Lonestar Gun Show, Belton Tx - My first!

[CoronaDan]

Hit the Lonestar Gun Show in Belton TX today - my first! Pretty much a dizzying array of semis, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, camo gear, holsters, sausage, knives and scented candles! Prices were pretty much what I expected...on the high side or comparable to what I find in my LGS. But, a far larger selection.

No matter. I had fun visiting with the sellers, sipping coffee and chatting up the shoppers. Lots of folks carrying in guns to trade or sell. Even a deal or two made outside the entrance.

It was a good excuse (like I need one) to fire up the old motorbike and take a ride on a beautiful day. I took along my old High Standard Sentinel R100...hoping to trade for an H&R top break 22, but saw none of those.

Whatever...I'm not disappointed. Had a great ride, saw some beautiful guns of all stripes and enjoyed my outing!

 

[rburg]

I'm an old hand at the gun show circuit. Please allow me to share a few tips. You'll read posts where people complain about everything under the sun. Most of all how prices just aren't what they were 30 years ago. And even more amusing, how they didn't see the exact things they want to buy (you kind of hinted at that). This view of a gun show is that its a stable thing, never changes, and can be absorbed in their 30 minute run through.

Another view, and much more realistic, is that its a living, breathing event. A 30 minute (or 3 hour) slice only allows a person to see a small part of it. Far and away the best time to visit a gun show is during setup as a vendor. In the first couple of hours more transactions take place at a better price than in the 10 hours Saturday and 7 or so on Sunday. Good reasons for it. One is that vendors come in semi-broke. But they know there are things other things they want badly and are lacking the cold cash. So they accept friendly offers that pad their pockets. Then the following morning, Saturday, in walks the general public, right at the opening bell. Not noonish. And the early public quickly picks over the vendors tables for good deals. But they also bring along some goodies. Stuff from grandpa's closet or dresser, or just old stuff they don't want or need. So the vendors, always looking to improve their collection, buys stuff. Picture a tornado of cash changing hands, stuff flying off tables. Now consider the vendors point of view. He's paid from $75 to $110 for his little 8' table. Now he's got a couple of big empty places that represent a waste of money.

So what we do is simple. We know we're going to sell stuff, so we bring along more than the table can handle. And as stuff sells, we put the next round of goodies up. What results is a totally different gun show at noon than you saw at 9:00. Or if you got there at noon, you missed the first round of goodies (or maybe the 2nd since the first may have sold during setup.) By Sunday, all kinds of different stuff is on display, with many vendors scrambling to keep their table from looking empty. So why go on Sunday? Because we've learned that $100 bills are easier to haul home than lead filled brass. You can often get the best prices of the show right as the vendors are packing up. Usually no fair offer is turned down.

What it means is if the customer spends more time, he see's more stuff. The most experienced customers keep their eyes open. You can buy from other customers, and often they have the best stuff at the best prices. Its how I bought my 44 today.

 

[CoronaDan]

Rburg...thanks.

I suspect if I really wanted a deal - on ammo, holster or guns, I would have gone tomorrow and hung around til closing. But it was fun, no etheless!

 

[ringo1597]

I was set up at this show, hope you stopped by my table. This was my first time in Belton (I'll be back). Great crowd, good people, lots of nice Smith's. Did you happen to see what one man was walking around with attempting to sell? A Second Model Lady Smith, Blue, Pearl Smith grips, in drop dead condition, a beautiful gun.
I was only able to reserve 1 table and as Rburg said above, I had more Smith's under my table, should you return Sunday you will see Smith's you did not see today.

Larry #2494

 

[CoronaDan]

Ringo... I did not see the Ladysmith with pearl grips. Couple of guys were dickering outside about a High Standard semi.

Saw lots of beautiful guns...started drooling at the first table. Nice show, good folks and friendly sellers. Which table was yours?

 

[ringo1597]

CoronaDan,

As you walk in the door, straight down the second isle, on the left. Had some older boxed Smith's, 1 in a presentation case, other Smith's mixed in on the table. No long arms.

Larry 2494

 

[CoronaDan]

Next to the candle lady? I was wearing a black t and my Washington Nats hat.

 

[ringo1597]

No..not by the candle lady. I have a black table cover. Stop by and visit. Gotta go now, getting up early.

Larry 2494

 

[peyton]

It was a regular trip for the FT Hood crew to travel to the Belton gunshow. I would plan going with my young soldiers who had money to burn and I refused to let them get ripped off at the Killeen Pawn shops. We had a shopping list of who was looking for what and normally we would find more than one of what we were looking for. Once our shopping trips were done, the guns were stashed at my house until we got the post registration completed and then they would go into the post housing or into the arms room. We bought mostly deer rifles and I'd take the fella's out to the range to zero scopes and then we were ready for deer season. Gosh I had a lot of fun in those days.