Current Gun Shows - Your Experience?

[Old Corp]

For most of my life I was in attendance at shows held in Raleigh, NC at the state fairgrounds. For a time, I even helped one of the vendors that owned a great LGS a few counties South - friends and I would help unload stock on a Friday afternoon, some help work the booth with sales, answering questions, etc. He, in turn would always remember us if we needed something and usually get it to us for cost.

I've since moved away, to the coast. Now located more or less between two military base communities and in an area with much lower average income.
The shows here are pretty bad. Lots of Chineez cutlery, gourmet peanuts, jewelry, black Mossbergs, Tauri, SCCY and of course Glocks.

Something with the combination of Walnut and blued steel is usually priced like it is upper end Rock Island Auction stuff.

I miss the shows I used to know.

 

[ricketts]

I always cringe when I see threads like this.

Lots of plastic guns. No quality vendors. Only thing I see selling there is stuff I don't want.

Sigh.

Change the world. GO SET UP. We all have things we don't need, use or want. Got a partial box of ammo for a gun you no longer have? Goes to the show. Same thing with guns I couldn't live without. But now I can. Off they go.

You WILL learn a lot. You will learn why some dealers are like they are. If you find out that you are 'one of those guys'. you learned something. Bring stuff you like. Others will like them. Maybe you will hook someone into a new interest.

I work Tulsa 2x a year. I do some local shows and out of state shows, showing my new presentation case liners. Which, I picked up the thought of producing them when I was discussing a model 27 5" with a destroyed liner set. The dealer told me if someone would make them, there is a market! And lots of my customers are now 'friends'.

Quit *****ing and try it out. Might not work out, but I guarantee you will learn something.

One more thing--I ALWAYS find something I can do something with at a show. My rule is to NOT look for one thing. I look at everything. Guns, parts, vintage ammo. I bought a top charging AR because it was cool, right price and was something I stumbled on at a table lots of you won't look at. One more example--I went to the Small Arms Review show in Phoenix. I buy odd stuff. When I was walking through the 6 buildings in the normal show, I was getting a bit down. I bought stuff, but not a 2000 mile ride worth. I went to the last building where all the machine guns and AW's were. What odds will they be of me finding stuff I sell in this building: It's all machine guns and assault weapons, right? I got three rows in and found a guy selling that kind of stuff, but he had about 6 bullet molds and a Star reloading press on the corner of the table. Turns out he had over 100 molds, 2 Star's in addition to what was out and a mess of little stuff underneath--including a small cigar box full of receiver sights. That table--I bought everything reloading related and the stuff for a really fair price and paid for my trip.

You won't know until you go.

 

[AJ]

For most of my life I was in attendance at shows held in Raleigh, NC at the state fairgrounds. For a time, I even helped one of the vendors that owned a great LGS a few counties South - friends and I would help unload stock on a Friday afternoon, some help work the booth with sales, answering questions, etc. He, in turn would always remember us if we needed something and usually get it to us for cost.

I've since moved away, to the coast. Now located more or less between two military base communities and in an area with much lower average income.
The shows here are pretty bad. Lots of Chineez cutlery, gourmet peanuts, jewelry, black Mossbergs, Tauri, SCCY and of course Glocks.

Something with the combination of Walnut and blued steel is usually priced like it is upper end Rock Island Auction stuff.

I miss the shows I used to know.

Swansboro or Maysville?

 

[Old Corp]

Swansboro or Maysville?

No sir. East of Beaufort. Area shows are a couple of times a year at Craven Co. Fairgrounds, East of New Bern and occasionally a small show just outside of Beaufort at a Shriners Club building. The smaller one is actually a better show - just cramped.

 

[AJ]

No sir. East of Beaufort. Area shows are a couple of times a year at Craven Co. Fairgrounds, East of New Bern and occasionally a small show just outside of Beaufort at a Shriners Club building. The smaller one is actually a better show - just cramped.

Spent almost 20 years going in and out of MCAS Cherry Point. Started in 1970 and ended in 1991. Never went to a gun show the whole time I was there. Found enough firearms to buy in the local shops and my fellow Marines.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Here in Florida, gun shows are still alive and well and usually have pretty good attendance. The weekend venues are typically the same from month-to-month...fairgrounds, auditoriums, convention centers, armories, and occasionally hotels. However, some of the best shows are the collectors shows that are hosted by rifle and pistol clubs (e.g. Lakeland RPC) usually 3 times a year. The local shows are just OK mainly because of the issues that many have already stated (jerky, jewelry, crappy knives, hats, etc.). Although I typically attend a gun show with a particular firearm or accessory in mind (my gun fund is limited), I do try to keep my eyes open for other things. Even taking my time, I usually make my first pass around a gun show in about an hour because most of the tables don't interest me and I quickly walk past. I agree that if we do not attend gun shows and dealers quit showing up, the shows will disappear (like brick and mortar stores).

 

[Model19man]

Here in Tulsa and surrounding area there is about one gun show a month, and I go to most of them. Admission is around $12-14, free parking. Most are small, maybe 100-200 tables and it takes me 30-45 minutes to see everything I might be interested in. Sometimes I might find some ammo or primers or something, but rarely any guns that I would buy.

These days nearly everything falls into one of three categories:

1. Not interested in it. It doesn't take long to skip over tables full of Glocks and ARs and such.

2. I already have it. After buying guns for 45+ years, mostly if I want it I've gotten it.

3. I can't afford it. Self-explanatory.

Then there's the rarely seen category of:

4. I didn't know I needed it until I saw it. Once in a while you just come across something and say, "I'll take it! What is it, and how much?"

