GUN SHOWS---AAAARRRRGGGG

[williamlayton]

Friend wanted me to go with him to the Pasadena show. Every time I go, I swear off----again. dealers are getting more obnoxious and rude by the minute.
If they don't like the business, why don't they get out of it.
Saw 3 1/2 inch M27--new as in the box---$1800----.
I feel like Paul in the Scriptures. Why do I do that which I don't want to do ?
LGS's are much more plesant and these are the boys at the show that are so snarly.
RANT IS OVER !
Blessings

 

[Hapworth]

Prices are getting a bit crazy, indeed. I think pickins' at gun shows are getting thin, too -- much of the best stuff seems to be moved via the Internet now. Wouldn't surprise me if gun show dealers are feeling the squeeze and getting harder to deal with because of it.

 

[Nframecollector]

I'm glad I didn't go. I usually leave gun show upset about one thing or another!

 

[Old Corp]

They remain a great source for swords, jerky and jewelry, however.

 

[Dump1567]

I stopped going to shows a few years ago. I can't cash and carry in my State anyway. Most everything I want I can find on the net.

And as difficult as my State has made it to purchase a firearm, most shops I go to require you to "take a number". They're that busy. Very few mom and pop style shops left in my area.

 

[gman57]

Today was the first time in 5 years I bought a gun and not jerky. Another dealer had a nickel M13-3 3" and he said it came with the box and papers. I agreed on a price subject seeing the box..... that's where it got ugly. It was a S&W box with a bogus end label, when I pointed this out he got nasty so I said no box no deal at the price we talked about. Seems like the buyer always needs to be on the defensive.

Just my .02

 

[nawilson]

They remain a great source for swords, jerky and jewelry, however.

Beat me to it!

Sometimes I think gun shows are really just places for the dealers to get away from their wives and hang out. They charge high prices so they don't have to actually sell much, but some dude will come along and buy something which pays for the table.

 

[H Richard]

One of the few reasons to go to a gun show is to see old friends and the odd chance someone is getting rid of dad's and grandpa's old guns that have been locked up for the last 50-75 years in like new condition. We can dream anyway.

 

[fyimo]

I also feel dealers are getting squeezed by the internet and GB because when people post really nice guns up there they tend to get more then a usual dealer charges for really nice specimens.

 

[qballwill]

I went to the show at reliant last weekend and picked up a 27-2 3.5 inched in a presntation case and tools for 1250 bucks. Was 95%. It has been my grail gun for years.

 

[jtcarm]

I hear ya. Once upon a time, they were laid back & fun.

 

[11e40]

I went to Pasadena show today & picked up 2nd model hand ejector mk 2 .455 unmolested & 95 % for 625 otd . still can find deals once in awhile.

 

[varmint243]

Guns shows are a waste of time
I still go look around once or twice a year
I am usually pretty disgusted by the time I leave

 

[Donn]

Hit the shows for the same reason I go to car shows and cruise-ins in the summer, like minded people and a lot of neat stuff in one place. Get with a few friends, and it's a good way to spend a morning/afternoon. If we find a deal on something, that's the cherry on the sundae.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Friend wanted me to go with him to the Pasadena show. Every time I go, I swear off----again. dealers are getting more obnoxious and rude by the minute.
If they don't like the business, why don't they get out of it.
Saw 3 1/2 inch M27--new as in the box---$1800----.
I feel like Paul in the Scriptures. Why do I do that which I don't want to do ?
LGS's are much more plesant and these are the boys at the show that are so snarly.
RANT IS OVER !
Blessings

This is my take from the other side of the table.
Friday night set up.
Fought traffic for two hours, normally one hour drive. By the way 12 above zero, Got the the show, dropped a display case, smashed glass.
Set up covered table, went home. No bad normal one hour drive home.
This morning left house 6:00AM, temp 6 above. Show opened at 9:00AM huge crowd. Class was in session. Shortly after show opened, a guy come to my tables, wants to see a MD 25-2. I tell him about rare factory error. Barrel mis stamped MODEL OF 1950, actually MODEL OF 1955. Told him how the error happened. He called me a liar and I made up the story to sell a gun. He really got PO'ed when I put the gun back in the case and asked he to leave my table are. No one is going to call me a liar, no matter how green his money. Later, a guy says to me I have a gun exactly like these here. I told him they were Model M's, he got mad and said "NO they are LADYSMITHS. I thought you were a BIG S&W collector. Then he says, I told you I have one exactly like these, but mine is in .32, and made by H&R. I bow to the master. Then later, I had a guy say another revolver I had looked like it was a refinish. I asked him if he knew what he was looking at. He said yeah, a Model 10. I said no, a Model 66, it's stainless steel.. Last but no least, a guy hads me his LTC and asked to look at a revolver in my case. As I handed it to him, I said "Oh, I see your from _____ Massachusetts, my buddy lives there." He asked if I was some kind of fortune teller. I said "No, your address is on your LTC. He was amazed. He had no idea what was on the catd because he never looked at it.
I guess my rant is sometimes it's on both sides of the table.

 

[toyfarmerjj]

When to Hot Springs gun show to purchase an 18 1/2 410 barrel that I had made tentative arrangement from a dealer for the sum of $140. When I arrived at the table, the barrel looked like it had been run through a mixer. Bluing was missing, multiple scratches and dents. When I expressed my disappointment the dealer went into an oration explaining that didn't I know that the barrel was used and very hard to find. No joy... I felt like I had done something wrong, but I did not buy the barrel.

 

[Widetrack]

I try to go to every show I can within reasonable driving distance. Probably wouldn't do anything half as fun with my time if I didn't , I tend to meet more nice people than not and when I run across the occasional deal, I'm not bidding against every other guy in the world that likes that model of gun. I agree that the internet has more selection but unless you get out and hook up with like minded people you're missing out on half the fun.

 

[gkitch]

Buying or selling a gun should be a pleasant, if not fun, experience. Fewer and fewer gunshow dealers seem to be enjoying it and so less of those who pay to walk around the gunshow are enjoying it.

Whomever you are try to have fun and be fair with the man on the other side of the table.

 

[Engineer1911]

1-25-14: Moon high prices in Augusta, GA

It was an interesting 3 hours, here are some highlights:

Two bricks of CCI Blazer 22 LR (500 rds each) sale price $80 per brick

M28-2 6" barrel, 95 % gun only no box or docs, red paint frt site $1050

M629-2 3" and M686 2-1/2", both 95% and have finger groove combats, no docs or box $975 and $950 sitting on same table

Winchester rifle M1904 22 LR with OK stock and pitted barrel $975 marked down to show special $450

Winchester rifle M1904 22 LR with battered stock and rusty barrel $375 (different table)

Center fire ammo was $0.75 to $1.50 per round. Federal 30-30 was $18 / 20 round box. Boxes of 9 mm / 5- rounds was $14 to $37. 308 Win was $19.95 to $42 for ball ammo.

I came home, opened both vaults, moved the guns to soft cases under the bed, and got most of the center fire ammo in a vault and all the 22 LR . Spent $8 to get in and will not attend the next show.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Two bricks of CCI Blazer 22 LR (500 rds each) sale price $80 per brick

Per brick? Man, that is a terrible price. Of course, I haven't bought any 22 for a year but am surprised to see it so high.

Maybe I should transfer my ammo into my 401(k) to fund my retirement.