rburg
Member
It will come as no surprise I like my gun shows. Many I attended over the years were very good indeed. Some because I scored big time, others because I unloaded guns on others I really wanted to send down the road.
But one stood out as great for me. It was a CADA show, and it was being held locally to me. I'm used to getting up before the rooster crows, rushing like an idiot to get moving (and in the process often forgetting some essential item.) Then driving from 2 to 4 hours to pay an exorbitant amount to park. And walking a country mile from the lot to the show venue.
But not this CADA show. It was being held in the local convention center. I have no idea why they named it that. Its small, inconvenient to park, and generally has bridal shows and the like. This was different. It was a gun show close to me.
I don't live out in the country these days. I'm an inner city dweller, except I live a stone's throw from the Ohio River (literally). So on the Saturday of the show I got up a bit late, maybe 8ish. Took my time getting dressed and eating. Then about 20 till 9 I left home on foot. The convention center is about a mile east, one block in from the river. Easy to get to while on foot.
I don't remember every detail about the show, only that I scored a nice RM for rock bottom $. I did have to take a major risk on it. I looked then walked away. The seller wasn't having a great morning, and hadn't made a single sale according to him. But I had friends running tables, and I needed to talk and BS with them. And as I recall I also bought a couple of nick nacks. So it was getting on about noon, which is lunch time to me. I don't like that places food, so I was going to head home.
But knowing there was a fine gun in the room I decided to see if I could cheat the old buzzard out of it. (hey, I'm an old buzzard myself.) The guy sure lit up when he saw me back at the gun. I'm thinking it was a tactical mistake on his part. He tipped his hand way too early. So I played the lunch card and mentioned it was hungry out, and I probably was leaving for the day.
He then suggested the price wasn't as fixed as he'd indicated earlier
. So after a few minutes of negotiation, the RM was mine.
Hey, I live in Kentucky. We're populated with hillbillies. We do odd stuff (mostly legal.) So instead of walking west on 3rd street, I did the unanticipated. I walked up the grassy floodwall and headed toward home, gun in belt (the zero-69 carry). It was a sunny day and the river and trees were nice. About 3 blocks along I did notice a police car in a parking lot for a company that backs the river, but its not unusual. They need coffee and donuts, too. I paid no attention, just kept walking along.
There's a break in the floodwall to allow access to a restaurant, so I dropped down to street level and back up to the top of the wall. Nice hike. When I got to the end I had to drop down again. When I emerged from behind the concrete wall, there was not only one cop, but 2 others! I'm guessing some old biddy got panicky about the crazed terrorists hiking along. But I'm an open minded guy. If they were upset, its OK with me.
Of course one of the cops I'd seen around a bunch and when he saw me, he just rolled his eyes. Then he said "I should have known!" The second cop just wanted to know why I was packing heat in town. But I had a good answer "cause I just bought it." The 3rd degree questioning continues "were?" At the gunshow in convention center.
3rd cop started "what gunshow?" Answer "the one at the convention center, stop for a look."
1st cop back in the game "better still whut is it?" So I replied "a genuine 1930 Registered Magnum." 2nd cop "can I see it?" Sure.
2nd cop "like the one Hoover used to carry?" Me "kind of". After a short inspection, I think might have been as much to see it was empty as anything else, the 3rd cop got back in the game. "Where ya goin' with it."
Me "home". Oh.
So thats how I got the lower number of my pair of consecutive registration numbers. It was 12:30 and I was at home with my new toy. It was a good Saturday.
The best part was the entire thing took place within walking distance of the home digs. No driving. Just a short hike on a sunny day.
But one stood out as great for me. It was a CADA show, and it was being held locally to me. I'm used to getting up before the rooster crows, rushing like an idiot to get moving (and in the process often forgetting some essential item.) Then driving from 2 to 4 hours to pay an exorbitant amount to park. And walking a country mile from the lot to the show venue.
But not this CADA show. It was being held in the local convention center. I have no idea why they named it that. Its small, inconvenient to park, and generally has bridal shows and the like. This was different. It was a gun show close to me.
I don't live out in the country these days. I'm an inner city dweller, except I live a stone's throw from the Ohio River (literally). So on the Saturday of the show I got up a bit late, maybe 8ish. Took my time getting dressed and eating. Then about 20 till 9 I left home on foot. The convention center is about a mile east, one block in from the river. Easy to get to while on foot.
I don't remember every detail about the show, only that I scored a nice RM for rock bottom $. I did have to take a major risk on it. I looked then walked away. The seller wasn't having a great morning, and hadn't made a single sale according to him. But I had friends running tables, and I needed to talk and BS with them. And as I recall I also bought a couple of nick nacks. So it was getting on about noon, which is lunch time to me. I don't like that places food, so I was going to head home.
But knowing there was a fine gun in the room I decided to see if I could cheat the old buzzard out of it. (hey, I'm an old buzzard myself.) The guy sure lit up when he saw me back at the gun. I'm thinking it was a tactical mistake on his part. He tipped his hand way too early. So I played the lunch card and mentioned it was hungry out, and I probably was leaving for the day.
He then suggested the price wasn't as fixed as he'd indicated earlier
. So after a few minutes of negotiation, the RM was mine. Hey, I live in Kentucky. We're populated with hillbillies. We do odd stuff (mostly legal.) So instead of walking west on 3rd street, I did the unanticipated. I walked up the grassy floodwall and headed toward home, gun in belt (the zero-69 carry). It was a sunny day and the river and trees were nice. About 3 blocks along I did notice a police car in a parking lot for a company that backs the river, but its not unusual. They need coffee and donuts, too. I paid no attention, just kept walking along.
There's a break in the floodwall to allow access to a restaurant, so I dropped down to street level and back up to the top of the wall. Nice hike. When I got to the end I had to drop down again. When I emerged from behind the concrete wall, there was not only one cop, but 2 others! I'm guessing some old biddy got panicky about the crazed terrorists hiking along. But I'm an open minded guy. If they were upset, its OK with me.
Of course one of the cops I'd seen around a bunch and when he saw me, he just rolled his eyes. Then he said "I should have known!" The second cop just wanted to know why I was packing heat in town. But I had a good answer "cause I just bought it." The 3rd degree questioning continues "were?" At the gunshow in convention center.
3rd cop started "what gunshow?" Answer "the one at the convention center, stop for a look."
1st cop back in the game "better still whut is it?" So I replied "a genuine 1930 Registered Magnum." 2nd cop "can I see it?" Sure.
2nd cop "like the one Hoover used to carry?" Me "kind of". After a short inspection, I think might have been as much to see it was empty as anything else, the 3rd cop got back in the game. "Where ya goin' with it."
Me "home". Oh.
So thats how I got the lower number of my pair of consecutive registration numbers. It was 12:30 and I was at home with my new toy. It was a good Saturday.
The best part was the entire thing took place within walking distance of the home digs. No driving. Just a short hike on a sunny day.
