Gun shows - anyone find them of value?

[Absalom]

I really don't expect "deals" at gun shows. With the web, online prices tend to be more competitive. If you're collecting specific types, the online selection and availability is unbeatable. And because of the easy information available, people who don't know what they've got and underprice the stuff on their tables are getting scarce.

But as someone else already said, a gunshow is one place where you can actually handle a lot of guns largely unmolested. There usually is no salesperson hovering over you, you don't have to ask anyone to take a gun out of the display case (except for rare valuable ones); at most, some guy on a folding chair munching a hot dog will tell you to feel free and pick up whatever you like.

You just don't get that in any other venue.

 

[H Richard]

I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. I have bought very few guns at gun shows, but powder, primers, ammo, etc, and scarce magazines that you won't find in retail stores. I kind of like the small shows, less than 100 tables, as you never know what you may find, I dig through those big cardboard boxes of "MISC" they have and have fourn N Frame magna's, K Frame Magna's, J frame target grips, holsters, etc. to fit older guns I have.

 

[JSR III]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

This past weekend i sold two pistols while in line for the Carson City gun show; the month before I sold one pistol while waiting in line to enter a gun show in Fallon - got what I was asking for all three guns. Once inside, I didn't find any jerky, but I did find these items:

Are those for you or someone else???????

 

[Ron M.]

Chico Gun Show

Probably 100 tables, nothing really spectacular in regards to deals. One seller had a number of 1903 Springfields, but most of the parts were either mismatched to the rifle or they had been sporterized to the point that they had no collector value. Only two things that caught my eye were an 8-inch .22 Dan Wesson, but the blueing on the barrel was quite worn, for $450 and an all matching 1915 Swede Mauser, also priced at $450. Walked out with a beer and grips for my Colt Officer's model. 1/2 a mile down the road, bought a consignment S&W 28-2, 1978 production 6-inch for $550. Original grips.

 

[walkin jack]

I guess everyone that has been going to gun shows for 10 years or more is aware of the fact that things have changed a lot. I'm sure that there are some real differences in them from one region to another based upon the local laws, customs and economics that exist in any given region of the country. I've been trying to remember my first gun show but I have no clue. I'm going to make an educated guess and say in the neighborhood of 40 years or so. And You can imagine that things have changed quite a bit in that time.

Money is really tight these days. People just don't seem to have the disposable income they did back when. The cost of space to display your goods has really sky rocketed. The great deals that were common in the past are pretty scarce now a days. Still you can find the occasional good buy if you look. We have one or two vendors that are always at the Pasadena Convention Center when there is a show going on there. My favorite is AJC Sports from Clute Texas. I'll jut give you two examples it illustrate my point.

The day I bought my Colt LE 6920 I went by Carters Country (a prominent Lgs area) and the price was 1700 bux plus tax. I wanted to buy one at the show later that day and needed to know what the going price was in a lgs. I bought it from AJC an hour later. With the cash discount and their already lower prices I walked it out the door for 1100 bux. Thisd would have been about 2011.

Another great deal was my Glock 36 (compact .45 auto) This was in 2006. The average price for that gun was about 550 bux if you could fined one. I got mine from AJC for 425 bux out the door.

I have bought untold amount of ammo, parts, supplies, and accessories, etc from them over the years not to mention maybe a dozen other guns. They have no doubt tightened up some over the years but they are still the best for price and selection as far as I can tell.

I also find it convenient to sell guns at a show. I usually only have 1 or 2 to sell so I just walk around with them and always manage to sell them within the first hour I'm there.

Last January I "thinned the heard" as we say and sold over a dozen guns and thousands of rounds of ammo in the calibers that I no longer had. I bought one table for about half of the last day of the show for 60 bux. But I sold out before closing time and made pretty good money over all.

As I said things are somewhat tighter now but buying or selling you can still git-'er-done.

And lets not over look the entertainment value of spending the day in a gun show. Sometimes I go when I'm not in the market to buy or sell anything. I just enjoy cruising every aisles and checkin' out the guns, knives, and other goodies.

It is also a good way to do some people watching if you like to do that (and I do). Some of the things I see lately are a little on the scary side but I guess some of that is inevitable these days.

All in all I believe, for me at least, gun shows still have their value and their place. I like to think that they may even help keep the LGSs in line on their pricing.

 

[cbore]

Gun shows good place to find what to pay and not to pay. I use to buy reloading supplies at shows but can't find anything around here now. Been years since I made a weapon purchase at a show.

In Ms gun shows Feb-Mar good buys on folks selling deer rifles the opposite in Sept- Oct about it.

 

[Ron M.]

One thing I enjoy about gunshows...

I was surprised at how many families (kids in tow) show up and how pleasant everyone was...excuse me, pardon me....people come there to have a good time and to talk about their stuff. And I get a lot of advice from people who are more in the know about certain guns....

