Another disappointing gun show

I'm in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and the shows have taken a serious downturn since the new draconian and overly restrictive moronic firearms legislation came into effect. They never fully recovered from the Covid scam anyway. From what I'm reading on this thread, we seem to be better off in what's on the tables. No jewelry and precious little kitschy crap but a lot of firearms, mostly overpriced, ammo (old and new) some nice antiques and a good mix of modern and classic stuff. I have a table since I have some things to move along. Hoping for a good turn out.
 
At least you have em. Other than antique shows, the closest to my is in NW philly, about 45 minutes away, and its only twice a year
 
greenwellg said:
Lots of veterans living close to me in eastern Virginia. K22 Masterpiece at the last Hampton show for a decent price, better shooter than the almost perfect one I found at an auction estate sale. Local Va Beach shop has a load of collectible military items. Like a museum but everything is for sale. They have an auction monthly and the last two have provided me with 3 guns for decent prices. A Smith 659, H&K45C and a stainless Walther PPKS for about 60% of the price new in virtually unfired condition for all 3. I watch the local auctions for deals especially estate auctions.
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Have known guy that started the Va Beach shop for over 30 years, we used to do the SOS with 3-4 other guys back in 80s-90s. Headed up there tomorrow and will see several old friends. The Hampton show was real good back then as were several other local shows, those were the days.
 
Gone are the days when you could by an 03 Springfield for $100 still in the cosmoline. Or perhaps a Colt .380 model M unfired for $150 or a British Enfield or Japanese Arisaka for $60. I seldom go to gun shows anymore because after Covid the prices now are no longer a joke but laughable for anyone who is still sane. I often wonder who pays these crazy prices like $800 or more for a Mauser Rifle or $1,000 for a Finnish Mosin Rifle that has a rotted out barrel and a stock that looks like its been through both WWI and WWII or $2,500 or more for a Luger, P38, Polish Radom, or 1911 WWII pistol.

At one time you could collect off brand European .32 acp pistols for little more than a song and a dance but last week two were for sale at a gun shop and the price was a whopping $700 just because they were German made and not even military pistols. I have seen them ask $500 for a soft steel Spanish Ruby pistol or $650 for a Spanish Astra pistol. All of the above not so long ago could be had for $100 or less.

Even older made .22 rifles that had quality walnut stocks are now bringing out of this world prices.

Of course when you compare the older made blued steel and walnut firearms to the plasticky garbage being vomited out today it's not hard to understand the out of this world prices for "the real firearms of yesterday".

The golden age of collecting military rifles and pistols is now part of the "dead hand of the past".

I once made one of our "old timer's" laugh when I told him that the average gun owner today would not recognize a quality firearm even if said firearm walked up to him and shot him in the foot.
 
Good buddy died in 2010. I helped his wife sell off his collection. In one trip I took 58 rifles to that Va Beach shop to sell for her at the auction owners initials is RH if its still him who owns it. Lots of great deals back then but I was not a rich man. Now the financials are better than ever but the deals are few and far between. Used to got to Chantilly with the same friend and drive his V12 BMW while he drank beer. At one time I had close to 80 Finnish military rifles but sold them off a long time ago, had a collectors license but let it expire. I bought a few pistols this year but mostly got what I need but still like to snag a deal on occasion.
Greyman50 said:
Have known guy that started the Va Beach shop for over 30 years, we used to do the SOS with 3-4 other guys back in 80s-90s. Headed up there tomorrow and will see several old friends. The Hampton show was real good back then as were several other local shows, those were the days.
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I talked to an old man back in the day at the Hampton show. He was dressed to the 10's and for some reason he pulled out his wallet and showed me $40k in cash and a money clip. Scared me to death, lots of people will kill for that kind of money :rolleyes:
 
I used to be able to find milsurps on the secondary market at shows and in the local ads, but not any more. The local ads thing went away for a couple of reasons, and I think most people move stuff on via GB or their local auction house. The few times I do see milsurps they are the same ones I've been seeing with the same guys for 15 years or so.

What really caught my eye at the last show I attended was the number of vendors Pricing NEW polymer guns over MSRP! WTH, over? Am I supposed to haggle on new stuff now? The thing is at MSRP plus tax they are still at least $100 more than what I can get the same modern gun shipped, locally taxed, and transferred to me. SMH. If I had to pay $30-$40 more to buy locally I would mutter and do it for the convenience, but when the difference is in three figures, the shark is thoroughly jumped.
 