Twice a year in November and April are the Wanenmacher shows, 5000 tables or so in one 11-acre building. I can get through it in one day but like to go for two days, just to see what I might have missed, or shown up that wasn't there before. I usually find something to buy at these shows.

The last time I bought a gun at a not-Wanenmacher show was January, 2021. But ya never know, so I keep going....

The Tulsa I live in has something like three gun shows a month (Within 15 miles or so). Typically I will go to one. I agree that most of them I do not find anything to buy but they are still interesting. Enough so that I keep going! Maybe once a year I find something to buy.

 

[TXBryan]

Most, if not all, gun shows in the greater Austin area are sadly nonexistent anymore. If they haven't been locally legislated away the local venue owners/operators/sponsors are pressured so they do not host or rent space to gun shows.

Fortunately there is still one within easy driving distance that endures in a nearby smallish city at the 4H barn at their county fairgrounds. It's only once a year and it's small but generally has very interesting firearms and firearms-related items. It's essentially old codgers (like me) liquidating their collections and that makes the merchandise quite precious most of the time. If you like old, wood, blued steel, and "they ain't makin' those no more" firearms it's a can't miss occasion.

Bryan

 

[Curt Fesler]

Here in the Ozarks of Arkansas most of us consider gun shows as a Den of Thieves. Prices are out of sight placed there in hopes some dumb *** will buy it for full price. The days of finding parts are almost gone. I don't mind the junk being sold at the shows because I can just walk on by. They could move the non gun items to one end of the show. I have not bought anything at a gun show in ten years and in the old days I couldn't walk out without something.

 

[Goony]

...The days of finding parts are almost gone....

Good point. Once upon a time, there would always be tables where there was nothing but parts, Back then, I might buy an incomplete gun knowing I'd have a good chance of finding what I needed to make it right at the next show. No more, although you can at present sometimes score what you're looking for online - but too often at an exorbitant price! Also, nowadays there seem to be less gun show vendors specializing in grips.

 

[bananaman]

I really don't expect to find ANYTHING, but when I do it's usually accessories. Had some good finds that way. NOBODY has jerky any more!
Going to shows has always been interesting. Picked up many a gun over the years. Nothing in the last 5. Bob

 

[squidsix]

It appears to me that some of the guys spend the money on a table, tell their wife "I am gonna try and sell some guns" and then price them WAY above reasonable. This way they can hang out at the gun show, and tell their wife "I TRIED to sell them, but nobody is buying".
Correct, nobody is buying your .40 cal Glock for $700.
Nobody is gonna give you $2500 for your dark bore enfield. "Its a rare antique".
I had no idea so many people sold jerky. I had no idea so many people sold knives. I had no idea so many people sold magpul at prices above the local Cabela's.
So....
Not going to any more "gun" shows.

 

[Old Corp]

One aspect I could never quite figure out and in at least my history of gun shows - the WWII Nazi stuff preceded the onslaught of swords and jerky.
In the area I lived - there were 'Militaria Shows' for those interested, but why have a 2-3 large booths set up at gun shows for that stuff?

Last big one I attended had none of that - but a new player was on the floor - a seller of Fedoras. Yes, hats. KInda weird, but hey, if it's your thing.......

 

[max503]

Guns shows used to be my most favorite thing. Used to be we could do FTF buy/sell on the spot but we can't anymore. I haven't been to one in a while.

 

[turnerriver]

I’m packed up and on the way to the Lakeland Rifle and Pistol Club show, a still great collector’s show. I went to the first LRPC show in 1968 and have been going whenever I can ever since.
Regards,

 

[Greyman50]

Having been a collector and dealer in US Militaria for over 50 years gun shows Used to be good venue. Knew just about all the dealers and usually came home with a new S&W as well as buying and selling militaria. Good times back then.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

May just go to the Lebanon show this weekend. Last time it was a bust, with only the entrance area and one half filled larger room. Usually there were two big rooms and the entrance foyer. We will see.

John

 

[44wheelman]

At one time, I went to at least 2 gun shows a month. Even multiple in a weekend. Now….maybe 4 a year.

The small fun “swap meets” style shows are long gone. Seems everyone looks at gunbroker before determining their prices now. I also see pricing at shows higher than gun shops I visit. Anything unique or interesting is priced beyond reason.

In the last 4 years I have bought 1 gun at a gun show.

Most all of the small gun shops and kitchen table FFL holders I knew have folded up. The last remaining guy I used for transfers just moved south for work.

 

[Bald1]

Went to a small local show at a fire hall this morning. Saw a 10-7 in VGC for $650 and a 4” 686 plus with some warts for $950. Only thing that interested me was an old Mossberg bolt action 12ga. It had the mag which is sometimes missing. I think they are neat and this one was $75. I was absolutely going to buy it. I had tag in my hand and vendor picks up gun and says it’s sold. Damn!!!!! Had I not spent 15 min shooting the beeeze with an old co worker I’d have got it.

 

[Yaworski]

I realize nobody goes to the trouble and expense to set up at a gun show in order to give me or you a "good deal", but that's fine with me.

When I did the gun show circuit I set up to sell things, consequently my prices were set to get things to move. I greeted every customer, flirted with wives, and talked about my products. Always left with more money than I came with.