 

[gmiller0737]

About the only reason I bother going is For Powder/Primers to avoid Has Mat Fees,Not many gun bargains to be found except maybe New Guns & I have little interest in most new stuff.

 

[crazyphil]

Trout, I have always been treated well at Buckhorn. I guess I have bought a couple of guns at the gun shows but it was many moons ago. I might have to waltz throught that one in Nampa. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[ralph7]

I really don't expect "deals" at gun shows. With the web, online prices tend to be more competitive. If you're collecting specific types, the online selection and availability is unbeatable. And because of the easy information available, people who don't know what they've got and underprice the stuff on their tables are getting scarce.

But as someone else already said, a gunshow is one place where you can actually handle a lot of guns largely unmolested. There usually is no salesperson hovering over you,
you don't have to ask anyone to take a gun out of the display case (except for rare valuable ones); at most, some guy on a folding chair munching a hot dog will tell you to feel free and pick up whatever you like.

You just don't get that in any other venue.

Maybe it's different in Oregon, but I can tell you that it would be frowned on pretty severely here, if without asking,you just opened up some vendors display case and proceeded to coon finger same guys hogleg, high dollar or not.

 

[Frank237]

Geez, shows around here are lucky to have 25 tables, I can't imagine a 1k setup.

No wonder you guys can find buys!

I've posted my Love of the Big Reno Shows many times before. Started going to the Reno show at the GSR maybe eight or nine years back. BIG show, two big rooms, several hundred tables. Maybe more? No idea how many for sure.

My first trip I think I snagged four N frames from ONE table. ALL of them FAR cheaper than could be found here in MT. A pair of NIB 657's a 4" and a 6", a 4" 624 and a 6 1/2" 624 that I later sold at a $400 profit. IIRC I paid $450 for a few and $475 for the other two.

Found my bargain priced Combat Mag at Reno. One of my 3" M-66's at Reno...cheap too.

THAT chance encounter with the Reno show started my annual run out for the show. Now we go twice a year, the Spring and August or November show.

The Vegas Antique Arms show is a good one too. But higher end than most shows. I believe a single table is now $395. NO Jerky or "crafts" in Vegas.

The Tulsa Show is legendary. Never attended but hope to one of these days.

I think there are still lots of neat items out there looking for a home. But you need to be knowledgeable and diligent. I see guys walking past tables at hi speed. You need to go slow, check it ALL out. I've found SAT's, grips, boxes, all sorts of stuff that was HIDDEN on a table.

Once found an old pre M-29 that was BEHIND a table, in a stack of other boxes, in it's dark blue box. Saw the box...asked what it was and came home with a hi % 6 1/2" blued pre 29, proper stocks, unmolested, for $1050.

Take a ride...Hit a show out of State. Hit a show on vacation. Expand your opportunities.

 

[cmore]

If you are getting bored with gun shows try changing things
up and get a table. Most are $50 or so these days. Bring a couple
of buddies and split the cost. It's a great way to enjoy a show.
In more ways than one, sometimes. Just people watching is
sometimes worth the price. Also you have a place to sit and
rest and there is ALWAYS someone to talk with. Sometimes too
many. Plus the people bring their guns right to you, you don't
even have to get out of the chair. Bring a few guns to sell or just
clean out your closet. I promise you will have a whole new
perspective about gun shows.

 

[wundudnee]

I love gun shows. I attend every one in my area. I like the small town shows put on by the American Legion or some other group for fund raising. They bring in a lot of local hunters and farmers.

On the other end of the scale is the large Tulsa show. 4,000 tables and 11 acres. I try to get there twice every year. There is everything you ever wanted or ever seen and many things you've never seen. I collect Winchester .22s and all the models can be found there. Just bring lots of money. Everyone should see this show at least once.

When the doors open at 08:00 there is a line of people four wide and over a quarter mile long around the building.

I have found some really nice and scarce rifles there. Also it's worth the trip to see all the nice S&W revolvers shown there by many members of this fine forum.

I don't go to shows with any expectations, enough stuff finds me to keep me broke.

 

[Donn]

I'm in the middle of a one year moratorium on gun shows. In general, I agree with the OP. The days when shows were a treasure trove of deals are long gone. When I did go, I found that if you had the time and patience to check every table, you might find something useful. Just don't set the bar too high.

 

[S&WIowegan]

The gun shows in Des Moines area have morphed into 3 or 4 big dealers who do gun shows nearly full-time. My favorite is a big farmer from west Iowa who started fairly small 20 yrs. ago and now rents 20 or 30 tables. Most of his stuff is newest and latest versions from major manufacturers. His posted prices aren't bad but he has lower prices for regulars. He also has plenty of inventory. Two weeks ago I went looking for an S&W Victory 22 and the Ruger NRA 22/45. He had both and gave me very good prices. He has 3 to 5 women doing all the checkouts and they know their business so minimal hassle. He formerly had some used stuff but now he moves that on GB where he gets broad number of buyers. There are at least 2 other dealers who try to run with him.

