Decided to go to the local gun show today. I usually go on Friday night because it's free, but I wanted some moon clips for my 327pc, got there, paid the money only to find out the guy with all the Mags and clips went to a different show. I have a N-frame fetish so I walked around and spotted a 4-screw 4"barreled 38/44 HD, been looking for a shooter so I stopped and looked. It had been refinished in a matte chrome, trigger and hammer too, figured all I wanted was a shooter so I picked it up and checked the tag, figured $799.00 was way too much! bought some Amish pepperjack cheese and came home!

That was a S&W prototype made for the US navy....it was flat nickel and was made to protect the finish while at sea

JK...I have seen some really over priced stuff here in my area too.

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On the Oak Savannah

I hear ya, bro'! It's getting to be that way for me in the VA shows as well. My tastes in guns are at once pretty broad and fairly simple, but a lot of new guns at full retail prices and "black guns" to go with survivalist gee gaws just are not reason enough for me to burn $4.00/gal gas and pay outlandish prices for tickets. As I said last weekend after attending a particularly disappointing auction in the next town over, "That's a half day of my life I'll never get back."

Froggie

Safireman: Figured the Navy would think of that! LOL! I would have bought it for $400.00 that I figured was high! Just cause I wanted to shoot it! But $799! Riduculus!!!!

[QUOTE]yeah, sometimes i have even bought a gun at the jerky and summer sausage shows i attend.

Same story here in the Shenandoah Valley. At today's gun show I looked at a 4-inch Model 19-3 with about 95% finish, no box, papers, or tools, and a price tag of $795!

Still, two bucks for a hot dog wasn't bad...

All day long the radio station I listen too was running ad's for the Grand Rapids gun show and my wife asked why I didn't want to go, I looked at her and said that the fun of going to gun shows was long gone with the prices they charge. Is it just me or does it seem that most of the people there are just tire kickers ?

i go for the old accessories i might see.
the one table dealers are the best bet for good gun deals, but the walk-ins are always the best gun deals.

Buckeye08< man you should have went, that's where the clip and mag guy went, you could have told me weather he had my moon clips or not!

I think there would be fewer "tire kickers" and more buyers if the prices on most items were not insane.

That's a better score than most people find. I have stopped going to gun shows. Too many nice guns sitting in local gun stores. And admission to gun stores is free. Occasionally I want to go looking for small parts or accessories as you did, but I've come home empty handed too many times. Most anything can be found on the internet instead.

Yep. I am unable to understand why someone at a gun show table will expect the same price for an old can of powder of indeterminate age and storage history as you would pay for a new can down at Sportsman's Warehouse.

Having ""been on both sides of the table" recently, I can tell you that if a dealer brings in anything but the same old tired offerings or the overpriced new items that everyone has already seen and rejected, people are indeed willing to spend money. I have gone to the last couple of shows (as a potential customer) with more than the usual amount of ready cash in my wallet, and find it exceptional to have the slightest impulse to purchase the overpriced stuff there.

As a couple of other posters have noted, the odd accessories (reloading items in my case) or parts (less common these days around here) are about all I can get excited about. The last gun I bought was a badly clapped out Bekeart Model that I probably paid too much for, but wanted as a potential project. Even the food at gun shows seems much higher priced and much less tasty... even (or especially?) at the "better" venues! I must be getting old and crotchety! Oh well, another show will come along soon, and there goes all my resolve!

Froggie

Boy! I am sure glad the shows around here aren't like that.
Bob Ray 1815

The Gun Shows around here would have to get better to BE like that...


Lol...

About 50 years ago, the VFW of Hillsville, VA started a gun show in their hall. It was a great gun show for 20 years or so, and the wives and others started having a little flea market in the parking lot after about the first 15 years or so. Now the entire town turns into one big open air sale for almost a whole week around Labor Day. I should have known things had gone to 7734 about 15 years ago when I heard a YUPPIE-ette ask her friend, "Did you know they're having a GUN SHOW here, too?"

Froggie

I'm about ready to make hotel reservations in Indianapolis to attend the March Indy 1500, but now you have me wondering ...

So we're now going to the gun shows for the food and to bring home some cheese. What do you think the government is going to do when they find out that someone is cutting into their cheese franchise.

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Forum consigliere

I am sorry you're paying for a hotel to attend that.

