Gun show morons

[NYlakesider]

A few years back I went to the sort of big one held in Albany and got not only to see one but to handle it (it was not for sale)

It was a Burgess pump shot gun, I have read about them a bit in some of the older gun rags and it was nice to see it in person.

Yes its a pump but a bit different as you pump with your trigger hand where it grabs the forward part of the shoulder stock.

Got talking to the owner and expressed interest in the gun company (from reading) as I knew a little about it and after a bit of talking he reached up to the back rack and handed it to me. Very nice friendly gun enthusiast! Really made my day

 

[Old Corp]

I went to a show in Greenville, NC yesterday. What plucked my nerves was the overwhelming amount of NON gun/outdoors related stuff. I saw candles, and jewelry and even a booth for someone who cleans the gutters of your house.

I know the promoters need to sell tables. The larger shows in Raleigh are still pretty decent, but the ones in my area near the coast have been getting pretty lousy with each successive show.

If I want all that other stuff, I will go to a flea market. You know, that's what the shows here have become......flea markets with some guns.

Being a fairly new resident of Eastern NC, and having always gone to Raleigh, NC shows, wanted to compare these to those. So, went to a Havelock, NC show earlier this year. About 88% junk. Chinese knives, military memento boxes, jewelry, flavored peanuts.
Had a guy there selling obviously shop-worn boxes of factory ammo. The hordes gathered 'round his tables looked like end-times, and the prices were well North of fair.
Unless I want to really drive some, my gunshow days may be over.

 

[SW MP15]

Since I was about 5-6 years old, I've been fascinated by the workmanship, the machine work that goes into a quality firearm. And love to look at them. But I was also taught respect, for other people's property. And their personal space.

I'm not sure if it's pure stupidity or just the lack of common sense? Or a mixture of both? It's just common sense, not to go to gun show acting like a 3 year old.

I've always thought of a gun show as a honor to be at. Not a given right. I watch myself cutting through crowds as not to bump people. In case they're carry a hand full of guns, I wouldn't want them to drop em, because of me. I do not carry around nachos and a soda and set it down on people's tables to pick up a gun with my greasy nacho hands or my wet hands from the icy drink I'm carrying.

I wouldn't go to a car show and touch people's prized vehicles even if it had a For Sale sign in it. I wouldn't crowd or block their car from being seen, just to talk to my neighbors.

Maybe I'm the one who is weird? And been doing it wrong all these years.

Maybe I shouldn't give damn about other people's property? since I paid my $6 dollars at the door, I can do what ever I please? These guys are just all Gun Hawkers anyway, that's just a step up from a car salesman! Maybe I shouldn't care about stopping in the middle of an isle and talking to whom ever I please? Maybe if I bump a table and knock around some guns or knock over a ammo display with my handicapped cart, I'll just get mad at the vender and ask for a apology from him, because his table got in my way! Bring my 6 year old and not be paying any attention and let him/her knock over all the signs they want too? Maybe I'll get a slimy gun show burger and not wipe or wash my hands and touch anything I please! After all, I paid my $6!!

No way I could do anything like that! I just have to much respect for a gun show vender, that traveled 300 miles and got there at 5:30 am, to set up his tables, so I could look at his wares! But that's just me!!!

 

[SW MP15]

What?

I saw candles, and jewelry and even a booth for someone who cleans the gutters of your house.
.

What NO jerky vendors? No QVC knife dealers? No every ten seconds, hearing a taser go off? No vacation time share property sales people? No table after table of cheap just small and medium Tee Shirts vendor, that they've dragged around for 3-4 years? No home security sales booths? No made in China, dream catchers and tomahawk salesmen? No cheap Chinese optic vendors, that you'd be money ahead just pay them and walk off and not take they're junk?

You obviously went to a good gun show!

 

[pawngal]

The one that gets to me is when I'm at a table or a showcase, interested in a particular piece, but I can't get the attention of the dealer. He's deep in conversation with some guy who's kicking tires, has no intention of spending a dime. You'd think a dealer would be more interested in moving product than jaw-jacking. Guess not.

I have that problem a lot as a Grannie. Try hollering (Be a Good Place to Start a Bar!) usually gets their attention.

 

[pawngal]

Ugh!

One of the reasons I don't go to gun "stores" anymore--you know, big, well-lit places built in storefronts and such, as opposed to some guy's shed or over his garage--is clerks. Any time a woman or two walks in, no matter how aggressively clueless, every available clerk drops everything and begins fawning over them, answering questions like "How far do these bullets go?" and "Can I shoot this in my backyard?"

It's not even a sex thing--they're just bending over backwards because the industry and the culture wants to be ever so painfully accommodating to women shooters. But holy hell, draw a line and tell them they should think about taking a class. I like newbeans and lady shooters just fine, but I got my limits. Mostly when I can't even see the merch through the morons.

