Not so “Big Reno Show” Colt

[CH4]

Due to its study decline in attendance and exhibitors over the past 10 years, I reluctantly attended the Big Reno Show today. There were the usual vendors with their increasingly ridiculous prices. That said, there's always a few gems with sellers willing to dance; today was no exception.

Today I found two such gems, a cherry, unmolested pre 64 M70 fwt in 358 win and a e-nickel Colt GCNM from the custom shop. Traded into the Colt and still negotiating on the Winchester.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Fist time I went was in the very early 2000's when it was at what is now the GSR. Two massive showrooms wall to wall and I couldn't believe it! I went to the last one this spring at the Nugget and what a sad state of affairs it has dwindled to. Will still go to the winter one if I can.

 

[dsf]

I missed this one. Drove from Cape Cod to San Francisco via route 40 earlier in the week, didn't feel like making the detour from AZ up though NV. Much as it's diminished from years ago, I still like going. I do tend to spend more at Willey Bros though.

 

[Rpg]

That 358 is very desirable and rarely available.

Don't get caught up trying to save a couple hundred dollars.

 

[CH4]

That 358 is very desirable and rarely available.

Don't get caught up trying to save a couple hundred dollars.

You're absolutely right. I have him down to $4k, which I am ok with. Although he's a long time, reputable Winchester collector, I want to verify that everything is legit. The price tag says 1954, but the 358 wasn't released until 1955.

 

[mm93]

Myself and a couple friends used to spend 3 days at every "Big Reno Gun Show" when Lou senior owned the show. But after Lou's passing junior took over and each year show quality dropped more and more. Junior wasn't a gun collector like senior was, and his only concern was selling tables. So he didn't keep the show true to what his dad did.
Eventually we saw the show dwindling and quality going away. After the MGM shut the show down as a knee jerk reaction to the shooting in Vegas at the MGM casino/hotel, we just quit.

 

[CH4]

I was at the Big Show that weekend. Besides the venue rethinking things, Lou didn't tell the exhibitors that patrons would not be allowed to bring guns into the show; only exhibitor's guns would be allowed. Many of the old timers packed up and left, never to return. It was this deception by Jr that did the most irreparable damage. This was the second show under a new promoter; I didn't see any meaningful difference from Lou's last shows. The Crossroads Show at the convention seems more popular these days.

 

[dsf]

I was at the Big Show that weekend. Besides the venue rethinking things, Lou didn't tell the exhibitors that patrons would not be allowed to bring guns into the show; only exhibitor's guns would be allowed. Many of the old timers packed up and left, never to return. It was this deception by Jr that did the most irreparable damage. This was the second show under a new promoter; I didn't see any meaningful difference from Lou's last shows. The Crossroads Show at the convention seems more popular these days.

I had skipped the Crossroads show for quite a few years. Went to the most recent one a few weeks back and was surprised that it is improved. True, smaller venue but a fair number of C&R guns for sale and I picked up a few. And it seems lower "junk to guns" ratio than the Big Reno. Free parking at the Atlantis helps too.

I miss the GSR show - looking back they were great. From a business and operational POV, I have to give Lou Jr credit just being able to navigate what must have been a hell of a challenge after the shooting and COVID. I was at all those shows and just getting them held, with the "no patrons guns" and other restrictions (courtesy of the casino IIRC) and staging re patron capacity for COVID - must have been alot of work just to get the thing held.

I figure any time I'm outside CA and at a gun show - it's an OK day for me.

 

[CH4]

Ah yes, loved the GSR/Hilton and MGM? show. Scheduled my whole year around those 3 shows. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Sooo many Sakos

Besides the no patron guns (fresh meat), the one factor that enraged the exhibitors, especially the old timers, was that jr knew about the restriction a couple weeks ahead of the show and didn't tell anyone. For many, that was the last straw. Although the Nugget has a similar casino ambiance, it still lacks that certain je ne sais quois that made the Big Reno show, the Big Reno Show.

 

[LVSteve]

The latest crop of corporate attitude in the NV casino industry has taken me to the point that the only times I am interested in the Strip are:

1) I'm getting a freebie

2) The Strip is on fire from end to end and I have been saved a place on the roof of the Red Rock parking structure to get good pictures.

 

[CH4]

The latest crop of corporate attitude in the NV casino industry has taken me to the point that the only times I am interested in the Strip are:

1) I'm getting a freebie

2) The Strip is on fire from end to end and I have been saved a place on the roof of the Red Rock parking structure to get good pictures.

1)Same here, but only if the freebie includes parking.
2)I'll be using big glass from 160 east of Spring Mountain.