backside between the stadium and Freedom Hall.

It's easier to sell shooter grade at RK shows. NGD is all about lnib safe queens but the RK thug/thugettes just want something that goes bang when you hold it sideways.

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God spelled backwards is dog.