Gun Show Blah!

[aphelion]

I'm getting the idea that the complainers don't really know what they're looking at and conclude its trash at high prices.

The idea I get from above is that gun show attendees are disappointed when they spend a lot of money on gas to get to the show, maybe shell out a bunch of money to park, pay a high entry fee, in the process using up a good portion of a precious day off, only to find 800 dollar run of the mill 19's, 800 dollar refinished HD's, flea market stuff, etc. It could be they don't know anything, or it could be they've seen a general deterioration in the quality of gun shows and are commenting on it here.

 

[Green Frog]

The idea I get from above is that gun show attendees are disappointed when they spend a lot of money on gas to get to the show, maybe shell out a bunch of money to park, pay a high entry fee, in the process using up a good portion of a precious day off, only to find 800 dollar run of the mill 19's, 800 dollar refinished HD's, flea market stuff, etc. It could be they don't know anything, or it could be they've seen a general deterioration in the quality of gun shows and are commenting on it here.

+1! As I said, I've worked both sides of the table recently. Dealers (or at least casual sellers) with quality merchandise priced fairly will probably have buyers, driving a long distance and paying what I used to pay for a table just to get in, then to see the same new items at MSRP, badly flogged beaters priced as high grade collectibles, and the rest of the tables filled with survival food and jewelry is a little annoying. JMHO, YMMV!

Green Frog

 

[Duke426]

I've grown tired of walking past tables full of $1000 Garands that look like they were re-imported after 65 years buried in the Ardenne. Same for the $500 Model 10's that were apparently dragged behind patrol vehicles rather than carried in holsters while on duty.

Just because something is old (relatively speaking) or no longer in production does not mean it is automatically worth a ton of dollars, regardless of condition. Even in this day of the rapidly declining US currency.

That is the gun show scene in my part of PA and that is why I no longer waste my time.

 

[ar33]

I've grown tired of walking past tables full of $1000 Garands that look like they were re-imported after 65 years buried in the Ardenne. Same for the $500 Model 10's that were apparently dragged behind patrol vehicles rather than carried in holsters while on duty.

Just because something is old (relatively speaking) or no longer in production does not mean it is automatically worth a ton of dollars, regardless of condition. Even in this day of the rapidly declining US currency.

That is the gun show scene in my part of PA and that is why I no longer waste my time.

Must be from SE PA like me! I've stopped going as well for now.

 

[Coldshooter]

We still have good shows here. I don't even stop at the tables with a lot of new stuff. I think the comment about single table guys who have looked around for good deals and are following their hobby is true. I posted on the Fairbanks show yesterday. I could have spent $2500 and been quite happy. The Palmer show is coming up and people will drive 350 miles one way and get a hotel room and still be happy with what they find there. The worst shows were two years ago when there was an ammo panic which seemed to spread but that cleared up and I enjoy ours again.

 

[finaltoy]

Kalamazoo, MI is having one in March. I was thinking of going but after reading here I'm not so sure if I still want to. I've never been to one though. I thought I would look for a S&W M&P in .22. I like the way it "fits" my hand!

 

[mbnatt]

Kalamazoo, MI is having one in March. I was thinking of going but after reading here I'm not so sure if I still want to. I've never been to one though. I thought I would look for a S&W M&P in .22. I like the way it "fits" my hand!

If it's not too far away, go! You never know!

 

[finaltoy]

Kalamazoo is only 30 minutes away and its only $6.00 to get in so maybe I will go if for no other reason than to say I've been.

 

[mxbob]

Well, I am just back from the Washington Arms Collectors show in Puyallup. I had tables and did well with my mostly old S&W's. It was very crowded on Sat so that the crowd could hardly move, finally thinned out late in the day. I came home with a couple of "Treasures" for my personal stash, a model 13 with 3" bbl shooter grade and a 3rd model Russian for the collection. It was a tiring weekend for us but well worth it. We drive two hours there and stay in a motel this time of the year. Have been doing shows for about 25 years and they have changed not always for the better but still interesting. I also hit a few of the small shows around western Washington and seldom come away dissapointed.I find that I can ignore the irrelevant and overpriced stuff and enjoy the rest. Finding a Treasure, such as the Russian mentioned above, can make up for a lot.
So if you spot an old grey beard guy with glasses in bib overalls at the show introduce yourself and say hi it might well be me. I usually have a thermos of coffee, bring your own cup.
Bob Ray 1815

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Wife and I "wasted" $14.00 & time attending the show at the Armory in Columbia today. Took all of 20 min. to cover it and half was flea market junk. Most pistola dealers only carry tupperware and pocket pistols anymore. Slim pickins for an old Smith guy like me.

 

[phubai8]

rburg - you got it right.
I go to shows for entertainment as well as deals on guns. I try not to laugh at the outragious prices some want and expert advice I get without even asking. But it's all part of the fun. I've sold off a good number lately and usually got less than I wanted, but I could have walked. I bought a few and paid more than I really wanted for a couple of them, but I could have walked. Around here entrance isn't much and parking is usually free so why not make a day of it. Wish I had a son or two to share it with. Mine are far away and don't care. So - enjoy it while you can. Some day you won't be able to and that might be sooner than we like...