Haven't been for a long time, the guys I used to go with either lost interest or died. I think gun shows are going the way of the dodo bird, around here anyway. The outfit that runs a lot of venues here in Michigan seems to be cancelling their shows every other weekend. The reasons? All that's been mentioned. Tables of books, jewelry, cheap knives, various jerky, hot sauce, and fudge. No deals at the gun tables that are there. Sometimes I think these dealers like lugging their inventory back and forth between the hall and home. They don't seem too interested in selling anything.
 
greenwellg said:
Good buddy died in 2010. I helped his wife sell off his collection. In one trip I took 58 rifles to that Va Beach shop to sell for her at the auction owners initials is RH if its still him who owns it. Lots of great deals back then but I was not a rich man. Now the financials are better than ever but the deals are few and far between. Used to got to Chantilly with the same friend and drive his V12 BMW while he drank beer. At one time I had close to 80 Finnish military rifles but sold them off a long time ago, had a collectors license but let it expire. I bought a few pistols this year but mostly got what I need but still like to snag a deal on occasion.

I talked to an old man back in the day at the Hampton show. He was dressed to the 10's and for some reason he pulled out his wallet and showed me $40k in cash and a money clip. Scared me to death, lots of people will kill for that kind of money :rolleyes:
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Good times, RH is kinda retired and from what best friend told me the other day the “ new guy” is maybe doing a buy out? The stories I could tell about RH and us at SOS would get thrown off this forum,LOL. Knew the guy that started the gun shop on Va. Beach blvd back in 70s and opened a indoor range. I managed the indoor range in Norfolk in the 70s, the fun we had. Guy on Va Beach blvd and Bobs gun shop wanted me to come to work for them, not much $$ in it. PM me if you want. I’ll be up there this afternoon to see old friends. Hope to see long time friend that started London Bridge Trading, he sold it last year and is taking it easy.
 
swagmeister said:
And don't forget about some, not all, dealers pulling out a 10 year old Blue Book of Gun Values and pricing the gun you want to trade or sell to them at about 30% of a fair market value these days! I understand their wanting to make as much profit on a deal as possibile, but they will just have to make it on an unsuspecting sucker and not me! I've given up on any chance of attending a good gun show in NW Louisiana for the past several years. Same old ridiculously high priced guns and ammo and they have the attitude that they don't care whether you buy it or not. Sad state of affairs.
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just tell them you will buy all their Smith's using the same Blue Book valuation :)
 
rather go to Bass instead , same prices.. I dont need a flea market. It used to be fun ..
 
swagmeister said:
And don't forget about some, not all, dealers pulling out a 10 year old Blue Book of Gun Values and pricing the gun you want to trade or sell to them at about 30% of a fair market value these days! I understand their wanting to make as much profit on a deal as possibile, but they will just have to make it on an unsuspecting sucker and not me! I've given up on any chance of attending a good gun show in NW Louisiana for the past several years. Same old ridiculously high priced guns and ammo and they have the attitude that they don't care whether you buy it or not. Sad state of affairs.
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In Texas, the shows are good. Yes, we have the hand full of dealers that drag out their grossly overpriced museum collections for display with attitudes of caring less if they sell anything…they prefer to sit and socialize with their old timer buddies vs interacting…I generally ignore them…then there are those, as already stated, that have tattered blue books looking to snag a bargain basement deal…. You just have to look between the layers…deals are out there but I find my successes through networking and getting the word out what I am looking for…I am also a seller and fairly successful… I dont hold out for home run deals… I will take a thin deal if needed, earn a customer, make them happy and have fun in doing so. My older boxed SW are priced right and those willing to pay the price understand what they are getting…. So, don’t give up on attending shows, just adjust expectations and target your shopping preferences… ignore the secondary junk tables and have fun! 😁
 

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Frailer said:
While I can sympathize with those who bemoan the current state of gun shows, I still enjoy going to them.

