Billings MT Gun Show

[Bat Guano]

Went up with a couple of crates of books & misc, plus a gun to put on the table in an effort to thin things out a little. Had things priced to move but not much action and a thin crowd for a Saturday. Did manage to sell an Olympic Arms retro-Wolverine that was a bit of a lemon--never could get it to feed a full magazine no matter what I tried in it, so after about four years of putzing around it needed to go. I told the buyer all the negatives about it and he still wanted it, so he went away happy and my conscience was clear. Makes for a bit more room in the safe. Too bad as I liked the gun--when it worked.

Some decent S&Ws there but prices seemed high to me considering the economy. I keep telling myself that there is a lessening in demand but it doesn't seem to be affecting prices. Did see a tempting nickelled M34 2" for $590, and a nice 24-3 for $695. The only thing I would call a real bargain was a rather nice DAO M15 of J&G provenance for $250. However I recently picked up a police trade-in M19 for the same price that I also don't need very much. Good prices on primers but when I went to get my 5K of small pistols they were sold out. He who hesitates...

When I got home I popped the safe and spent a couple of minutes just appreciating what's already in there, paid for, and making memories.

Now if I could just forget what was available a few decades back and the prices of those days, I would be ok.

 

[banjo201]

Do they still have the Billings Gun Show at the Holiday Inn Convention Center off of King Ave?

 

[Frank237]

It's sad how the Montana Shows have degraded. Ever make the OLD Kalispell Gun show...at the Outlaw Inn?? Those were the Days! Nothing to see Elmer Keith in attendence or Jack O Connor a time or two.

Do You go to the Missoula U of M Show? Or the Bozeman Fairgrounds Shows?? They seem to be about the best MT Shows anymore.

FN in MT

 

[Bat Guano]

The Billings one is still at the Holiday Inn as a rule; occasionally at the Metra Park.

Went to Missoula last year but thought that was kind of lackluster as well. Hit Bozeman before that and that was better.

I was amazed at how thin the crowd was for a Saturday; also how few "younger" people I saw there. All I know is that for a buy-and-sell affair it sure was dead.

 

[Frank237]

BG,

It's a shame how some of the MT shows have degraded. Helena used to have a nice show...now it's at the dirty/dark fairgrounds, with half the tables full of "Crafts" and jerky.

I still try to hit the Missoula Shows and Bozeman. Several years back a few of us took a gamble and drove down to Reno for the Big Reno Show in April. Have been going down each April ever since. We seem to find quite a few Smiths and Colts each trip down. Far more to look at, and quite a few guns being brought IN by attendees.

The Shows have surely changed with the passage of time. Nationally they will probably be a thing of the past within 20 years.

FN in MT

 

[bobcat]

I haven't been to a MT show in years, last time I went to Great Falls, it looked like a flea market with very few guns thrown in, and most of them over priced. Just can't justify driving from where I'm at anymore to attend the shows.

It would be nice to meet a few of the Montana forum members however, we'll even include Bat, Wyoming is close enough.

Take care...