First of 2025 Lakeland Gunshow Report

[pharmer]

Wow, I haven't seen a line to get in in years. Wall to wall folks and at least every other person was toting something to sell, including me selling and Doc along for the day. Some prices were almost reasonable, the rest not. S&W 19-3 or 19-4 4" and 6" were $1,000-$1,300. "Collectible" guns were almost $2K including a 1917 commercial .45, a "one line" .22 masterpiece 6" and a few I don't recollect. A nice 2" M&P was $575 which wasn't bad in the nice condition it was. There was a 2" Model 34 (maybe a kit gun, I didn't check) for $675. Diamond grips so who knows.

There were the usual milsurps at unbelievable prices, too many to remember or list. Mausers that lost WWII and 03A3/ garands that won it were up there.
No prices on Lugers, P38's and smaller caliber pistols but since I'm not only not interested but selling I just passed by, enjoying the "oooh's and aaah's.

Speaking of selling, I'm down 3 more S&W revolvers. I told Doc on the drive down "I'll be happy to sell all 3 for $2,000 in a package deal." That didn't happen but I wound up with $100 more selling individually. The extra half hour work paid off.

We did see quite a few folks walking back to their vehicles with their sale items, the flag/sale sign still sticking out the barrel. If'n you go with "rock bottom" prices you too can carry them back to the house. I would have liked to have gotten more for my guns but this way I sold them for what I paid Joe

 

[LVSteve]

My most recent gun show was the same except there were no reasonable prices on anything.

 

[jimmyj]

Some "Dealers" don't want to sell their firearms but just take them out for an "Airing".

 

[pharmer]

Some "Dealers" don't want to sell their firearms but just take them out for an "Airing".

Funny how that works. 1st couple passes and maybe 2 dozen tableholders said: "I gotta sell something before I can buy your gun(s)." I drop the price $100-$200 and suddenly a pile of Benjamins appears. Joe

 

[charlie sherrill]

I picked up a real nice 4" pre 34 at an antique bottle show yesterday for $600.00. A little more than I wanted to pay, but I didn't have one. I would guess 95%+ and all the numbers matched, including the diamond round butt grips. It has the flat cylinder release.

 

[AJ]

A friend has a table at Lakeland for every show. Has gotten to be to long of a drive at 2 1/2 hours each way to get there. Besides we had a nice show here this weekend (about 200 dealers) and it is about 4 miles from my house.

 

[boykinlp]

Wow, I haven't seen a line to get in in years. Wall to wall folks and at least every other person was toting something to sell, including me selling and Doc along for the day. Some prices were almost reasonable, the rest not. S&W 19-3 or 19-4 4" and 6" were $1,000-$1,300. "Collectible" guns were almost $2K including a 1917 commercial .45, a "one line" .22 masterpiece 6" and a few I don't recollect. A nice 2" M&P was $575 which wasn't bad in the nice condition it was. There was a 2" Model 34 (maybe a kit gun, I didn't check) for $675. Diamond grips so who knows.

There were the usual milsurps at unbelievable prices, too many to remember or list. Mausers that lost WWII and 03A3/ garands that won it were up there.
No prices on Lugers, P38's and smaller caliber pistols but since I'm not only not interested but selling I just passed by, enjoying the "oooh's and aaah's.

Speaking of selling, I'm down 3 more S&W revolvers. I told Doc on the drive down "I'll be happy to sell all 3 for $2,000 in a package deal." That didn't happen but I wound up with $100 more selling individually. The extra half hour work paid off.

We did see quite a few folks walking back to their vehicles with their sale items, the flag/sale sign still sticking out the barrel. If'n you go with "rock bottom" prices you too can carry them back to the house. I would have liked to have gotten more for my guns but this way I sold them for what I paid Joe

So Joe, what did you sell? Is this held in a large venue?
Larry

 

[AJ]

So Joe, what did you sell? Is this held in a large venue?
Larry

Aircraft Hangers now, was in the Convention Center years ago. About 5-10 years ago was billed as 650 dealers at the Jan. shows. The two other shows a year were about 450 dealers (April & Sept.).

 

[pharmer]

So Joe, what did you sell? Larry

"Hostiles" .44mag, 1969 28-2, 640 no dash. Duplicates for the most part, don't shoot them and my son is completely uninterested in inheriting them. I sure don't need the money but I like to make people happy. Joe

 

[gunbarrel]

Glad you all enjoyed our Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club January, 2025 show. We have three a year and January is usually our best one. The next one will be held on May 17 & 18, and that is our smallest. The third one will be in September.

I'm a club member; not a dealer, but I sold a couple of pieces from my collection (thinning the herd), and was not planning to buy anything. HOWEVER, I ended up buying a beautiful Model 745 IPSC 10th Anniversary LNIB priced the same as it appears on the Fifth Edition of the Standard S&W Catalog.

JimmJ, you are absolutely right. Some dealers keep bringing the same guns year after year after year. I don't think they want to sell them; so, they price their stuff at ridiculous prices and just bring them out to "air them out" (I like that )). I don't get it.

Y'all come on over in May and enjoy an old-fashioned gun show.

 

[AJ]

JimmJ, you are absolutely right. Some dealers keep bringing the same guns year after year after year. I don't think they want to sell them; so, they price their stuff at ridiculous prices and just bring them out to "air them out" (I like that )). I don't get it.

Y'all come on over in May and enjoy an old-fashioned gun show.

A lot of the "Dealers" are there to buy rather than sell. I did a Lakeland show many years ago and sold more stuff to dealers before the show opened than I did after the doors opened. Got some good deals very late on Sunday afternoon as the dealers did not want to drag some of it back home.

A friend does every show in Lakeland, but he deals mainly in Colt M1911's.

 

[pharmer]

Tableholders were motivated. On Saturday, they were eager to "break the ice." Incidentally, there were many more "vintage" S&W revolvers at this show than have been for a long time. I'm going the other way (selling) so I didn't waste anyone's time "tire kicking." Looking forward to May. Joe

 

[otis24]

Some "Dealers" don't want to sell their firearms but just take them out for an "Airing".

For many, they are just there to socialize and jackjaw with their buddies. If in the process they can sell something for more than it’s worth, that’s just a bonus.