Gun Sales Slow??? Recent Gun Show

TheHobbyist

TheHobbyist

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
2,535
Reaction score
3,710
Location
Midwest


Hope all is well. Recently, I went to my first gun show of the season, which I consider Fall to be the start of. Largest show in the State and it was rather quiet. I talked to SWCA members, exhibitors, FFL's, asked them how it's going...slow. Some said they thought people didn't even bring cash with them, just wasting time.

I have been so busy I haven't really gave attention. I noticed several very good buys that a few years ago would have been almost double.

Are you seeing this in your area too?

Market forces will drive items up and down, it happens. I wonder what the next few years will bring.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
We just had a gun show in my area this past weekend I didnt attend but a few friends and guys at the local gun shop did and they said it was pretty slow as well.

I havent gone to a gun show in 2 or 3 years because the few gun shows I did go to, maybe 4 or 5, all the prices were the same or sometimes higher on guns than if I were to get them at the local store. There were some decent deals on certain items but generally speaking it wasnt as if the show had "amazing" prices or anything.

Also as the post above me says the show had a lot of "artsy" stuff, jewelry, leather work (yes some holster stuff) but mostly leather purses/bags, and then some food vendors.

It just wasnt really appealing for me to go back.

Not to say if a few friends got together and wanted to go I would decline but I certainly wouldnt just "go to go"
 
There used to be one yearly in Thibodaux, I usually attended, a couple of years ago it stopped. There was one in nearby Houma too, it went on till a year ago when it stopped too. Now the nearest is about an hour's drive away, I haven't made that one maybe this year. As others have mentioned the local shows had turned out selling lots of "other stuff" not so much guns.
Steve W
 
I go to 4-5 gun shows a year. I occasionally buy reloading components or some other items that are gun related. It's extremely rare that I'll buy a gun at a gun show. The reason is that the vast vast majority of them are over priced. People seem to think that their used gun is worth a premium, or their used and in good condition is worth more than the exact same gun NIB off an internet seller. The internet has produced a lot of price transparency. Lots of sellers seem to not understand or recognize that.
I do find myself going to fewer and fewer shows every year.
 
This weekend is the York, PA gun show. Good sized show, I know a number of the vendors. If I didn't show up I think one of the ladies at the entry would call Missing Persons, because she always likes to trade for the Golden Dollars I pay my admission with.

I'm probably not buying much in the way of additional guns anymore, but it only takes one to make the trip worthwhile. At the last show the crowd was down, but most of the regular vendors were there and one of them clued me in on a Russian Nagant revolver he had with Finnish capture marks. It was in great shape, he gave me a good cash price, and I gave him a deposit that included 10 Golden Dollars and he held it for me to go to the bank to get the rest of the cash. He told me that there were a couple of guys interested in it, but as the saying goes, "Money talks, baloney walks."
 
I typically go to one or two gun shows a year as well. The biggest one I have planned in the Wanemacher Gun Show in Tulsa next month and I'll be sure to update this thread then.
 
Last gun show I attended was 15 years ago; stupid admission and parking prices, gun prices at 10% above MSRP (let alone street pricing), and add in a lot of non-gun junk I can get at any street craft fair - what's the point?
I can find better deals at organized flea markets
 
Louisville's National Gunday is this w-end and I have a table as I have for the past 20 years. Steady decline over the past 4 or 5 years but still worth doing for me since it's basically in my backyard, about 15 minutes from my driveway to the fairgrounds parking lot.

NGD has gone to a new 2 show per year format as opposed to the 4 always before. No more Dec/Jan and no summer show. I think that's a good move but will know more Sunday night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GF
I stopped going to "gun shows" because they were not gun shows. They were more tables of jewelry, jurky, tacti-cool equipment, clothing, personal care products, etc. than guns! The few tables of guns which were there, were so far over retail prices, I though each gun had a telephone number associated with it.
 
I only go to gun shows if I have something to sell or trade. Then only
buy or trade with non FFL folks, I did find a guy wanting me to forge
him some meat cleavers, just didn't want to pay my price, oh well.
 
I have quit going to the gun shows, buying too many guns. I have learned to keep my mouth shut. On Sunday afternoons when everyone is throwing guns in cases and hauling the out the door to go home, I started making ridiculous low ball offers on the overpriced S&W revolvers. Don't do that, you will rid yourself of those benjamins in the pocket really quick sometimes
 
I set up at the AGCA show in Birmingham and that is the only one I go to. They only have 3 a year and are pretty strict about having non-related gun items so it's not like a yard sale. A few years ago they moved to a new facility that is wonderful. Wide aisles, LED lighting and a ton of security. A lot better than when they use to have it at the Civic Center downtown where your biggest concern was getting mugged going back and forth from your car.They usually average about 650 tables per show. The last one in October had a good steady crowd but sales were a little slow. Usually all the dealers are overpriced but usually can run across some pretty good deals with individuals. I also sell a little ammo and that market has really slowed down
 
Last edited:
I will say that things seem pretty soft right now. The past 2 weekends I attended a show, and saw some decent buys but no takers. Just looking at table items briefly, and the sellers start dropping $$ off their prices without being asked or even an offer put forth from a potential buyer. Really nice collectible, desirable guns that a year or 2 ago would've been snatched up in no time at all.
 
