Best deals I've made at a gun show?
As a dealer, before I gave up the FFL (All at gun shows):
1) Desert Eagle 50 Cal, 8 20 round boxes of Samson 50 AE Ammo (Minus 6 rounds), factory box, paperwork, D/E factory holster and belt, 6 factory mags and receipt from the shop he had purchased it all from less than 6 weeks prior. All bought for $600. His price, not mine.
2) Winchester Model 21 12 ga. I had gone out to the parking lot to get something... Ran into a "Stoner" that had the Win M21 that his grandfather had left him. Gun was a field grade with factory upgrade of the wood. Got it for $500, his selling price was $300. He needed money to go on Spring break in Destin. Turned it the same day for $4000.
3) S&W M&P (Pre M10 C363XXX). Got it for $20. It was butt ugly. All the bluing had turned brown or rusted but the cyl and bore were pristine. I sprayed on one of the "Easy Bake Oven" finishes and sold it a few weeks later for $200.
4) Darne Model R15 20 ga. Show security could not get it open so they paged me over the PA system as the head of security knew I had a Darne on my table. After I got it open we discovered both chambers loaded with "BP Poppers". I gave $2400 and sold it about 6 months later for $5500.
As a NON FFL:
A couple of months ago I bought a 1006 and 1076 plus 11 mags for $900. Bought from one individual at a gun show.
November of last year I bought a Marlin 1894 "Microgroove" 44 Mag/Spcl (1982 Model, JM Stamped barrel) with Bushnell "TV" view 3-9 x 32 scope for $300
October 2010: Remington 870 Express Synthetic 28", sans barrel. Bought for $50. Some Id-jit (Seller) slipped in the mud and packed the barrel full for the top 3" or so of the barrel. Tried to shoot the mud out of the barrel, that didn't work out. He ruptured the barrel about 16" down the tube. I ended up buying a used barrel from a friend for $50. I still use it as a back-up gun for duck hunting. Best $100 investment I've made in a long time.
Class III
We're still friends.