 

[john4970]

In Michigan, a change of pace is the Michigan Antique Arms Show in Novi, four times a year. Not a lot of polymer or stainless, and they try to keep guns 25 years old and older. Different group of sellers than the Doug Carl and Gibralter shows. Purchase an annual membership for $20 and save the $5 parking and $6 admission fee, for each show. Prices 'seemed' a little high in February, but there were many nice Smiths in attendance. My only purchases were the new Smith N-Frame book ($70 retail on web site. I purchased for $56), and a model 38 box with tools and papers for $10. I have not attended a Gibralter show in several years, but attend 6-8 Doug Carl shows a year. I have found 'deals' at both shows, so the journey continues. Good luck!

 

[thedane]

Recently, I went to "The Nations Gun Show" near Dulles airport in Virginia. There are 1000+ tables and they are always sold out. This time it was mobbed. One could barely get down the aisles and it was hard to even see what was on the tables. I picked up a handle for my AR that was consistenly priced among the various dealers. When I got home, I found out that I could have bought the same thing for half as much on the internet. It seems to me that gun show prices are higher than the internet and over the internet I can get some of the same items shipped to my door.

I did pick up some great .308 ammo that turned out to be match quality as the dealer stated and I didn't have to pay Hazmat fees.

There are rarely any collectible handguns. If there are they will be priced at the going rate based upon internet prices.

I have found some great guns on internet auction sites. I am almost always happy with what I buy.

There are still individuals that put their guns on the internet and may not have them overpriced or even realize what they are selling. The dealers almost always know and price their stuff accordingly.

Just my opinion.

 

[Frank237]

Yeah Shows can be hit or miss. And it seems we can all mention the same deficiencies or annoyances...but they are one of your BETTER opportunities to find the toys we are looking for. End of story.

Ya gotta play in the game to score.

FN in MT

 

[DAVEB47]

We had a show in town and I just skipped it. I usually go with my dad, but he was out of town so I saved the $7.00 and I'll use it to order a holster I've been looking at. As others have said, the deals are just few and far between at shows lately. I do like to get to handle guns at the shows, but if the prices are too high I just order on-line.

 

[Hammerdown]

Hello
R.Burg pretty well hit the Nail on the head. The gun show promoter is the one making all the money these day's it seems as the last local show here in Knoxville had Over 4500 through the door. He has raised his door price to $10.00 a head and many that attend do not have Two Nickels to rub together to begin with so in my mind it is a cheap way to spend their day walking around leaving Greasy Popcorn salted finger print's on your blued and nickel gun's as they tell you their Papaw has one just like that or seeking information on a gun you have for sale to only tell you that they have one just like it home and wondered what it is worth. Most that approach a Gun vendors table do not even bother to ask whether or not they can handle a gun, they most of them must feel that they paid the price of admission, and that alone allows them to freely Maul your gun's as though they were theirs. As Far as Vendor's buying gun's they have to give what seller's want and most are Internet educated as they price their gun's telling you that they saw one on Gunbroker.com go for Much more. For the vendor's it seems we always want that special gun to walk up to our Tables so we can have a chance to buy it, Yet Many never make the floor as Trader's outside do business without Paying the door charge, and leave the show as soon as their guns are sold Privately, so vendor's loose out on seeing them as well as the promoter that has rented the ground they sell their ware's on so openly.


Many Gun shows are flooded now with Flea Market stuff as the smaller trader type gun guys are scared to attend shows due to the Noise generated by Bloomburg and his anti gun Pals. Then you have those willing to Part with their $10.00 door charge, Only to steal your guns off your Table as their Buddies distract your attention, opening the door to Theft. There are More & More guns being stolen these days at gun shows and all this does is put the guns in hands of those that cannot buy one legally, and that raises more issues for the media, and cost's the vendor the loss of a good expensive gun. I fear not to off in the future due to the changing times and what the general public has caused gun shows will be non existent.... The complex's that are leased to run these gun show event's are not cheap either. It Takes a lot of money to run a heated or Air-conditioned gun show as well as the power for light's and workers to keep it clean. I have Often wondered while visiting the bathroom if these people live like that in their home setting. So, The next time one whines on what they were charged to attend a gun show or what the vendors have their prices set at keep in mind that the general public set's the pace and price of such things and as a vendor goes they pay much more to be there then the door charge to only get their guns handled, asked about and tire Kicked to death, and Prices challenged to only see the one asking for that special lower price to walk off yet the Vendor's are expected to be cheerful about it and meet the general public with open arms, and Prices from 20 Years ago.....

 

[ladder13]

Excellent post Hammerdown

Should be a sticky

 

[rburg]

Buckey08,

We pay to attend our gun shows. With that comes the right to kick tires. I personally don't go just to kick tires, though it often ends up that way.

I guess there is a misconception here. The problem comes from the promoter taking his $10 or $12 to allow you inside. But the guns you want to kick aren't his guns. They belong to the vendors inside, and they already pay $100 per table for their admission. So they take issue with anyone having purchased the "right" to kick their tires. If you notice, most are pretty gracious and allow all manner of people to handle their guns, but its only done to induce the others to buy the guns, not because they feel warm and fuzzy about it.

