Gun Show Terminology

[cmansguns]

the ultimate "Show" find

I have thoroughly enjoyed the whizz out of this thread...so much common ground among Forum guys and gals, knowledge, quips from both sides of the table, those that won't go, those that will and the in-between.

Of course I can spot that all of you are very studious and serious folks for sure so I am equally positive that there are no dreamers on the SWCA Forum.

I intend on being the first one in the door (or on the grass) at the car/gun show that advertises my goal: "For Sale: 1965 Goat, all original, 389 Tri-Power, factory 4 speed, with a Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum in original box and docs in the glove box...$1,000 firm...serious inquiries only"
Until I see that add I guess I'll stick to collecting (accumulating) Model 10's in all the various "shooter grades" which are noted very clearly in Blue Book (mine are all on the right side as posted earlier by another).

Thanks a million OP for starting this humorous thread..it has been a "good read"

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've been on both sides of the table. The only guns I've bought at shows are from dealers I know, and I could have bought them at their respective shops at any time, but they were there, I was there, you get the idea. I buy the occasional box of ammunition if it's a deal. Example, last month, bought a box of Hornady .22 WMR Critical Defense for $12. Other tables had same stuff for from $18 to $24. No idea why it was marked $12, just pulled the money clip out and paid. I also like looking for accessories and parts that I'd have to research and view on the interweb.

When Dad died, we used guns show (three over a year) to get rid of the big box o' holsters, the massive gun library (Shooters Bible, Gun Digest, etc.), and the big box o' knives. The holsters were made fairly simple. Dad had a box of leather stamping numbers and letters, and in his spare time, he'd see what guns fit what holsters, and stamp it on the back. My nephew and I sorted 'em, put 'em in big ziplocks, and labeled them with what would fit inside. We sold them at a massive discount, $25 for leather, $20 for most kydex and nylon, and $10 for the cheap stuff. Our only hard and fast rule was no negotiation. If you want it, fine, if you don't, fine also and thanks for the visit. We sold almost every one of them, and the last 20 or so, real oddball stuff, I made a deal with my LGS for $200, and he dumped them in his big box o' holsters and got what he could. After four years, half a dozen are still there.

We had one fella', at all three shows, who went through every bag, always settled on a very nice leather Bianchi or Galco Colt SAA holster, and offered $20. We always said no, thanks for the visit. At the last show we were gonna do, we were down to about 30 holsters. Dude did the same drill near closing on the last day, still no, and he moved on. Right after he moved, fella behind him walked up, grabbed the SAA holster, and handed me $25. No discussion. Original guy came back about 20 minutes later, handed me $25 and said he'd like that holster. I pointed to the tall fella' across the way and said he'd have to talk to him, and it probably wasn't $25 any more . . .

 

[BigBoy99]

History or Province: Story told by great-uncle Horace, twice removed so it HAS to be true that the gun was personal owned and used by Adolf Hitler and was pried from his hand by Horace!

 

[magmag]

yurp. buy the gun not the story!

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I go to about 2 or 3 gun shows a month in Houston area. I do not find a lot of bargains, nor do I see much rust or junk. There are usually 2 or 3 dealers with a solid dozen Smith revolvers and more semi automatics. Vintage Colts are common too. Always a few nice looking M1 Garands, M-14's, and a 1903 or two. Of course, cash is king if you want to deal. Most dealers are fair, pleasant to talk to, and the listed price is almost always just the first offer. I would like to help at a table sometime. Years ago, I did have one small dealer tell me that the Colt 1911 with plastic grips with three bees on it was Napoleon Bonaparte's Model 1911. If I want to see junk guns, I go to pawnshops. I never have had one of those pristine pawnshop finds.

 

[rwsmith]

If you are selling.....

When trying to sell a firearm at a gun show, I always hear the dealer say "I already have X amounts of those, so can only offer one third of what the current value is".

Those guns are a glut and no one wants them anymore...

If you are buying, the same gun is a rare-limited edition.

Whatever a salesman is selling is better than everything out there. In an industrial plant my boss called about buying some ball valves and was told that NOBODY used ball valves anymore and he had something better. My boss guffawed when he hung up the phone.

The tire dealer always has 'metric equivalents' that a "just a little different" from the factory originals. If anybody ever tries to sell me a 'metric equivalent' of an S&W.....

