Gun show advice

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guitar1580

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I've never been to a gun show, but I've been eyeballing some of the ones coming up over the next few weeks in OH and West Virginia. I've bought most of my guns locally, and ordered a few over the net. I'd have to drive 2 hrs and possibly get a room for one night.

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some general advice, or an idea of situations / scenarios that I'll likely encounter at a gun show. I'm fine with knowing gun safety, and not touching or operating the action without permission, and so on..... but moreso looking for strategies for getting a good deal, or scams to watch out for.

I'm going to mostly be looking for an old lemon squeezer, and/or a 38spcl M&P ranging from 1902 to the 1940s, in average+ condition, not NIB. I just missed a decent M&P that went for $225 here on the forum recently, and am wondering if I'd likely find something decent in avg. condition in the 250 price range at a show. Any advice would be helpful.

Josh P
 
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Some general advice.

Research well the value and details of specific models you're interested in buying.

Put your copy of the Standard Catalog in your car for quick reference on unfamiliar models that catch your eye.

Bring good pair of "readers" eye glasses and good, compact high intensity flashlight to examine purchase candidates. Gun shows often have terrible lighting. Amazing what a good flashlight and a little magnification will reveal.

Take your time. Any purchase with private seller is most likely - no refunds & no exchanges.

Wear comfortable shoes

Bring lots of cash. Many gun show vendors won't or can't accept plastic.

Don't be afraid to negotiate. The worst they can say is "no".

Don't be afraid to walk away. It's not likely the only one made.
 
Buy the gun, not the story.

Dont get so excited you forget the little things (ie do the grips match, is the bore/chambers good, if it is real old and real slick does it have rework marks...etc).

On top of all the above NEVER EVER buy a gun that has issues because you want that particular model and it is the only one you've found you can afford...trust me on this one. Again, NEVER buy a gun you'll have to make excuses for down the road.

Contact some of the Ohio members in your SWCA roster or through the Forum and go to the OGCA. Since Dan Meigs is now on the west coast there may actually be chance for someone else to find a deal.
 
29aholic said:
Buy the gun, not the story.

Dont get so excited you forget the little things (ie do the grips match, is the bore/chambers good, if it is real old and real slick does it have rework marks...etc).

On top of all the above NEVER EVER buy a gun that has issues because you want that particular model and it is the only one you've found you can afford...trust me on this one. Again, NEVER buy a gun you'll have to make excuses for down the road.

Contact some of the Ohio members in your SWCA roster or through the Forum and go to the OGCA. Since Dan Meigs is now on the west coast there may actually be chance for someone else to find a deal.
Click to expand...
This is outstanding advice! The same is true of guitars, cars, boats, planes, etc. NEVER buy the story unless you are story shopping.
 
Carry a flashlight, tape measure, magnifying glass, and a bore light or piece of white paper to make your own. A soft cloth to wipe down guns you handle is a nice touch. Asking permission to handle guns is a nice touch. I like a vest with several pockets, each with folding money in them. Comfortable shoes are a must. Leave women at home. Don't be bashful about asking walkins what they have for sale. Most aren't offended by a sincere cash offer and it doesn't hurt to show the money. Have fun. :D
 
It's illegal to purchase a firearm of any kind from a resident of another State (non-FFL), but you can purchase rifles or shotguns from a federally licensed dealer in a State you don't reside in as long as all local laws are complied with. Handguns can only be purchased in your home State, but you can have one transferred FFL to FFL.
 
Among the above mentioned, bring a small screwdriver to remove the grips for inspection in case they don't have one or tell you that they don't have one.
If they won't let you remove the grips, there is probably a reason why. BEWARE.
Also ask them to remove the gun tie so that you can cock it (assuming it is a revolver) in order to check the lockup and timing.
Any reputable dealer will do that if he thinks you are serious about buying the gun.
Please don't waste their time and yours buy making them to all that if you are not serious.
It will only make it worse for the person after you.
Above all, have a great time, and happy hunting for that special gun.

Stu
 
s&wchad said:
It's illegal to purchase a firearm of any kind from a resident of another State (non-FFL), but you can purchase rifles or shotguns from a federally licensed dealer in a State you don't reside in as long as all local laws are complied with. Handguns can only be purchased in your home State, but you can have one transferred FFL to FFL.
Click to expand...


I BELIEVE it is legal to sell long guns FTF to someone from a adjoining State.
 
Stu1205 said:
Among the above mentioned, bring a small screwdriver to remove the grips for inspection in case they don't have one or tell you that they don't have one.
If they won't let you remove the grips, there is probably a reason why. BEWARE.
Also ask them to remove the gun tie so that you can cock it (assuming it is a revolver) in order to check the lockup and timing.
Any reputable dealer will do that if he thinks you are serious about buying the gun.
Please don't waste their time and yours buy making them to all that if you are not serious.
It will only make it worse for the person after you.
Above all, have a great time, and happy hunting for that special gun.

