Virginia Beach Gun Show

retnavyshooter · Oct 15, 2023

Haven't been to this show in a while> Show is half the size of Pre-Covid and very few vendors with collector quality guns; lots of "black" guns, hot sauce and jewelry. I did spot a S&W 16-2 Target that was VERY nice; 3T's but no box or papers. Could not handle the ask at $3950.

stansdds · Oct 15, 2023

Model 16-2 for $3950, no box, no papers, and no takers. Years ago when gun shows were worth the price of admission, I came to the conclusion that there were some collectors who really did not want to part with anything from their collection, but enjoyed showing them off by giving them very high price tags.

austintexas · Oct 15, 2023

Last year locally I saw one move for $3000, no box or papers.
SWCA 892

swagmeister · Oct 15, 2023

In addition to hot sauce and jewelry, you forgot about the potato pealer and the beef jerky! I have just about given up on gunshows. Admission prices keep going up and quality firearms at anything close to a reasonable price keep going down. Money well spent somewhere else.

Ky6906fan · Oct 16, 2023

Several shows in KY have been really slow and prices crazy.

Hawg Rider · Oct 16, 2023

retnavyshooter said:
Haven't been to this show in a while> Show is half the size of Pre-Covid and very few vendors with collector quality guns; lots of "black" guns, hot sauce and jewelry. I did spot a S&W 16-2 Target that was VERY nice; 3T's but no box or papers. Could not handle the ask at $3950.

This seems to be the trend for the majority of recent gun shows that I've attended. You may also notice, like I have, that not too many Forum members are showing off their weekend firearm purchases on Monday morning...mainly because they didn't buy any nice vintage revolvers! I notice a lot of younger people attending the shows these days, and they're mostly interested in the cool "plastic" pistols and rifle and fantasy knives!

Retired W4 · Oct 16, 2023

I might have to put my 16 (nd) up for sale. I would only ask $3000.

RT44nut · Oct 16, 2023

Same in SE Al. A lot of the same guns at the Sept show that was there in July with the same crazy prices. One was very used model 24-3 3” with no box or papers for over 2K! Did see a lot of jerky, honey, yard sale items, and hot sauce. Ammunition prices hadn’t dropped any either.

Green Frog · Oct 18, 2023

I now have to pay as much for a general admission ticket to local gun shows as I paid to rent a table when I started out in the ‘70s. It would be OK if I could find anything to buy, buuuut…

Froggie

firefighterjohn · Oct 18, 2023

I've also seen those "traveling gun museums" at gun shows around here...show after show, the same guns with "dipped in gold" prices and no buyers. Don't know if there waiting for suckers to come along, base their pricing off ridiculous GB auction results, or just like hauling their museum pieces back-n-forth? Regardless, it just makes you shake your head and walk on being thankful you bought yours when you did! But, I'll still go to the gun shows in case I might spot a deal from time to time and say hello to some of the good guys you meet along the way...that's worth the entry fee.

Walking the aisles of a gun show is STILL better than a day at work!

Baxter6551 · Oct 18, 2023

Ditto on all the above. Used to go to the great gun shows in MA at the BigE. Haven’t been great in quite some time in my opinion.
If older Smiths start going for that kind of money routinely then it might be time to start moving stuff to the next generation.

Catwrangler · Oct 18, 2023

Ky6906fan said:
Several shows in KY have been really slow and prices crazy.

Do we see a correlation
here ?

Xfuzz · Oct 18, 2023

Well....It finally happened here in Texas.

They had a gun show and nobody showed.
Small 175 table Texas Costal show.
Total gate less than 200 folks...2 day show.

Worst show where I have set up in 33 years.
Maybe 10-15 tables with guns.
Rest ....garage sale stuff.

Green Frog · Oct 19, 2023

Back to the original title of the thread... at least 40 years ago I used to go from Central VA down to the The Beach for some pretty decent shows. In Va Beach proper there was a fairly small, dome-shaped venue that had a pretty fruitful show every time I went. Then they moved over to a much larger venue in Norfolk (?) in what looked like four giant Quonset Huts attached side by side. A good sized show was held in just one or sometimes two of these sections of the “Blimp Dome”. Those shows were always good for me back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
I guess I’m just getting old... these shows don’t seem all that long ago!
Froggie

YeshuaIsa53 · Oct 19, 2023

Years ago, I wouldn't bat an eye at paying a grand for a five screw K-22 or K-38 if they were 99%. Bought one and the owner told me the gold box it was sitting on didn't come with the gun. Some folk I just don't miss. Used to get better deals from the customers there.

austintexas · Oct 19, 2023

If you don't play the lotto you don't win. If you don't go to gunshows you don't find the super deals. Last gunshow in central Texas I didn't find anything so I was sitting at the snack bar and a gentleman came by with 3 rifles. We got to talking and he said he really wanted to move these rifles, I ask what and how much. Long story short, I bought a Mossburg Patriot, 30-06. I don't need another '06 but the clincher was the deal, $700 and 600 rounds of military ball ammo.
SWCA 892

Club Gun Fan · Oct 19, 2023

Baxter6551 said:
Ditto on all the above. Used to go to the great gun shows in MA at the BigE. Haven’t been great in quite some time in my opinion.
If older Smiths start going for that kind of money routinely then it might be time to start moving stuff to the next generation.

Did you ever go to the rows in the back wall?

drgbike · Oct 19, 2023

I will continue to go. Never know? The flea market stuff is what is needed to keep the promoter paid! Enter fees, 8-16 bucks, come one we waste that much every day on drinks and junk food. Maybe open your safe and sell something. Bring in others. Try meeting some of the sellers, maybe find some one with similar collections. Quit carping, would you prefer no shows at all? At least some of the younger one are into guns of some kind. Where can you go for 4 hours for that price. I buy fudge and jerky every time. They are making a living to.

Chuck24 · Oct 19, 2023

Green Frog said:
Back to the original title of the thread... at least 40 years ago I used to go from Central VA down to the The Beach for some pretty decent shows. In Va Beach proper there was a fairly small, dome-shaped venue that had a pretty fruitful show every time I went. Then they moved over to a much larger venue in Norfolk (?) in what looked like four giant Quonset Huts attached side by side. A good sized show was held in just one or sometimes two of these sections of the “Blimp Dome”. Those shows were always good for me back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
I guess I’m just getting old... these shows don’t seem all that long ago!
Froggie

The dome of which you speak was in fact called the Virginia Beach Dome. It has since been torn down. Saw a lot of good concerts there. The other building you describe is the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Attended many shows there, but now seems like everyone has the same stuff, plastic fantastics and black rifles prevail. They used to have some in Norfolk at Scope, but that one was never much. Also have some at the Hampton Colosseum.

Birdhunter6 · Oct 19, 2023

swagmeister said:
In addition to hot sauce and jewelry, you forgot about the potato pealer and the beef jerky! I have just about given up on gunshows. Admission prices keep going up and quality firearms at anything close to a reasonable price keep going down. Money well spent somewhere else.

What, no Chinese pocket knives?

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