I've been to it three times. Once I left with a pound of hard-to-find powder, the other time I actually found a decent price on a used Glock 26. IMHO it's only worth it if you go in knowing what you are looking for and what you are willing to pay...makes it easier to find something in all the overpriced mishmash.

The last time I had the extra special treat of some idiot adjusting his coat outside the entrance and clattering his concealed revolver onto the concrete at my feet...then another guy getting into an argument with one of the entrance workers about not being able to take his loaded CCW piece inside and being escorted out by police.

shows around here are pretty bad too,big show in louisville this weekend,8.00 to park,12.00 to get in,then have dealers tell me im an idiot and i dont know much about guns,not for me

mbnatt,

There were two gun shows in GR yesterday, one at the deltaplex and one on 28th st. Which one did you go to?

I went to the deltaplex and my son went to 28th st. He didn't buy anything. I did a little swapping and ended up with a couple sweet commercial Mausers, a like-new Mark X '06 and a beautiful custom 7x57. Can't wait to shoot them! I didn't look at pistolas this time 'cause of the hoops I have to jump through to buy them (I don't have a CPL). Another one I drooled upon was a like-new Ruger Magnum rifle in 416 Rigby. I have no good reason to own such a rifle but want one anyway.

The apparent deal of the day was a Winchester 100 in 284 Win with a price of $350! It sounds too good to be true, and was. The barrel was toast and the stock finish completely gone. Not exactly collector grade. The barrel had a dent visible on the outside and inside, like something really heavy was dropped on it, or it was bent bad and straightened leaving a crease.

Buckey08,

We pay to attend our gun shows. With that comes the right to kick tires. I personally don't go just to kick tires, though it often ends up that way.

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Focus on the front

My last gunshow was a good one! Bought a Ruger Blackhawk 30 carbine in box. $360. Walked 3 rows, and a guy wanted to buy it. Told him I just bought it. He wanted it! After dickering, I sold it for $440. The bad thing for me was now I had extra $$$, and no Smith deals to be found. What is a free gunshow anyhow? Costs $5 to get in here, and $4 parking. Bob

I hear you! Gun shows around here (suburb outside Philadelphia) are full of guns at high gunstore prices, even the shooters. Cost $10 to get in the door and line is a mile long to get in. I haven't seen any deals at the last few. I've done better on PA forums. I read the stories here of how guys are finding these great guns at deal prices and know it can't be done around here at a show.

mbnatt, just curious....at that show, lets say you had in your posession that exact same conditioned 38/44 HD. You walk up to that same dealer and offer him the gun. what do you think he would have offered you for it? I suspect a much different deal right?

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God Bless Our Troops.

Went to a show in Tulsa yesterday but the only good deals I saw were on guns that I already had, or didn't really want. Very clean nickel M-13 for $375 (don't care for nickel) and a nice 6" M-19 (with Pachmayrs) also priced at $375 (already have one). I did buy a nice wooden cigar box for a grandson for $5.

The Wanenmacher show is at the end of March, maybe there I can get rid of the money I saved.

Gun shows in MI are really hit and miss, I have made some fantastic finds at prices I thought were at the point of stealing them. Always looking at the walk in's and what they are carrying before they make it to the dealers.

I will say that the last Mason gun show had a ton of older Colts and S&Ws show up, it looked like someone was liquidating a very nice collection and overall, the prices were pretty decent. I went with the specific purpose of buying one Model 18 I had been dickering on for a few shows and ended up buying it when the private seller finally moved on the price.

For $6, it's a heck of a cheap day if you don't have to travel to far. I also know a few dealers who keep their eyes open for certain things I'm looking for, don't mind paying them a few bucks for their help.

Ya know, I was rustling around in my reloading stuff the other day. I found a thousand pack of primers with a $6.99 price tag on them, and a full sleeve of 10,000 with a price of 8.99. Those crooks at the gun show tables are asking over $30. for them now!

I heard a guy at the show yesterday who was looking at a pretty decent looking M10. Nothing real special. But it was priced at $410, no box just the darn gun. The guy said they were only about $250 a while back. The seller didn't blink. He told the guy he should have bought that one. Back when Carter was president.