I'm thinking the conflict and the bad feeling sometimes come from the gunshow customers feeling they have a right to handle other peoples guns. Maybe we'd be a lot better off if the customers understood the other side of the table. I'm pretty certain the vendors have all been on the outside of tables many times. From the way some customers act, its pretty apparent they have never paid for a table so a bunch of yokels can mistreat their guns.

If you've ever watched a guy come up, pick up your gun and then drop it from a few inches, you'd understand why so many guns are in such bad condition. Why any promoter would allow a food vendor to sell popcorn is just beyond me. Yet there is the disconnect between what is good for the promoter, customer, and vendors.

 

[GF]

"Why any promoter would allow a food vendor to sell popcorn is just beyond me."
Burg

CanIseeYerGunMister... ?

Gun shows are for the unwashed masses!

GF

 

[Biginge]

Boys, I really like Hammerdowns assesment of the whole situation. Let me throw this out to those of you who are trashing the gunshows. Are you going to miss them much if the government shuts them down, makes them no longer legal. Don't get me wrong our area shows are not what they used to be either. But, you have a choice to go or not. Nobody is making you pay inflated prices, or making you do anything. Just don't go if it makes you that unhappy.

Just my 2 cents.

regards

Bill

 

[arjay]

There is one show a year in Denver that is worthwhile,the rest are just junk shows.

 

[Jim NNN]

How about $700 for a USED stainless steel CHARTER ARMS 44. Special Bulldog?? That typified the kind of prices I saw at the last gunshow I went to around here.

Problem was, I found (and bought) a great old late '40's K frame .38 Special with a 2" barrel at a reasonable price at that show. That's the thing - the only way to find the 2% that are deals or the items you want is to wade through the 49% trash and the 49% highway robbery items. That's the way it is around here, anyway.

I can honestly say that I think I'm done with gun shows.

 

[photoman]

All day long the radio station I listen too was running ad's for the Grand Rapids gun show and my wife asked why I didn't want to go, I looked at her and said that the fun of going to gun shows was long gone with the prices they charge. Is it just me or does it seem that most of the people there are just tire kickers ?

They go to the gun show to "fondle" the goods, then go home and order online...

I got to a gun show about two or three times a year just to remind myself why I don't go to gun shows any longer.

 

[Chuck Jones]

Seems like anybody that's been going to gun shows long enough has a "...this is a rare prototype..." story.

I still go to gun shows not for the guns, but every now and then somebody has a nice deco phone or something on the table and it's usually a bargain

Too bad they don't have the odd or occasional gun on the table at the camera or pen show.

/c

 

[pharmer]

Like the Shotgun News, gunshows are not for "business" any more. Pure entertainment, with the morphologically challenged, the wild hyperbolic firearm yarns, you can't help but leave with a great feeling of gratitude for the life you lead. Even if you didn't buy a gun. Ain't a darn thing wrong with paying $20 in gas, $10 admission and a $10 lunch, folding your cash and putting it back in your pocket . Show me a shrink that will spend a few hours with you on a Saturday and make you feel better for $40. Joe

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I enjoy the bigger shows here in SC and have purchased some fine Smiths there over the years. We all grumble about some of them but I hope they never go away. We still have about 14 shows for the rest of the year scattered around SC. Big & small wish I could make them all.

Have concern about retirement.......May not have the jingle I have now...and have to be satisfied with my current bounty.

 

[Navarre]

I agree with the OP that when I go to gun shows, I rarely see anything worth getting the cash out of my pocket. I mostly go because I usually see old friends or fellow gun lovers out seeing if anything interesting has been brought. But once in a blue moon, the stars align and you get lucky. I went to a show in Pensacola around 3-4 weeks ago expecting nothing & I found a S&W Model 27-5 with a 5 inch barrel. Had the original box, some paperwork, & the tool kit. Gun did not look like it had been fired or if it had, it was not very much. The guy was asking $625. I offered $600 cash and walked out with what I think was a bargain. I don't know about everyone else, but that's why I still go to gun shows.

 

[blujax01]

Like the Shotgun News, gunshows are not for "business" any more. Pure entertainment, with the morphologically challenged, the wild hyperbolic firearm yarns, you can't help but leave with a great feeling of gratitude for the life you lead. Even if you didn't buy a gun. Ain't a darn thing wrong with paying $20 in gas, $10 admission and a $10 lunch, folding your cash and putting it back in your pocket . Show me a shrink that will spend a few hours with you on a Saturday and make you feel better for $40. Joe

Gun Shows:
"Cheaper than hookers!"

 

[ikor]

I agree with Navarre. I go for other reasons, including to see old friends, and because once in a great while I do find a bargain...

 

[RussellD]

At our local shows the vendors will walk around and try to buy guns from the folks trying to sell a gun. As they dicker for price they will say hey you aren't leaving me any room....

See items like a nickle plated model 28 with the hammer and trigger coated in nickle with a sign saying RARE nickle version $800...LOL