At a gun show I saw an old rifle that had obviously been 'distressed' and was being sold as a 'rare relic' for over 10,000 bucks. I guess you put it up hoping that maybe a real sucker comes by.

 

[Golddollar]

I'm always looking for those army rifles from a certain foreign country that were never fired and only dropped once!

 

[Murdock]

One item I saw at a Maine show that was truly funny was a distressed wood plaque with a completely rusted M27-2 mounted on it. It had an 8-3/8 inch barrel and was a total loss, as the revolver had obviously been burned in a house or car fire. There was a write up mounted on the plaque that certified that the gun was recovered at the Hole-in -the-Wall saloon where Butch Cassidy's gang hung out. Obviously a joke, and nearly worth buying.

 

[Jack Flash]

... I saw a gun, a "Shot Show Special" that a dealer (new dealer to that show) had for sale. He had it marked at $849. I pointed out to him that everyone of like guns I had seen were marked in the $630 - $650 range. He got mad and walked away from me. He was selling, I wasn't buying, no harm no foul; however, I'll not even look over his table again and I'll never darken the door of his shop.

You can rest assured that he will not miss you!

General observations:
1. There are some folks on this forum with such thin skin they don't require a needle for a flu shot; the nurse can just pour the vaccine straight into their veins.
2. Does everyone who complains about the cost of a gun show realize that $6 in 1988 is now inflated to well over $12 today?

 

[Drm50]

I was carrying a hi condition older S&W target revolver as a trade item. I came to a series of tables that held hi condition classic long guns. They had computer printed labels with everything but price. The guy ask me what I wanted for my pistol. I said make me an offer. He said he never operates that way. I ask him why his weren't priced and he got the stutters. Typical tatic used by "dealers" who set up at small shows out in
fly over areas. They have not come to sell they are there to buy.

 

[LPD256]

Tips for potential buyers at gun shows. Bring cash to trade for guns . Make offers like I will give you x for this gun. Vendor says yes or no. And final tip is don't tell vendor what you gave for one of these in 1968 who gives a **** . If you don't like merchandise, price, or vendor then walk away. Don't buy anything you're not happy with. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'll be in Tulsa. Where is your table? I'll swing by and say Hi.

 

[Rustyt1953]

A gun show is where I learned what "Box fan jerky" was.

 

[AZretired]

I only go to 1-2 guns shows a year, partly because since I retired I have less to spend and partly because I am not a looky-loo. I go to buy I have a list of what I am looking for (grips, ammo, guns) and will only pick up and handle a gun that I am actually interested in buying. I traded for a gun once and came out on the short end but I was happy because I got the gun I wanted.

 

[woodsltc]

I enjoy going to Gun Shows. It's enjoyable to me to speed time with other like-minded people that enjoy guns.

It's my opinion that those that think Gun Shows are full of bargains, and go there for only that reason, are the ones that are going to be disappointed. Just like anywhere else where you buy things where some "negotiation" is the norm, you will find some knowledgable, honest, helpful sellers and some sellers that are dishonest and will tell you anything to get a sale. And every once in a while you may find a nugget that is a good buy. JMO.

Don

 

[TheHobbyist]

I enjoy gun shows a lot and find humor and other emotions in it.

Like many of you, I could go on and on. To the OP, you are not alone, we have all been there, done that.

Perhaps my favorite part of the show is in buying a gun from somebody walking in or educating them (if they ask...). Sometimes one will float in at a fair price and I will buy. Sometimes, and older man or woman will walk in with something to sell, I get the impression the money would make a big difference and will proactively tell them a fair market value. I will do what I feel is right and could care less how this works out for a future buyer. Same is true for any demographic, if you are way underpriced, I will ask if they would like a fair market price to ask going forward and if they want my opinion. I know there are mixed views on this--i.e., seller should know--but I don't care.

I recall when I first starting going to shows at 21, I was very excited and new to the hobby. Really enjoyed taking my model 18 to the range and shooting a bunch of .22LR. Holy cow, when I bought that, it was all the extra cash I had at the time and thought I must be crazy for spending $ 500.00 on a .22LR.

During this time, I asked an old gun store owner in a remote area, 'Hey, are you going to the next show?'. He told me, 'I'm not a gypsy'.

 

[Drm50]

99% of the time the good deals are from either walk throughs or a guy
that buys a table to sell his own stuff.