If you put fuel in the tank to get to the gun show, you didn't pay $1.699 for it. You paid $382.9 (or at least that's what it cost me on Friday.) I remember as a kid when the deposit on pop bottles jumped from $.02 way to $.05. For me, it was a mixed blessing. I sure got a lot more out of the ones I found along the road, but fewer folks were pitching them.

Lots of our posters need a lesson in economics. Prices are rising in fits an starts, but they are going up. Buy the things that haven't jumped yet.

And some posters come into these threads and tell you to sell your precious collection for the prices you think are reasonable. But then our complaining members won't do that. They want to enjoy the increased value of their own guns, but still want to add to the collection buy purchasing at 20 year old prices. And they get upset when its not happening.

Times are getting harder. If you want another gun, go buy it at the LGS. Except he doesn't have more than a few worn and battered old S&Ws, maybe a Colt, and a few Tauri. He's got some semi-autos. With names we can't pronounce and in calibers that we've never heard of.

I was lucky yesterday. Both of my sons came along. And they each were burdened down with their own stuff, not my purchases for a change. And I have no doubt the junk they bought was cheaper and probably unavailable around home. They're happy, I'm happy, and we had a very good day. We saw a lot of friends, and we even saw a bunch of pretty rare guns. Most probably priced fairly at today's levels. Some pretty cheap. Read Charlie's comments in his gun show post. His son did pretty well judging by the smile on his face. Scored some pretty rare ammo, I think he said French .30 Carbine in small boxes. To me it held no value, but he seems to think he can double or triple his money. The things I think are junk, others love.

I'm getting the idea that the complainers don't really know what they're looking at and conclude its trash at high prices.

I only bought one gun, but I was loaded up with cash to buy a few special things, then got cold feet and didn't. And I didn't buy any beef jerky. I did blow $20 on lunch, but it fed me and both my sons.

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Dick Burg

Frankly, I'm getting tired of those who seem to think its OK to overprice shooter-grade guns. The usual long, drawn-out lectures on economics, rising prices and so-forth.
A refinished old gun is pretty much a shooter or a parts gun, in most cases, and should be priced accordingly. When a seller wants way too much for such a gun, sure, he has the right to ask it but the rest of us have a right to make fun of him for it. I'm not talking about the guy who is asking $300 for his refinished and modified HD when its worth $275, but the guy who is asking $800! Its now just a big 38, for pete's sake!
We pay $10 plus parking fees to get into a gun show so we can find a good deal or two...or maybe find something just downright special or needed. If I want to pay full retail for something then my LGS will oblige... and let me in for free. I'm still enjoying the shows in SC, but I know fellow enthuiasts in other states that are sick of the whole gunshow deal.

Probably $200 or less! LOL

[QUOTE=Big Redhead;136370503]mbnatt,

There were two gun shows in GR yesterday, one at the deltaplex and one on 28th st. Which one did you go to?

Neither went the one in Taylor, Gilbralter Trade Center

The idea I get from above is that gun show attendees are disappointed when they spend a lot of money on gas to get to the show, maybe shell out a bunch of money to park, pay a high entry fee, in the process using up a good portion of a precious day off, only to find 800 dollar run of the mill 19's, 800 dollar refinished HD's, flea market stuff, etc. It could be they don't know anything, or it could be they've seen a general deterioration in the quality of gun shows and are commenting on it here.

+1! As I said, I've worked both sides of the table recently. Dealers (or at least casual sellers) with quality merchandise priced fairly will probably have buyers, driving a long distance and paying what I used to pay for a table just to get in, then to see the same new items at MSRP, badly flogged beaters priced as high grade collectibles, and the rest of the tables filled with survival food and jewelry is a little annoying. JMHO, YMMV!

Green Frog

I've grown tired of walking past tables full of $1000 Garands that look like they were re-imported after 65 years buried in the Ardenne. Same for the $500 Model 10's that were apparently dragged behind patrol vehicles rather than carried in holsters while on duty.

Just because something is old (relatively speaking) or no longer in production does not mean it is automatically worth a ton of dollars, regardless of condition. Even in this day of the rapidly declining US currency.

That is the gun show scene in my part of PA and that is why I no longer waste my time.

Must be from SE PA like me! I've stopped going as well for now.