Side note: "Pardon me, ma'am, but I'd much rather gaze at that used Model 60 than your rear."

You must be referring to the 20 somethings and the entitlement generation. I pretty much get ignored in the big box stores. But I love it when I ask a clerk something and they have no idea. Like when I ask about .41 mag ammo, clerk in Grander Mountain, "Never heard of it"

 

[Frank237]

I went to a show in Greenville, NC yesterday. What plucked my nerves was the overwhelming amount of NON gun/outdoors related stuff. I saw candles, and jewelry and even a booth for someone who cleans the gutters of your house.

I know the promoters need to sell tables. The larger shows in Raleigh are still pretty decent, but the ones in my area near the coast have been getting pretty lousy with each successive show.

If I want all that other stuff, I will go to a flea market. You know, that's what the shows here have become......flea markets with some guns.

I called a promoter for a show here in MT to get a table to sell...GUNS and gun related. Told me there was NO room left. I mentioned all the tables full of goat milk soap, candles, etc. His reply.... "Ya have to have something for the wives to look at".

No wonder why GUN shows are going down hill.

 

[Bekeart]

I called a promoter for a show here in MT to get a table to sell...GUNS and gun related. Told me there was NO room left. I mentioned all the tables full of goat milk soap, candles, etc. His reply.... "Ya have to have something for the wives to look at".
No wonder why GUN shows are going down hill.

At one show I mentioned the presence of non-gun related stuff ...

"I would rather have someone selling water melons than have an empty table."

It's all about THE MONEY for the promoter.

Bekeart

 

[the ringo kid]

Aw heck, ya talk about sellers flying mad, that would do it. Or the dude eating tater chips and figerin every gun on the table with his salty hands.
When I see something I wanna look at, I always ask and then try to only touch the stock, etc. in the effort to limit fingerprints unless it involves closer scrutiny. Civilized people just need to act that way.

Ditto that. Im at a gun show now and seen plenty of those who ask prices on things just to waste your time--just got done with one a few minutes ago.

 

[the ringo kid]

The gun show goof balls are almost as funny as watching people at the public boat ramps. Except at a show careless people can really be dangerous.

Guess I will stick with the lawn chair and a cooler at the boat ramp, they crack me up

Gun show goofs are just like watching goofs inn walmart. I kid not.

 

[Weimar]

I appreciate the guys and gals who take a few pieces just to show off. Often the guns are ones I've never seen (except in photos). They usually aren't ones I'd ever buy so the fact they're not for sale is of no consequence.

My first thought was; that no I did not like 'show' guns, but I agree with you 100%, a few show guns, especially with a card can be fun and educational.
Sometimes folks will have half their guns with not for sale and I guess that was my first thought

 

[Old cop]

If I go to a gun show it's no longer the big "Nations Gun Show" w/long lines to get in. I'm handicapped and have a hard time staying on my feet for a long time and navagiting around clueless people w/my cane sometimes makes me nuts. Then theres the phony tough guys who like to give everyone their idea of the best way to "win" a gunfight.

 

[Donn]

In many cases, gun shows and the like are as much about "show and tell" as they are about actually selling something.

rburg and I have spent many hours sitting behind the same table, and it's always a treat for me to see what he carried in for "show and tell." It's rare that I have something good to show, but always like bring it when I do.

I can't speak for Dick, but I'd guess he'd probably sell that virtual unused boxed 32-20 target model(for example) for the right price. He doesn't want every one who walks by the table pawing on, though.

Interesting. I always thought the idea was to sell as much as possible so you didn't have to lug so much back and the ride home was lighter.

 

[zzzippper]

I have two responses to them: "You're not the only person in the store/show/etc." and "What is it like to be the only person in the world?"

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I've done shows for years. I could write for hours with what I've had done to things on my tables. Here's a few that really stick out. I had a guy move a presentation case to one side to fill out his Door Prize form, then get PO'd at me because I told him to leave. Had a guy and his wife walk behind my two tables and sit down and proceed to eat their lunch. Again, got PO'd at me when I asked them to leave. Almost clocked a guy at one show. I had a cased set of Colt's for sale for a widow. I had just put them one the table. I turned around to pick up plastic ties. The guy had both of them in his hands with the hammers pulled back. He yelled at his buddy, "Hey look at me, I'm Jesse James". I yelled at him 'No, your a #@^^&$#! I grabbed them and almost hit him. He got so mad he came back with the show manager. He explained he was interested in looking at the guns and when he asked me if he could pick them up, I cursed at him and told him to leave my table. I explained my side, which he vigorously denied. I was in the process of packing up to leave. Dealers and the public that saw what happened confirmed my story. He was escorted out of the show. The promoter came back apologize to me. After a few words, he gave me my money back for my tables and I stayed.
I guess they come in all shapes and sizes.