The Gun Shows I have been to the last few years here in North Central Florida are not even worth what they charge to get in the door. Most all of the guns are priced high retail and most of the booths have some new gimmick whatumacallit for sell. Half the guns for sale are with the local retailers for the same prices they have everyday.
 
From my observations, seems the entire market is soft right now, at least for big ticket items. I have a Stag AR15, a Seekins SP10, and 2 scopes listed on another site for hundreds off. No bites. And that same site has many great bargains for rifles and optics that just sit month after month while decently priced accessories sell within days. Go figure.
 
Stevens said:
There used to be one yearly in Thibodaux, I usually attended, a couple of years ago it stopped. There was one in nearby Houma too, it went on till a year ago when it stopped too. Now the nearest is about an hour's drive away, I haven't made that one maybe this year. As others have mentioned the local shows had turned out selling lots of "other stuff" not so much guns.
Steve W
Click to expand...

I actually did pretty good at the Houma show a few years ago with some milsurps I needed to get rid of but I haven't been back. I guess the next closest show in that area is the Kenner Show, which is this weekend. I haven't done anything there in a while. I saw several straw purchases there a while back that resulted in quite a few arrests just down the street. I wasn't involved in that and won't be but the last show I went to there had the same old stuff for the same high prices.
 
The local gun show here had plenty of guns, They were trying to sell guns but prices were above or at gun store prices, and the vendors were not buying used guns. I have had a like new Kimber 1972 Royal 1 1911 with less then 200 roll down the barrel for like 3 month the only I see happening with the gun is finger prints.
 
We have several gun shows a month in Houston, most well attended. Last weekend was slow, but there has been a lot of "distractions" with professional and local school sports. It is mostly polymer guns now, but Second generation Smiths, and Smith revolvers are always present. The prices start out on the high side, but that is deliberate, so that after negotiation and cash discount it is a fair price. On the used guns, I doubt many have paid full "gun show" price.
 
I love gun shows. One of my best buddies owns my LGS and if he sets up tables, I work with him. If he skips a show, I go anyway, Never looking for a deal, but have found a few here and there. I mainly go to see a lot of my friends and fellow collectors. I see most of them only at shows and I spend most of my time just shooting the bull with them. I usually have some guns in the truck in case I run across something I want and there is a trade to be made. I agree that most of the people have their guns priced way above market value, but on a rare occasion there is a great deal to be found. My best gun show find ever came at a very small show that was in a fair ground building and probably had 50-75 tables. First table I walked up to had a beautiful 3.5" Pre 27. When I drove in the parking lot, I almost turned around after seeing how small the building was. It is sort of like playing the lottery. You know the odds against winning are way against you, but if you don't play, you absolutely can't win.
 
I really enjoy going and have been active for years. Lots of good deals can be had. It's like fishing or hunting...a lot of waiting and then something usually turns up.
 
Haven't been to a show in 5 years or so. I have belonged to the Ohio Gun Collectors' Association for 40 or so years, but I'm not renewing my membership.
They used to have a few shows near Cleveland, OH, but the powers to be moved it to Wilmington,OH, as most of the Directors are from Southern Oh.
 
I used to go to gun shows to "pick up a bargain" or find items that aren't normally at my local dealer. That's history now - the bargains are on the parking lots or walking around looking for a trade. You're already out $20.00 when you walk through the door, so bargains aren't. And the full time dealers treasure their stock too much to consider selling it for a reasonable price. Even the girl watching has suffered.
 
LittleCooner said:
I have quit going to the gun shows, buying too many guns. I have learned to keep my mouth shut. On Sunday afternoons when everyone is throwing guns in cases and hauling the out the door to go home, I started making ridiculous low ball offers on the overpriced S&W revolvers. Don't do that, you will rid yourself of those benjamins in the pocket really quick sometimes
Click to expand...

I have not been to a gun show in quite a while, but this was the best strategy to get a good deal. I have also seen dealers make a few good deals early on Saturday morning first thing just to get things rolling.
 
I go to about 6 to 8 shows a year out here in northern Colorado/southern Wyoming. Attendance and prices are just so-so. I have noted that the average age for gun show vendors and attendees looks to me to be about 60. Gun shows back in Maryland 40 to 50 years ago had long lines outside waiting for them to open. Inside later it was hard to get down crowded aisles while looking over shoulders to see what was on the table. The average age was a LOT LOWER back then.
 
I used to go to any and every gunshow i could attend
Prices parking and people made me stop
Why would i subject myself to crowds and parking issues to pay new prices on used guns or reloading components ?
20+ years ago it was worth it bought a beautiful winchester pump for 135 bucks
Another time a 1000 count of .430 240gr swc for 25 ...and it came with a free coffee can !
Or the left handed holster for 10 bucks ...but im right handed ...oops lol gave that one away
I wish it was still like that , used to love the gun shows
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
First time in a long time, gun show report
Replies
11
Views
951
tbird1960
T
Retired W4
Weekend Gun Show
Replies
1
Views
588
bananaman
bananaman
Y
3 day Gun Show, When to go?
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Golddollar
Golddollar
mm93
Old gun scopes
Replies
2
Views
553
Kinman
Kinman
Legendarylawman
Gun show and RIA tri-fecta
Replies
19
Views
856
snubbyfan
snubbyfan

Latest posts

Back
Top