Wow! What a disappointment! Jam packed National Guard armory, cheap new guns WAY over retail, and the few used guns in terrible condition! Anyone else had this kind of experience? My first gun show is probably going to be my last.
First Visit To A "Gun Show" Today
- Thread starter jscheck
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
august1410
Member
Where are you in NC? I'm in New Bern and will make the trip to the Dixie show in Raleigh before going to my local shows.
Did they have Jerky? 
OP
OP
Location
I'm in southeast NC. I HOPE to make the Dixie show, but my work schedule may prohibit.
I'm in southeast NC. I HOPE to make the Dixie show, but my work schedule may prohibit.
I went to the show in Charlotte today. It is billed as a knife and gun show. Yes they had lots of knives, some guns and the rest looked like a flea market. I did pick up 3 boxes of primers.
bushmaster1313
Member
Gun shows can be good or bad.
I do think there is a lot of over pricing based on the theory that people come in with cash in their pockets
Last edited:
Anymore, I all I find at gun shows are black rifles, junk, jerky and the rare, hidden treasure I can't live without. 
Last edited:
gman51
Member
I found gun shows to be over priced on about anything they are selling. They are all an hour drive for me so I don't go. Between gas and parking and cover charge it costs me $25 to go to one so I seldom go.
The only thing I bought last time I was there was some JERKY.LOL
The only thing I bought last time I was there was some JERKY.LOL
bushmaster1313
Member
One of my favorites came from a very small show that filled less than half the auditorium. The other half was flowers and garden plants.
One of the dealers, Ed from Tamaqua, PA, who I have seen at other shows before and since with about 100 guns, had a 1930's Winchester Model 97 Factory riot that he wanted to trade for my 4-digit Model 88 in .308 Winchester with an older Leupold 2-7 scope.
They were both very nice guns and we did the deal, he even had the correct New Jersey forms that I needed in addition to the NICS.
At most of the shows where Ed shows up there are customers filling out NICS paperwork at Ed's tables. He comes to the shows to buy, sell and trade.
It all depends on which dealers are at which shows.
Last edited:
Went to a show today. Bought no guns. Got primers for LP for 26 bucks and 1500 Fiocchi SR for 27. Got 120 new primed 22-250 cases for 30 bucks and a really nice Hollywood Senior press with shellholders and primer posts...for a very reasonable price. Just saw no guns that floated my boat...cept an overpriced M-57 nickel . Guy was really proud of a 90% gun
finesse_r
Member
I am seeing more and more of that type of thing around here. 5 or 10 years ago they were great. With all the new restrictions and pressure, they have slowly gotten worse and worse. Not all are that way however.
My last gun show made me laugh. We always joke about the "three J's," jewelry, junk and jerky. But at this show they'd added another "J," jam! Honest to goodness, a whole table of bottled jam. I miss the old collectors shows I used to go to.
I started out at gun shows as a "helper" for a local collector who
took me under his wing. I was 15, this was 1965, before dealers
were involved. When I was 20 started my own tables. It seemed
like everyone who showed up was a gun person. Sort of like a big
click, wheeling and dealing among themselves. Then in 80s they
opened up to dealers and seems like it went downhill from then.
I still go,but I spent 40yrs setting up,no more. There is still a few
old timers on local circuit that I deal with, but most of time I
buy off another walk through. Just couldn't handle the Flea
Market crowd that has taken over. I make my own jerky!
took me under his wing. I was 15, this was 1965, before dealers
were involved. When I was 20 started my own tables. It seemed
like everyone who showed up was a gun person. Sort of like a big
click, wheeling and dealing among themselves. Then in 80s they
opened up to dealers and seems like it went downhill from then.
I still go,but I spent 40yrs setting up,no more. There is still a few
old timers on local circuit that I deal with, but most of time I
buy off another walk through. Just couldn't handle the Flea
Market crowd that has taken over. I make my own jerky!
I haven't been to but one since the 90's. It was a waste and I wasn't impressed. I chalked it up to being a small one. The ones with Bill Goodman in the name were pretty big, I remember.
But I wanted to ask how the van thing worked. It's been said by anti-gun politicians that one can go to a gun show in Indiana and "fill a van up" (exact words) with firearms with no background checks or transfer paperwork and the drive the van into Illinois and resell them from a parking lot.
I didn't see see any of this going on at any I have attended. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the show entrance. Do gun shows have separate entrances for these vans? Do you have to notify them in advance for special parking?
But I wanted to ask how the van thing worked. It's been said by anti-gun politicians that one can go to a gun show in Indiana and "fill a van up" (exact words) with firearms with no background checks or transfer paperwork and the drive the van into Illinois and resell them from a parking lot.
I didn't see see any of this going on at any I have attended. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the show entrance. Do gun shows have separate entrances for these vans? Do you have to notify them in advance for special parking?
Maddog 521
Member
I view Gun Shows as entertainment. There are always interesting things to handle and look at. Most of the time I find something unique and usually buy it. I'll keep going and occasionally take the grand kids.
Don't let that discourage you; gun shows can be hit or miss. Small shows are the box of chocolates; have been to a few duds, but picked up two 90%+ guns at one and met several Forum members. Big shows tend to be dominated by a few sellers (many tables laden with new overpriced guns) but there are bargains to be found. The jerky sellers do grow on you; the few with unprocessed jerky can be a good buy. The tables with the cheap knives are wasted space, but they keep the shows in the black, I suppose. As for rest of the priceless treasures, well...at least I know where to find the jewelry cleaners, no-name tasers, kinda adequate holsters and the like.
My buds and I are in the middle of a one year moratorium on gun shows. For the most part, we were seeing the same dealers, same guns and the usual dearth of deals. Why waste the time, money, and gas? We'll give it another try in late summer, early fall, see if anything's changed.
Gun shows are like the lottery, you can't win it unless your in it. Yes sometimes they are frustrating but every once in a while you will see that sought after firearm. I have only been attending three years but have picked up two real nice ones - a Chiefs Special (Baby Chief) with red box and half moon front sight and most recently a Chiefs Special Model 50 target, lnib. So hang in there, be patient and good luck.
