I went to the Gun Show in Fort Worth yesterday and I noticed only one table of private sale guns. There were a good number of tables with lots of new guns. But It seemed like less used guns. It’s possible it’s my imagination because I was just in Tulsa a few months back. I saw lots of non gun/ sportsman’s stuff. More than I recall on previous visits…
I did see a large sign indicating “all sellers” needed an FFl. I guess collectors selling off their guns at shows is coming to an end.

I've thought of attending the Fort Worth show, but never have...I'll wait for better days......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I go occasionally but not often these days. Lots of non-gun stuff, the nicest display I saw the last time I went was of "authentic and vintage" turquoise jewelry. Most of the actual gun tables are plastic autos or black rifles and components. And lately tables and tables of cheap knives. Which isn't to say that a nice S&W can't show up occasionally but bargains are few and far between. But if you don't look. . . .you don't find, but I didn't go this weekend either.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I think you are misunderstanding whatever sign you saw. No law in Texas or Oklahoma precludes sale from one individual to another, gun show or not.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

I didn't go, but that sounds shocking. The Original Ft. Worth Shows usually are pretty good ones. If you go right when you go in and start on that side, there are usually several along the front aisle and down the first row, then others scattered through the show. I've gone to them once or twice a year for over 40 years.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Not on the same scale but I attended 2 smaller shows in the last 2 weeks and there were more WWI and II rifles and revolvers than I’ve eeen in a while outside of a collectors show we have in my area. There seemed to be more quality revolvers too. Not a huge number but several tables with some nice Smiths and Colts. Prices are up but that’s no surprise. I’ve been going to shows for 50 years and have seen prices drop yet.

There’s a pretty good size show coming up in two weeks and I’m planning on going to that and will see how it goes.

Then again, that sign may reflect what I'll call a "badge heavy" ATF Agent throwing his weight around. One such was in East Tennessee a few years back---terrorizing perfectly law abiding FFL's with his own made up rules and regulations-----and hurting their business. I don't know what became of him, but I hope it hurt! The good guys oft times go out of their way to help the dealers do their thing---and cut them some slack if/when they might make a perfectly honest mistake that does no harm.

Ralph Tremaine

I last went 10 years ago.

It was like paying $20 to get into a Black Friday sale.

The closest thing to a gun show I’ve attended since is my clubs swap meet.

A promoter here in Florida does not allow private sales, has Big signs at the entrance. I guess there are several regardless, IMHO he has a “ control issue” and wants to charge $$$ to do the transfers. I Do Not Go To His Shows.

I have attended the Fort Worth many time and I have sold guns there. A few I've sold standing in the line to enter the show right before the police inspection tables. I've never seen that sign so maybe it's something new. It is a good gun show to attend.

The original Ft. Worth gun show has been consistently a pretty good one.

Gun shows are strictly entertainment. They allow us to spend time with “like minded people.” Movie tickets are $15 currently (according to my wife) same as the local “ShootStraight traveling inventory reduction” event. Last gun I bought at a show was a Model 15-3 back in 2017. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Just because there is no law doesn't stop the promoter banning non-FFLs from making sales.

In a similar vein, Federal law allows Joe Citizen to ship a gun using a "common carrier" like UPS or Fedex. Both companies now have policies whereby they won't touch a gun without seeing an FFL

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Release the Kraken

I moved out of DFW in 1996 so it's been quite a while since I have been to a show there. Ft. Worth had some decent shows but Dallas Convention Center and Mesquite were my favorites. There were so many other smaller venues to keep you busy.

Attended the Ft. Worth shows regularly for many years. Moved out of the immediate area but have fond memories, like a lot of us, to times when gun shows were real destination events.

Many sponsors/hosts of gun shows near larger metropolitan areas of Texas have long required all sellers to possess an FFL as a matter of policy - not of law. I've attended many dozens of gun shows in Texas that had zero non-FFL firearm sellers - that had a table.

For a long time the frequently quoted "gun show loophole" didn't make a lick of sense to me as I never saw a sale across a gun show table that didn't involve the usual vetting of the buyer. The exception was individuals walking around with a rifle or shotgun on their shoulder with a 4-sale tag on it - no table and not many inquiries that I recall.

There's a very small show near me held annually that personifies, I guess, what anti-gunners mean by the "gun show loophole" as the majority of tables are private sellers who are typically liquidating their collections at a relatively advanced age. It's been my first experience with non-FFL sellers with gun show tables. Great little show BTW and I've found some real gems there on occasion.

Sorry Ft. Worth isn't what it used to be. So little is, it seems.

Bryan

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Ordnung muss sein
SWHF #789

It was not complex sign. It may mean little to nothing.
I did notice out of every table (I checked each for vintage revolvers) only one (1) had a sign indicating a private sale.
But moreover , there seemed to be very few used revolvers.
This seemed much different than previous visits.
For 40 years I lived in and watched California turn into what it is today.
But maybe I am just being paranoid

I hit a lot of shows in Iowa. The non-ffl seller is a rare breed anymore. Generally see it only at the smaller shows, the big two in this state will rarely have private sellers. I run across it once maybe twice a year, I'm surprised when I see it. There's no law against it in Iowa tho several years ago the state sales tax people did rattle some cages.

Wow there must be a trend there. Here in Tulsa maybe 50% of gun show sales are non - FFL holders selling their private collection. I left the Dallas area in 2019 when taxes went through the roof.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

I lived just west of Fort Worth for about six years and I attended nearly every show held at the Will Rogers, even had a table there for awhile. It was a pretty good show at the time, but that was over 40 years ago. It doesn't seem that long. I did attend it once more, about 15 years back, but it wasn't as good as in the old days.

I worked the FW gun show with my FFL neighbor. I had 4 guns but didn’t advertise as private . Lots of guys don’t advertise private sale but are. Just because they don’t have a sign, doesn’t mean they’re not private sales.