I had the pleasure of sitting "behind" the gun table as a vendor for the first time in my life.

Myself and a friend were trying to sell some guns and "stuff" out of our collections and the show had a special "deal" price on a table.

I had a lot of fun. Met a ton of nice and interesting people and learned a lot about various guns and other firearms related minutae.

My friend, through various conversations with other vendors, learned he had some other guns and "stuff" at home worth a lot so the next day he loaded our table up even more.

We were lucky in that our table was in the first aisle after entering the door and about six tables down. I got to see a lot of folks who walked in and had guns for sale or barter.

I did see one S&W that I was hoping I'd get a shot at. He had it in his waistband and I asked to see it. It was a M1917 Brazillian in about 90% condition. As I looked at it and we talked I was thinking that he might sell it for a good price.

Then he pulled out a receipt from a gunshop where he had it on consignment and they had it listed at $875.00. Now I was looking at a nice Brazillian but thought that even that price might be high.

As I inspected the gun I noticed it had no import marks. Then we pulled up the blue book and found out that the "non-import" Brazillians sell for a nicer sum than the "imports".

So I then decided that because of the gunshop's consignment price and what we found out that the gentleman wasn't going to let the gun go cheap. DRATS!

So I helped him assess the gun at its true value and it "booked" at about $1200.00 if I remember correctly.

BUT....I then noticed that the cylinder serial number did not match the rest of the serials on the firearm. Dang-it-for-his-luck. I'm sure the cylinder mis-match would have devalued to gun to the serious collector and now he had a "shooter".

However he still had a nice gun and I told him to come here and post pictures and make inquiries as to better evaluate the piece.

BUT, I did get some great guns myself. I bought a M686-3, 2 1/2 inch with fingergroove S&W "combats", a M34-1 blued 4 inch with red insert, a Colt Detective Special 2 inch from 1958, and a Colt SAA nickel 7 1/2 .45 Long Colt with a set of one-piece Ivory micarta grips from the defunct Tyler's Grips of Oklahoma.

Had a great time and was such a good "boy" (as the War Department said) that I came home with leftover cash for seed money at the next gunshow.

It was really interesting to "see" the gun show "business" from the "backside" of the table. And maybe a better way to "do" a gunshow. I got in free with free parking, I was able to sit and watch the public parade by with possible "goodies". And with my friend there I was able to "speed-walk" the aisles and look for "stuff". Of course the cost of a table (this show only for newbies, $25.00, subsequent shows, $80.00) might, to some, offset the free entry and parking but the ability to stay in one place and peruse the crowd and have a more personal contact with the dealers opened me up to some fine buys I think.

P.S. One of the life insurance companies were there selling insurance And yes we had the beef jerky and peanut brittle people there as well.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Welcome to the wonderful world of gun shows.
I am at one every weekend except for New Year's Day, Easter, and Mother's Day weekends when they don't schedule shows in my area.
I sell holsters, not guns, but I do get some great deals on guns for myself.
It is a great way to build your collection.
Have fun and happy shooting.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Semperfi: I was at that gun show too: I was probably at the same row of tables on the other side (facing north). I was about 10 tables down from George Edgerly's cartridge collector's table, on the other side of the aisle. We had a sign "Mauser Pistols Wanted" as my partner collects Mauser pocket pistols. Did pretty well; got a shoulder holster for a Victory, with the elastic cartridge pouches sewn on the strap, also a squad 45 cleaning kit, and a bunch of WWI and 1920-30 45 cases whose primer pockets will need reaming before I can reload them Did you see Edgerly's 5.2mm Mondragon rounds? I didn't ask the price. Interesting story accompanying them.

Thats something i'd like to do sometime. Just to escape the bumping, and smelling those who have'nt washed for 6 weeks and trying to get around 3 people standing right in the middle of an aisle holding their conversation. I'll bet it was interesting. Always fun to just people watch sometimes also.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

I set up at a gun show here in Indiana selling grips for 1911's and had a ball . Two days of talking to people about guns and my fun making the grips . It's nice to have people stop and admire your handy work. Had 1 man tell me he liked my grips ,we talked for a while he left my table and returned later with a new 1911 and bought a set of my grips to put on it . That was a big ego boost for me. My wife and had started attending shows last Year and she loved watching and talking to all the people .My son & grand daughter now accompany me and look forward to the shows.

Cyrano,

I do not remember the Mauser pistol sign but I am sorry we did not get to meet. Mr. Edgerly has been selling his wares at the ABQ show since I first starting going to them in 1978. He used to advertise in the local paper about a week before the show for people to come to the show and bring cartridges for him to buy.

Next show is in June, please let me know if you're coming.

All: It was fun to sit and people watch and avoid the crowd. However several times I got up to look around myself and it is getting very crowded on Saturday from about 11:00 to 3:00.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.