I've made a few over the years. One that comes to mind was at a small gun show down in Somerset, KY. I met up with my friends, Joe and Glen and we set up our table. I was a good boy and was a settin' on the nest whilst they rampaged all over the show, looking for bargains. Then just around lunch time some fool came in and bought my Browning High Power, the one with all the factory engraving. I was just happy to sell it and maybe make a dollar or two.
So being flush with cash, I decided to wander over to the hot dog stand and tempt fate and food poisoning. So with my dogs and drink in hand, I took a bypass down a side aisle. I came upon a guy who liked N frame 357s. The guy had a passel of them on his table, but one caught my eye.
It had prewar sights, a very good sign. And he wanted $675 for it. But right next to it was a M27, also nickel, and he only wanted $600 for it. So being kind of dumb...
I asked him why the newer and better one was cheaper. He had some kind of idea that maybe a prewar magnum might bring a little more than a current production gun. Of course I'd eaten one of my dogs and was workin' on the second. And I hadn't picked either up yet. But I put down my drink and the remains of the hot dog and picked up the RM, which for all the world looked factory and even had a little tiny "N" in the ejector shroud. Then I put it back down and started really admiring the current production gun. He finally asked me what I thought... So I told him I'd take the older gun if he'd make it $600. He jumped at the deal, so I didn't tear my pocket gettin' the money out. I then stuck it in my belt, picked up my food and walked on. When I got back they asked what I had. I replied "just a ratty old nickel Magnum".
Not a gun but at the same venue, I drove down just because it was a nice autumn day and that part of KY is great when the leaves change. My wife came along, just to look. About half way through the show there were too old horse traders at a table, I recognized them from many prior shows. Up front was an old shotgun shell box with a bunch of 357 parts. Barrel, cylinder, the normal stuff. but down in the bottom was a flawless sight adjuster, in black oxide. So I asked him what he wanted for it.
He said "its not mine, its his" and turned to his partner. The guy gave me a crazy look and said "you need a screwdriver?" Yep. So he said "oh, how about a dollar." I was near cardiac arrest, couldn't breathe, but did manage to hand over a dollar and stumbled away. At the end of the island, at the cross aisle, my wife looked at me and said "whats wrong with you?" So I got my breathing going again and my pulse running, and just said that was the deal of the century. Didn't impress her much.
And then there was the show down in Paris, KY. Everyone at gun shows knows each other, or at least the vendors do. I was getting there a little late for whatever reason. The normal gaggle of old coots (look who's talking) was outside, sitting on the guard rail around the building. They were up to the normal, lying, fibbing, and reliving the past, smoking and chewing. The first guy on the line said hi, and I said hi back. Then I asked him if there was anything good inside. He said not really. Some young guy had a chrome plated Smith, but wanted too much for it. OK. In I went. The shows were small enough you could walk them in a hurry in 15 minutes. It didn't take long to find the guy. He'd offered it to every vendor in the room, but for $750 he was going to be taking it home again. I waited politely for him to finish getting his hopes dashed by the vendor he was showing it to. As he turned I asked "whacha got thar" Polite in country terms. He said "just this old 44". So I was looking at it and it looked kind of nice, but had ugly jigged bone grips someone had stuck on it long ago. So I got this frown on my face, the put on one to tell the guy it wasn't going to happen. But just as he was saying he could probably take $650 for it, I noticed the caliber marking on the barrel wasn't 44 S&W Special, it said 44 Winchester. In all fairness, they maybe made a dozen in off calibers, maybe 3 or 4 in 44-40. So I paid up and took the thing home with me. Guess we were both happy campers. Did I mention I like the small out of the way shows?
Not a gun, but at the same promoters little (tiny) show in Mt Sterling, KY, I walked in early. It was going to be a dog of a show. Only 2 rows of tables, and they weren't long rows. But at the one corner there were a couple of tables on a little stage. Guess the room was used for receptions or dances or something. So I walked over and looked. The guy had display boxes and in one I could see the unmistakable handle of an old Randall knife. Well, no one came over to tend the tables and I felt like a fool just standing up there, so I browsed the rest of the show, keeping an eye out for the vendor. Finally I asked the promoter (Jerry Taylor) where the guy was.
He just got a funny look on his face and said "he went to breakfast!" OK. So I walked the show again, BSing with the vendors I knew well. Finally a guy came strolling in. He'd been to Mickey D's, and had a shopping bag full of egg McMuffins, coffee and such, passing it out to everyone. When they all got down to eating, I walked over and asked him if that was his display up there on the stage. He said yup. So I said he had a knife buried in the one case I might be interested in. He laughed and said "oh, you mean that old Randall? I can't sell it for less that $150." Well, I'd driven 100 miles to get to the show, so I figured it was worth looking at. And it was a keeper. So I gave him his $150 and took it home. My buddy the Randall expert saw it the next weekend. He wanted to know where I landed it and for how much (maybe an improper question, but he's a friend, so I told him. He said "you want to triple your money?" Of course I didn't, if he'd pay me $450, it was worth significantly more. Its an early trout and bird, not the current blade grind, and fairly sought after. And it reminds me, I've got to open a thread on the guy signing on as Sam Sackett. The knife is factory inscribed to a Ted Sackett.
I've got more stories of glory, blood and guts.
, I could hardly contain myself long enough to get my money out 
