Yesterday my wife, who hasn't been to a gunshow in maybe 15 years, decided to take the ride down to Lakeland for the small but still excellent "Tri annual LRPC gunshow." Doc has the COVID so I appreciated the company. Since the tables are re-oriented 90* with a large central aisle it's much easier to get around. Ran into a guy I've known for maybe 25 years, noticed he had lost over 100lbs and mentioned this. He said: "Cancer will do that to ya." Awkward.
Several reasons this show is still great:
1) "Private Sales" are OK. Tables had signs to this effect, walk-ins toting guns to sell/trade. I saw exactly 1 person filling out a 4473.
2) If'n you are "flush$$" you could put together an excellent collection of S&W pre-82 revolvers, or P08 Lugers, or Broomhandles, or P38's both Nazi and commercial, or Jap Nambu's, or Parker doubles, or Browning O/U's, or Model 12 Winchesters.......
3) Outside of knives there was no "non-gun" tables evident. Nobody wanted to clean my glasses or build a "hidey closet" in my house.
4) Everybody on both sides of the tables had great attitudes and were very courteous to my wife.
Prices: For the most part, unmarked." Nothing special 80% Model 15-3 $995. Nice 2" Model 34-1 with box $1400. Model 18-3, beautiful $1500. Very nice 4" 10-6 HB's $900. Model 14-3 6" $1300. It's exhausting first getting attention to ask about an item, then breathing normally after getting the "special gunshow price." I gave up on trying when I saw the 3" Model 66-2, I guarantee my "cash wad" wouldn't cover half it. I would think at the average age in the room they have already put children and grandchildren through college.
One priceless moment: After a couple hours of listening to my explanations of the "P08 toggle mechanism, the inferiority of the Japanese Nambu and the genius of John M. Browning" my wife had the glaze on her face. I said: "Informtion overload?" She said "I'm just thinking back to our 1st dates, just like this." I love this girl. Joe
Several reasons this show is still great:
1) "Private Sales" are OK. Tables had signs to this effect, walk-ins toting guns to sell/trade. I saw exactly 1 person filling out a 4473.
2) If'n you are "flush$$" you could put together an excellent collection of S&W pre-82 revolvers, or P08 Lugers, or Broomhandles, or P38's both Nazi and commercial, or Jap Nambu's, or Parker doubles, or Browning O/U's, or Model 12 Winchesters.......
3) Outside of knives there was no "non-gun" tables evident. Nobody wanted to clean my glasses or build a "hidey closet" in my house.
4) Everybody on both sides of the tables had great attitudes and were very courteous to my wife.
Prices: For the most part, unmarked." Nothing special 80% Model 15-3 $995. Nice 2" Model 34-1 with box $1400. Model 18-3, beautiful $1500. Very nice 4" 10-6 HB's $900. Model 14-3 6" $1300. It's exhausting first getting attention to ask about an item, then breathing normally after getting the "special gunshow price." I gave up on trying when I saw the 3" Model 66-2, I guarantee my "cash wad" wouldn't cover half it. I would think at the average age in the room they have already put children and grandchildren through college.
One priceless moment: After a couple hours of listening to my explanations of the "P08 toggle mechanism, the inferiority of the Japanese Nambu and the genius of John M. Browning" my wife had the glaze on her face. I said: "Informtion overload?" She said "I'm just thinking back to our 1st dates, just like this." I love this girl. Joe
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