We still have good shows here. I don't even stop at the tables with a lot of new stuff. I think the comment about single table guys who have looked around for good deals and are following their hobby is true. I posted on the Fairbanks show yesterday. I could have spent $2500 and been quite happy. The Palmer show is coming up and people will drive 350 miles one way and get a hotel room and still be happy with what they find there. The worst shows were two years ago when there was an ammo panic which seemed to spread but that cleared up and I enjoy ours again.

Kalamazoo, MI is having one in March. I was thinking of going but after reading here I'm not so sure if I still want to. I've never been to one though. I thought I would look for a S&W M&P in .22. I like the way it "fits" my hand!

If it's not too far away, go! You never know!

Kalamazoo is only 30 minutes away and its only $6.00 to get in so maybe I will go if for no other reason than to say I've been.

Well, I am just back from the Washington Arms Collectors show in Puyallup. I had tables and did well with my mostly old S&W's. It was very crowded on Sat so that the crowd could hardly move, finally thinned out late in the day. I came home with a couple of "Treasures" for my personal stash, a model 13 with 3" bbl shooter grade and a 3rd model Russian for the collection. It was a tiring weekend for us but well worth it. We drive two hours there and stay in a motel this time of the year. Have been doing shows for about 25 years and they have changed not always for the better but still interesting. I also hit a few of the small shows around western Washington and seldom come away dissapointed.I find that I can ignore the irrelevant and overpriced stuff and enjoy the rest. Finding a Treasure, such as the Russian mentioned above, can make up for a lot.
So if you spot an old grey beard guy with glasses in bib overalls at the show introduce yourself and say hi it might well be me. I usually have a thermos of coffee, bring your own cup.
Bob Ray 1815

Wife and I "wasted" $14.00 & time attending the show at the Armory in Columbia today. Took all of 20 min. to cover it and half was flea market junk. Most pistola dealers only carry tupperware and pocket pistols anymore. Slim pickins for an old Smith guy like me.

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S&W Accumulator

rburg - you got it right.
I go to shows for entertainment as well as deals on guns. I try not to laugh at the outragious prices some want and expert advice I get without even asking. But it's all part of the fun. I've sold off a good number lately and usually got less than I wanted, but I could have walked. I bought a few and paid more than I really wanted for a couple of them, but I could have walked. Around here entrance isn't much and parking is usually free so why not make a day of it. Wish I had a son or two to share it with. Mine are far away and don't care. So - enjoy it while you can. Some day you won't be able to and that might be sooner than we like...

In Michigan, a change of pace is the Michigan Antique Arms Show in Novi, four times a year. Not a lot of polymer or stainless, and they try to keep guns 25 years old and older. Different group of sellers than the Doug Carl and Gibralter shows. Purchase an annual membership for $20 and save the $5 parking and $6 admission fee, for each show. Prices 'seemed' a little high in February, but there were many nice Smiths in attendance. My only purchases were the new Smith N-Frame book ($70 retail on web site. I purchased for $56), and a model 38 box with tools and papers for $10. I have not attended a Gibralter show in several years, but attend 6-8 Doug Carl shows a year. I have found 'deals' at both shows, so the journey continues. Good luck!

Recently, I went to "The Nations Gun Show" near Dulles airport in Virginia. There are 1000+ tables and they are always sold out. This time it was mobbed. One could barely get down the aisles and it was hard to even see what was on the tables. I picked up a handle for my AR that was consistenly priced among the various dealers. When I got home, I found out that I could have bought the same thing for half as much on the internet. It seems to me that gun show prices are higher than the internet and over the internet I can get some of the same items shipped to my door.

I did pick up some great .308 ammo that turned out to be match quality as the dealer stated and I didn't have to pay Hazmat fees.

There are rarely any collectible handguns. If there are they will be priced at the going rate based upon internet prices.

I have found some great guns on internet auction sites. I am almost always happy with what I buy.

There are still individuals that put their guns on the internet and may not have them overpriced or even realize what they are selling. The dealers almost always know and price their stuff accordingly.

Just my opinion.

Yeah Shows can be hit or miss. And it seems we can all mention the same deficiencies or annoyances...but they are one of your BETTER opportunities to find the toys we are looking for. End of story.

Ya gotta play in the game to score.