Stu
Click to expand...

Great advice. One thing to be wary of is taking the tie off the gun. All the shows I've been to here in VA have the actions cable tied inside.
If it's a private seller it's usually easy enough to go outside, cut the tie, try things out, and have it tied back up inside.
When I've wanted to try used find from dealers and folks who have rented tables we've had to have a security guard (usually an off duty LEO) monitor and put another cable tie on as soon as we're done.
 
Thanks for lots of good advice, folks. I'm in WV, but close to OH and PA, and had not thought about the issue of buying a handgun from out of state. Having to ship FFL to FFL is more expense to think about. Maybe a good reason to consider a WV show for my first one.

Maybe a good idea to bring some extra cable ties in case someone whines about taking one off because they dont have another? I dont think I'd buy one if I couldnt work the action. Isn't that like buying a car without starting it? I could save the gas and buy online if I was gonna do that.

JP
 
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When at gun shows be VERY CAUTIOUS! A lot of people there know that they'll most likely never see you again, and so they are interested in your money, not your friendship or continued patronage. If they will not allow you to properly check the gun out - PASS.

NEVER NEVER NEVER buy gun show reloads no matter how good the price seems. You simply have absolutely no way of knowing what is really in them.

When at gun shows I will usually only buy things that I can fully inspect and can't be camouflaged. Things like grips, gun cases, reloading dies, holsters, and things like these. I have never bought a gun at a show, and frankly I would rather pay a few bucks more and buy them from a reputable seller and one that I have some recourse with. Now I am not saying there are no legitimate dealers at shows, all I am saying is to be careful and wary.

Good hunting!
Chief38
 
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Gunshow experience-no advice. In every show there are two or three deals of the day. We all know what we want-but what about the deal of the day? Example-at the last show I went looking for a model 49 with a pinned barrel. Sorry to say there were none to be had. Contestants were a model 36-1 heavy barrel $335 original grips, 95%..model 10-7, 2" 90% plus round butt $400, and then there was this model 38-2 nice, satin nickle finish, $275 OTD. The model 36 was nice she winked at me. I went home with the 38-2. Read up on them..

The show before that, there was a guy in bib overalls with a 3" model 37 no dash.. 90% plus lock up like a vault. He asked $350 and took $325. Nice but not what I was looking for. Another guy had model 49 that had been carried but not abused..I went home with the 49 and 10-5. They were the deals of the day...

Read, study, know what you are looking at and why...and never judge a book by its cover.

Good luck and remember a roll of cash stacks the deck in your favor when you are counting bills on the table. I always treat the owner of the firearm with respect and politely ask is this your best cash price right here, right now.. I have two kids in college...
 
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There are a bunch of exceptions to the general rule against out of state buyers. The most important one is the 1898 rule. Anything made after that needs to go through an FFL, earlier doesn't. Guns made 1898 or earlier aren't guns, they're antiques.

At many of the larger gun shows you can find an FFL from your home state. Maybe even your local dealer attends. That makes it pretty simple. You buy the gun and the seller hands it off to the dealer. You stop at his shop on Monday (or whenever is convenient), pay him the transfer fee, and leave with your new gun. Works slick, and I've done it many times.

If you've never been to a gun show before, maybe you'd be better off just going for the experience. The OGCA in Wilmington and NGD in Louisville are pretty overwhelming shows. You've really got to work to see one in a day. It could well be said that you can't do a good job of it if you manage to do it. Bring comfortable shoes.

Even if you could walk that far, you've got other people to contend with. They stop in the worst places, bunch up to talk, and all kinds of things that make you wonder if this was their first trip to the big city. The food is universally awful, so be prepared for that part. Some of it just leaves you scratching your head. At last weekends OGCA I went to the food line to get us soft drinks for a short rest. I ordered a Coke and a Mountain Dew for my son. The girl told me they don't have coke, but I could get one down at Max and Ermas, over by the Hotel! OK, I took the Pepsi. Strange people.

Maybe the biggest problem will be if you walk the show and think you've seen all the goodies. Shows don't exist as static events. They change constantly. Part is that people standing in your way may shadow some items. But what really happens is things sell. The vendors "buy" an 8' table for big bucks. When something sells, they reach under the table and bring up something else. This can happen multiple times. On just one table. Long before the show opens, they poor guy spends about an hour (give or take depending on how many tables he has.) But soon the vultures circle, aka other vendors. They're there before the first paying customer hits the door, buying up all the real bargains and rarities. Then they go back to their tables, move their least great item to the staging position under the table, and put the new treasure up on top at 50% over what they paid for it! Shows are living, dynamic things. No one ever see's the entire show.
 
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