We have very few LGS left because Scheels, Bass Pro and other big retailers have come in. They get the trade that wouldn't be caught dead at a gun show. Ammo and components are now more expensive at gun shows.

 

[ammocan]

I enjoy going to guns shows, sometimes I find deals, and sometimes not. One of the things I started doing is asking if they have anything for sale that's not on the tables and boy have I found some really good deals doing this.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I always find something, I have got some good deals on Smith revolvers and older semi-autos..

 

[rburg]

Guess I waited long enough. I'm normally the big fan of gun shows. I'm guessing the guys who say they find more or better at LGS are just fan boys for those shops. I've not seen a local shop with dozens of used S&Ws in years. But the show I went to over the weekend, as always, there were probably hundreds. And one of my usual friends somehow came down with a NRM. It even had a HBH and a beautiful dark blue finish. Along with the wrong grips.

Maybe its the guys who only know to go to shops don't really know what stuff is, or they believe the guy behind the counter. They might even believe the experts standing around chatting.

Oh, and I bought a gun. From one of the regulars. He sold me a 639 that looks cosmetically challenged. Or it does at first glance. I only had to pay $400 for it. I was just looking at it (a bad habit I have) and realized the magazine was brand new. The more I look at the gun, the more I think it is unfired. So now I'm torturing myself as to what to do with it. Originally, it was going to be a knock around gun. Like a boat or truck gun. One I just don't care about, even if it gets stolen. Now I wonder if a little work with a scotch brite pad might take the ugly away.
Oh, it fits right in a 1911 holster I found in the bedroom.

I also spent $500 on gold. NO, not bars or junk. I bought some chains from my buddy Joe. He was scrapping them to me. I paid spot price. One will go on my granddaughter. He managed to force her Panda coin on a 2.0mm chain. Its OK because it PO'd my son. His 7 YO gets better jewelry than he buys his wife. Not my fault he's cheap. And I sold about $180 worth of junk. Grips, a holster, some ammo. Doesn't matter much. I only went to buy the gold from my buddy and spend the day BSing. And this was a half size show, with the other half the vendors going to a place called "Cave City". I don't even know if roads go between here and there.

My younger son gave me a .50 cal can full of assorted brass. Guess I need to sort it out.

So in summary....I attend every gun show reasonably close. I can't be sure how many, but its well over a dozen a year. I take all my left over money along. Left over from the generous SS direct deposit each month. We don't generally eat the arena food, we buy from the terrible Arbys in Lexington. Its awful, but the slow, nasty service makes up for it. You just have to take the parking mess as you find it. Lexington is usually good because its free, but this cycle they had us parked almost to the railroad yard. But we don't have it all bad. They used cattle fencing to restrict us from any place near. Didn't understand until afternoon. The big corral was filled with religious nuts (as distinguished from gun nuts). It was a gospel concert or some such. What made me even more confused was that I complain about paying to park. Ours was free, but those folks had to pay $15 for the same spaces that afternoon. Maybe we don't have it all bad after all.

At Louisville we pay $9 for a parking space, sometimes even within walking distance. Sometimes not. And at the OGCA shows up in Wilmington, parking is free if you don't mind parking out in the nearest cornfield. Pray for dry weather, or take the Jeep with mud tires.

 

[CH4]

Yesterday, as I was making my last pass at a Reno gun show, I happened to spot an absolutely "NIB" Sako AV Classic chambered for the 7mm RM with all paperwork and hang tags - serial# 804130. It has a beautiful, honey-colored stock with dark streaks and constrasting rosewood grip cap. Wasn't really in the market for another Sako, but out of the 90+ Sakos I've owned, I never had a classic or 7 mag. Most classics I've seen are L691s, which I don't care for.

The gentleman wanted $1k, I offered $850. We settled at $875 and I took it home. Not sure what they're going for these days, but given the run-of-the-mill Sako 75s and 85s are selling between $1200 - $2000+, a NIB AV Classic must be worth $1200-$1500. To my mind the A series and its predecessors are superior rifles.

I am thinking of returning today to look for a deal on a Leupold scope.

 

[Bconn83]

I usually go to 3 shows a year to look and sometimes to sell. Typically vendors look for people walking in and jump them for stuff to sell. Usually they won't buy anything they can't sell for $150 to $200 more than they paid. There are deals to be had from individuals, and small cool stuff you have to look for. Once in a while you'll find stuff you can't locally. And onece in a while you find a deal on the table. You do find nice people and vultures it's an interesting dynamic.