FN in MT

We had a show in town and I just skipped it. I usually go with my dad, but he was out of town so I saved the $7.00 and I'll use it to order a holster I've been looking at. As others have said, the deals are just few and far between at shows lately. I do like to get to handle guns at the shows, but if the prices are too high I just order on-line.

Hello
R.Burg pretty well hit the Nail on the head. The gun show promoter is the one making all the money these day's it seems as the last local show here in Knoxville had Over 4500 through the door. He has raised his door price to $10.00 a head and many that attend do not have Two Nickels to rub together to begin with so in my mind it is a cheap way to spend their day walking around leaving Greasy Popcorn salted finger print's on your blued and nickel gun's as they tell you their Papaw has one just like that or seeking information on a gun you have for sale to only tell you that they have one just like it home and wondered what it is worth. Most that approach a Gun vendors table do not even bother to ask whether or not they can handle a gun, they most of them must feel that they paid the price of admission, and that alone allows them to freely Maul your gun's as though they were theirs. As Far as Vendor's buying gun's they have to give what seller's want and most are Internet educated as they price their gun's telling you that they saw one on Gunbroker.com go for Much more. For the vendor's it seems we always want that special gun to walk up to our Tables so we can have a chance to buy it, Yet Many never make the floor as Trader's outside do business without Paying the door charge, and leave the show as soon as their guns are sold Privately, so vendor's loose out on seeing them as well as the promoter that has rented the ground they sell their ware's on so openly.


Many Gun shows are flooded now with Flea Market stuff as the smaller trader type gun guys are scared to attend shows due to the Noise generated by Bloomburg and his anti gun Pals. Then you have those willing to Part with their $10.00 door charge, Only to steal your guns off your Table as their Buddies distract your attention, opening the door to Theft. There are More & More guns being stolen these days at gun shows and all this does is put the guns in hands of those that cannot buy one legally, and that raises more issues for the media, and cost's the vendor the loss of a good expensive gun. I fear not to off in the future due to the changing times and what the general public has caused gun shows will be non existent.... The complex's that are leased to run these gun show event's are not cheap either. It Takes a lot of money to run a heated or Air-conditioned gun show as well as the power for light's and workers to keep it clean. I have Often wondered while visiting the bathroom if these people live like that in their home setting. So, The next time one whines on what they were charged to attend a gun show or what the vendors have their prices set at keep in mind that the general public set's the pace and price of such things and as a vendor goes they pay much more to be there then the door charge to only get their guns handled, asked about and tire Kicked to death, and Prices challenged to only see the one asking for that special lower price to walk off yet the Vendor's are expected to be cheerful about it and meet the general public with open arms, and Prices from 20 Years ago.....

Excellent post Hammerdown Should be a sticky

I guess there is a misconception here. The problem comes from the promoter taking his $10 or $12 to allow you inside. But the guns you want to kick aren't his guns. They belong to the vendors inside, and they already pay $100 per table for their admission. So they take issue with anyone having purchased the "right" to kick their tires. If you notice, most are pretty gracious and allow all manner of people to handle their guns, but its only done to induce the others to buy the guns, not because they feel warm and fuzzy about it.

I'm thinking the conflict and the bad feeling sometimes come from the gunshow customers feeling they have a right to handle other peoples guns. Maybe we'd be a lot better off if the customers understood the other side of the table. I'm pretty certain the vendors have all been on the outside of tables many times. From the way some customers act, its pretty apparent they have never paid for a table so a bunch of yokels can mistreat their guns.

If you've ever watched a guy come up, pick up your gun and then drop it from a few inches, you'd understand why so many guns are in such bad condition. Why any promoter would allow a food vendor to sell popcorn is just beyond me. Yet there is the disconnect between what is good for the promoter, customer, and vendors.

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Dick Burg

"Why any promoter would allow a food vendor to sell popcorn is just beyond me."
Burg

CanIseeYerGunMister... ?



Gun shows are for the unwashed masses!

GF

Boys, I really like Hammerdowns assesment of the whole situation. Let me throw this out to those of you who are trashing the gunshows. Are you going to miss them much if the government shuts them down, makes them no longer legal. Don't get me wrong our area shows are not what they used to be either. But, you have a choice to go or not. Nobody is making you pay inflated prices, or making you do anything. Just don't go if it makes you that unhappy.

Just my 2 cents.

regards

Bill