Unless the show is a huge one I don’t go looking for anything in particular. Rather, I try to approach it like a treasure hunt, looking for hidden gems. I go fully expecting to come home empty-handed, but about a third of the time I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

A batting average like that will land you in the Hall of Fame.
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That describes many decades of shows, for me.
I would look forward to the familiar faces (gun enthusiasts/dealers) as much as the guns.
Go in expecting nothing in particular, and almost always left with one or more guns.
If I was absolutely searching for one thing, it was seldom there. But, next show, -there it was.
Some of the best shows of each year were in locations that no longer allow guns, so those shows are gone.
Those older shows are why I now have one or more of every firearm I care to own -really.
As many collectors will tell you, wanting, searching, and finding -is where all the enjoyable adventures happen.
Finally parting with them -is going to be the opposite.
All of the reasons mentioned by others is why I've stopped going to the remaining craft displays -I mean, gun shows.
 
I haven't been to a good gun show since they shut down the Great Western that was held at the LA county fairgrounds. I was surprised to see some pop up locally in the last few years, but $15 to park, and then more for admission? I'll pass.
 
I used to regularly attend gun shows. And yes, I have several times had an exhibitor whip out the old Blue Book to show me how little my trade was worth. I never had one whip out the Blue Book to show me how little the gun they were selling was worth;) Not even once. But now days, about the only show I choose to attend is a small local one. Seems a lot of folks lament not finding "deals" at gun shows. I never went expecting exhibitors would buy table space, haul in all their stuff, haul away whatever didn't sell, just so they could give me a "deal". I have occasionally purchased this or that part, accessory, knife, or even firearm, at a gun show. At at some kind of great/smokin' deal/he didn't know what he had, etc. price though? No.
 
swagmeister said:
And don't forget about some, not all, dealers pulling out a 10 year old Blue Book of Gun Values and pricing the gun you want to trade or sell to them at about 30% of a fair market value these days!.
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I guess that's where I'd have them turn the page in their same 10 year old Blue Book and price their guns for sale in an identical fashion.

What's good for the goose and all that...
 
I went to a local one last March, pretty good show. I bought a crate full of Yugoslavian 59/66 SKS's five new in crate for $600.00way back in 2001. I gave one to Nephew and decided to sell one at the show. A dealer asked me how much in a sneering kind of way and I said $650.00. He said (I am sooo tired of hearing this) "I coulda bought them all day long for $100." I said "Why didn't you?" He came back with "I sold one in better shape than that one for $500.00." Now mine were new in the crate, so any chance of one in better shape was laughable. He was lying of course, another dealer said he hadn't sold a thing all day. I got the $650.00 but I found out later I could have got $800.00. Well that's gun shows! All on all it wasn't bad. I'll go again the Fall. There were a decent number of new and used Rifles and Handguns with a lot of reloaded ammunition that I wouldn't touch id it was free. I may sell of a couple of Sigs as I went on a buying spree of three CZ's and a S&W M&P 2.0 Compact .45. IMG_2141 - Copy.JPG
 
N4KVE said:
I pretty well agree with everything said, but I keep going because I never know what will be out on the tables, & the show is 5 minutes away, & I get in for free. Look what I picked up 6 weeks ago. And since the seller wasn’t a FFL, there was no paperwork. GARY
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Could you tell me the price range on that model you just bought in like condition, I am looking at one to maybe purchase. Thanks.
 
McPherson said:
In Texas, the shows are good. Yes, we have the hand full of dealers that drag out their grossly overpriced museum collections for display with attitudes of caring less if they sell anything…they prefer to sit and socialize with their old timer buddies vs interacting…I generally ignore them…then there are those, as already stated, that have tattered blue books looking to snag a bargain basement deal…. You just have to look between the layers…deals are out there but I find my successes through networking and getting the word out what I am looking for…I am also a seller and fairly successful… I dont hold out for home run deals… I will take a thin deal if needed, earn a customer, make them happy and have fun in doing so. My older boxed SW are priced right and those willing to pay the price understand what they are getting…. So, don’t give up on attending shows, just adjust expectations and target your shopping preferences… ignore the secondary junk tables and have fun! 😁
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I've been going to shows for 50+ years and have learned how the game is played. I don't get upset with their tactics and don't begrudge the dealers making a profit. But to offer stupidly low prices on a quality firearm that you have is aggravating to say the least. Years ago you could dicker with a man and both come away happy with the deal, but not anymore. I just smile, shake my head at them, and walk away when they pull out the book. Even confronted a couple of them on occasion about the book being out of date but that didn't seem to make any impression on them. I usually had the most luck with fellows walking around selling and trading their guns at reasonable prices. But the shows have gotten so lame in my area that I think I'm done with them. I might as well take a $10 bill and light a match to it. Too much of a waste of time and money now.
 
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