SASABERANGER
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
To say that Saturday was "Wild and Crazy" would be an understatement. Saturday paid attendance was 1014, and no official count from Sunday.
In a place just slightly larger than an outhouse they got about 100 tables set up. We used the indoor range with barriers removed and the meeting room.
The Fire Marshall had been in on Friday and gave them an estimated occupancy max. And thankfully the guiys counted heads and kept things under control. We opened at 8AM and had a brisk group show up. But at 9AM it was bedlam. Most folks thought we started at 9 and were late arriving. By 9:05 you could not move in there.
Fewer guns were available this year than in the past, but lots more mags, ammo and parts. The crowd continued until noon, then thinned out. Sales were wild until noon and then slowed dramatically. But by the time the crowd went home for lunch there was not much left.
I started with eight guns and a bunch of odds and ends and by the end of the day there was half a table that was empty. Sold thre guns outright. Bought two Charles Daly 1911s for cash on Saturday and an engraved first model Detective Special on Sunday. TRaded one of the Charles Dalys and some cash for a Argentine Systems 27 1911A1 in ver nice not refinished shape. Then pretty much twiddled my thumbs for the rest of Saturday until closing. Had more sales, but mostly used mags and odds and ends.
Sunday started at 9AM and was mostly tire kickers who don't get paid until this weekend. But did some more odds and ends and then Debbie's rugs and cases started to sell. All day Saturday she sold one 1911 rug and one .380. On sunday she emptied a 36 gallon and a 18 gallon Rubbermade tote of pistol rugs and rifle cases.
Then one of my buddys took in some trading stock and brought me a older S&W to put on my table as I had the room. Got to looking at it and discovered that it was a Transitional HD S/N #66K range.
The more I looked at it the more the wheels turned. So, shortly after buying the engraved Colt I grabbed a custom built 9MM 1911A1 Commander STI from the IB Sandy collection and marched over to my buddy's table. After much haggling I got the HD and $100. But I still have to do the leg work on selling the STI.
While I was in the process of taking the cash to where I had gotten the engraved Colt I did a quick sweep for leather and S&W or Colt grips...none to be had of any description. And when I got back to my table the engraved Colt was MIA. My buddy at the next table grabbed it as soon as I left to pay for it and decided that he wanted to give it to his bride and would not return it to me.
The end result was $200 cash in my pocket and a seconf issue Colt Agent for my table att this weekend' show.
I already know what is going through everybody's mind..."Where are the pictures? " If I knew how to do that the pictures would have been posted and then the narrative would have come next. I am barely able to get them to attach to an email let alone jump through the hoops to get them on the forum.
So, after all of the dust settled and Iggy showed up to help us pack out we sat down and took a breather.
End result was a bank bag full of cash, way more than I took, a half
empty table for me and about the same for wifer Debbie, three guns I didn't take with me and two great pieces that I have been looking for.
Now For My Tale Of Woe...except for a couple of high dollar guns, one well used Charles Daly, a bunch of holster and some grips I don't have much to put out at the show this weekend or next. don't you just feel sorry for me.
From what I have seen and heard of the shows since things went south medium priced hand guns ( new and used auto and revolver), magazines and ammo is what is selling.
Very few pieces coming through the door for sale or trade. Folks are hanging on to what the have and looking for more.
Walmat in Cheyenne is rationing .22 ammo sales, but Sheels in Sheridan has all of the ammo you want or need. But very few folks live up there. Most of the stores I have seen with any kind of guns or ammo are just about out and the FFl that frequent the shows can't get replacements for what they have sold and a re bowing out of show for the time being.
Currently waiting for the shipping date on the HD from Mr.Roy.
My butt is still dragging and I have had two days to recover.
Great show, great people and some really great guns.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
In a place just slightly larger than an outhouse they got about 100 tables set up. We used the indoor range with barriers removed and the meeting room.
The Fire Marshall had been in on Friday and gave them an estimated occupancy max. And thankfully the guiys counted heads and kept things under control. We opened at 8AM and had a brisk group show up. But at 9AM it was bedlam. Most folks thought we started at 9 and were late arriving. By 9:05 you could not move in there.
Fewer guns were available this year than in the past, but lots more mags, ammo and parts. The crowd continued until noon, then thinned out. Sales were wild until noon and then slowed dramatically. But by the time the crowd went home for lunch there was not much left.
I started with eight guns and a bunch of odds and ends and by the end of the day there was half a table that was empty. Sold thre guns outright. Bought two Charles Daly 1911s for cash on Saturday and an engraved first model Detective Special on Sunday. TRaded one of the Charles Dalys and some cash for a Argentine Systems 27 1911A1 in ver nice not refinished shape. Then pretty much twiddled my thumbs for the rest of Saturday until closing. Had more sales, but mostly used mags and odds and ends.
Sunday started at 9AM and was mostly tire kickers who don't get paid until this weekend. But did some more odds and ends and then Debbie's rugs and cases started to sell. All day Saturday she sold one 1911 rug and one .380. On sunday she emptied a 36 gallon and a 18 gallon Rubbermade tote of pistol rugs and rifle cases.
Then one of my buddys took in some trading stock and brought me a older S&W to put on my table as I had the room. Got to looking at it and discovered that it was a Transitional HD S/N #66K range.
The more I looked at it the more the wheels turned. So, shortly after buying the engraved Colt I grabbed a custom built 9MM 1911A1 Commander STI from the IB Sandy collection and marched over to my buddy's table. After much haggling I got the HD and $100. But I still have to do the leg work on selling the STI.
While I was in the process of taking the cash to where I had gotten the engraved Colt I did a quick sweep for leather and S&W or Colt grips...none to be had of any description. And when I got back to my table the engraved Colt was MIA. My buddy at the next table grabbed it as soon as I left to pay for it and decided that he wanted to give it to his bride and would not return it to me.
The end result was $200 cash in my pocket and a seconf issue Colt Agent for my table att this weekend' show.
I already know what is going through everybody's mind..."Where are the pictures? " If I knew how to do that the pictures would have been posted and then the narrative would have come next. I am barely able to get them to attach to an email let alone jump through the hoops to get them on the forum.
So, after all of the dust settled and Iggy showed up to help us pack out we sat down and took a breather.
End result was a bank bag full of cash, way more than I took, a half
empty table for me and about the same for wifer Debbie, three guns I didn't take with me and two great pieces that I have been looking for.
Now For My Tale Of Woe...except for a couple of high dollar guns, one well used Charles Daly, a bunch of holster and some grips I don't have much to put out at the show this weekend or next. don't you just feel sorry for me.
From what I have seen and heard of the shows since things went south medium priced hand guns ( new and used auto and revolver), magazines and ammo is what is selling.
Very few pieces coming through the door for sale or trade. Folks are hanging on to what the have and looking for more.
Walmat in Cheyenne is rationing .22 ammo sales, but Sheels in Sheridan has all of the ammo you want or need. But very few folks live up there. Most of the stores I have seen with any kind of guns or ammo are just about out and the FFl that frequent the shows can't get replacements for what they have sold and a re bowing out of show for the time being.
Currently waiting for the shipping date on the HD from Mr.Roy.
My butt is still dragging and I have had two days to recover.
Great show, great people and some really great guns.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
