Yeah, you've been seeing that High Treason guy at the shows too, huh? We'll have to get in touch and maybe we can meet up F-T-F at the next one!
Not all gun shows are lousy
- Thread starter Sevens
- Start date
Fishinfool
Member
I have come to enjoy the small, fire house / Grange / community center gun shows here in central PA. A lot of them are 100 tables and under, but usually have a lot of older guns offered by private sellers. Usually a minimum of black plastic and beef jerky. I have picked up several nice pieces that I didn't know I needed until I seen them, and can't turn it down prices. Garage / tag sales in rural areas can produce a treasure once in awhile too.
A couple years ago I picked up this mint condition Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion in 7mm mag. for $750.00 at a small fire house gun show. Just the Leupold scope on it is over $500.00 new. Figure I got the rifle for about $250.00 then, and the wood is fantastic.
Larry
A couple years ago I picked up this mint condition Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion in 7mm mag. for $750.00 at a small fire house gun show. Just the Leupold scope on it is over $500.00 new. Figure I got the rifle for about $250.00 then, and the wood is fantastic.
Larry
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Geronimo Jim
Member
I just did the mapquest and it is about 6 hours. I went with a friend
about 15 years ago and it was the best show I ever attended. Bought
5 guns! Always meant to join and go back but life got in the way.
I plan on going to the next show if I can find a sponsor so I can join.
Must have sniped you this time Sevens! I picked up this beauty about 2:30 on Saturday. Just what I was looking for too. Maybe paid too much but I was so excited to find it I just couldn't wait to get my wallet out. Drove for 3-1/2 hours both ways through terrible weather to get to Wilmington too.
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I agree. Many are merely mediocre, but that doesn't mean they are a waste of time and money.
The only firearm of worth I can recall picking up at a gun show was my 2" 1950 M&P .38 Special revolver a few years ago. Kind of 80 to 85 percent, but shot very little. I paid $420 for it, so it wasn't an awesome deal, but it was a fair price I think, and I certainly wasn't going to find something like that in one of the local stores.
I also did get a set of non-diamond magnas in good shape (aside from being re-shellacked) for 15 bucks. Put them on my 3" 68-ish model 10.
About 30 years ago, I went to a gun show in a girlfriend's town and got a .303 Enfield with a modded stock for $30, but that gun was too inaccurate to be a shooter. Not the deal it appeared to be.
By and large, gun shows around here are a waste of time due to the extremely high prices.
I hate to say it, but the vendors at local shows don't seem bright enough to figure this out. They appear to be mostly hobbyists who seem perfectly content to sit all weekend at a makeshift booth in an uninspiring convention hall and SELL ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! You can go hours at one of these events without seeing any sort of transaction taking place. I also hate to say it, but I've seen things that lead me to believe many of them are fishing for under the table sales that will allow them to sell a used 9mm Sigma for $450...IF they don't fill out the federally required paperwork.
Needless to say, I haven't been back to that show in years.
I also did get a set of non-diamond magnas in good shape (aside from being re-shellacked) for 15 bucks. Put them on my 3" 68-ish model 10.
About 30 years ago, I went to a gun show in a girlfriend's town and got a .303 Enfield with a modded stock for $30, but that gun was too inaccurate to be a shooter. Not the deal it appeared to be.
By and large, gun shows around here are a waste of time due to the extremely high prices. I hate to say it, but the vendors at local shows don't seem bright enough to figure this out. They appear to be mostly hobbyists who seem perfectly content to sit all weekend at a makeshift booth in an uninspiring convention hall and SELL ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! You can go hours at one of these events without seeing any sort of transaction taking place. I also hate to say it, but I've seen things that lead me to believe many of them are fishing for under the table sales that will allow them to sell a used 9mm Sigma for $450...IF they don't fill out the federally required paperwork.
Needless to say, I haven't been back to that show in years.
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MajorDude, that is a beauty! It looks just like mine (I've had since 1995) and I'm glad you snagged it! But I must say that you didn't "snipe" it out from under me, as I was there from doors open/8am until 11:30 on Saturday. So it was either a dealer that put it out late or a dealer that took it in from a member and sold to you.
My buddy and I work like a team to find guns that each of us are interested in, I can say with certainty that we didn't miss or overlook that 1006.
My buddy and I work like a team to find guns that each of us are interested in, I can say with certainty that we didn't miss or overlook that 1006.
I've been going to at least 10 shows a year for over 35 years. They don't all stink but have changed over the years. Before '86 there were M2HB's on the tables along with real MP5's and you didn't need to mortgage the house to get one. The AWB in the '90's started to sour the aroma somewhat and I was guilty of some "profiteering" while I still had an 01 FFL. Try to get me to resist selling a $20 Glock mag for $150. Recently the "gun count" has gone from say 50-200 on each of 50 or so 01FFL tables to basically the "owner" having several thousand items and a few local shops having to obey "pricing guidelines." There is every "gun related" item imaginable all in one place which is the remaining reason togo along with spending the day with my friend whom I probably wouldn't see much of otherwise. I'm looking forward to Saturday morning, maybe they'll have the $5 "gunsmith screwdriver sets" which are the greatest stocking stuffers in human history. See ya there. Joe
DocB
Member
Wow! Our gun shows in Georgia are bad beyond human comprehension. I haven't been to a "good" gun show since the 1980's. Inventory is horrible. Prices are stupid. You have to pay $10 to get in and see nothing. By the time a gun gets to a dealer at a gun show, it been through so many middle-men the price is elevated beyond reason. The cost to a dealer of traveling to a show, paying for lodging and food, and paying for the tables you need is so high. . .that adds to the price of the merchandise too. I much prefer to buy from local dealers who buy from the public and then sell to me for a small profit. The only exception I see at our shows is when some collector sets up for Saturday only and sells some of his guns. Of course, the other problem is that all the dealers buy all the good stuff from each other during set-up and then either keep the gun because it is so good, take it back home to sell to a super wealthy customer who doesn't care what he pays, or puts it out on his table for an amazing mark up in price. A gun show is not the place for a customer to buy guns. . .not even the new ones.
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For me, I always look forward to going to the Des Moines Fairgrounds show. There is always a couple of dealers who are really good about getting the very latest new product releases from Ruger, and at really good prices. There is also another table that the fellow deals almost exclusively in older Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers. Everything on his table is nice and is priced fairly. Those three vendors are almost worth the price of admission alone, IMO!
Now now Doc, don't potty mouth ALL the GA shows. You need to come up my way some time. I'll even let you set a spell behind my tables with me! If nothing else, you can find some great deals at my table!
P.S. Seems like I always find a great deal or two at my shows. Sometimes they walk right up to my table!
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Its the same thing here in Canada for Gun Shows. They were either real good this year or they were lousy. A Bargain is only good to those who can use the part or parts otherwise its not a hot deal at all. I would rather do a lousy show then NO show at all as there's always a chance I might just score a deal. Thats part of the going to a show part. Wishfull thinking on a deal.
