Huskerguy
Member
My bride and I made the trip for the fourth time in the last five years. I enjoy it each time. She helps me look for certain things I am interested in and has a good eye. She found a Dan Wesson for me that I didn't buy and while she doesn't know all of the models, she can tell a Colt from a Smith and a Dan and all the knockoffs. We also very much like the specialty stuff that people bring. One guy had a huge collection of "mini's" that have their roots in the former guild system. Craftsmanship was amazing. A pistol that works with all moving parts the size of your wife's little finger. Also love the muskets, derringers, Indian artifacts and civil war finds. I had posted on here about going to Little Big Horn this summer and picked up lots of info and a good book to read.
Didn't buy any flashlights or the cure all bracelets but did find some really good beef sticks we are still enjoying and priced very reasonable.
The isles lined up as usual but we can never figure out the difference between the white numbers on the metal beams like 8N (I know it is isle 8 and north but the numbers in the middle didn't correspond. The isles were irregular which caused the problem - one would be nice and wide and you could really move and the next was tight and slowed you down. I don't get bothered by back packs (have one myself), lots of guys with carts on wheels, motorized carts, etc because I am glad those people can get get out and enjoy the show as well. It is all part of it and who knows when we will be the ones who inconvenience someone else in our later years. I do mind the family reunions in the isles. Did see one older lady behind a table ask a mother with stroller to move so people could get to their table. The double wide strollers are difficult to work around but the upside is I like families being together and getting them started really young!
The Snake guns are out of the safes and I think every table had at least one! Many collections and you had your pick. I didn't see many moving. Prices were all over the place up to mid 3's. That is a market I don't dabble in.
Smiths were very high I thought. Found a 66 no dash for $925 and it wasn't all that clean. 27's were all well above $1,200. 19's could be had around $750 for a shooter to $1,500 and more for others. I thought things were about 1 - 3 hundred higher than last year. I only found three Dan's and one worth looking at and it was $800.
We cover the floor pretty well and take good notes so we go back and forth on things. A lot of things I looked at on Saturday early were still there Sunday. In most cases guys were willing to deal on prices so I don't always let the high numbers scare me. I picked up a very clean 28-2 in the box although I would like to have a four instead of a six but his gives me something else to look for now.
My biggest pet peeve were the empty tables, way more than usual. Guess people just didn't show up. Then others had stuff covered most of the day and worst of all, many people starting packing up at 10:00 on Sunday. We get there right at 8:00 both days and we felt sorry for those coming to the show and forking over 10 bucks on Sunday at noon only to see a large number of dealers closing shop. I think that is really bad form and something they will need to address.
Have a friend who gets a dealer pass to go on Friday and that is where the money is made for dealers. That would be fun someday. Having a wad of $10,000 cash gets you some neat stuff I hear.
Bottom line is stuff was high but if you looked and took some time, there were deals to be made. I find this true each year but it is work and you need to be prepared to walk. Thought maybe numbers were down but my friends thought it was packed so what do I know. I do want to go in November just to see what is different. Heard they have a different set of dealers and not as many people attend because of the weather.
Where was the S & W Forum booth?
Didn't buy any flashlights or the cure all bracelets but did find some really good beef sticks we are still enjoying and priced very reasonable.
The isles lined up as usual but we can never figure out the difference between the white numbers on the metal beams like 8N (I know it is isle 8 and north but the numbers in the middle didn't correspond. The isles were irregular which caused the problem - one would be nice and wide and you could really move and the next was tight and slowed you down. I don't get bothered by back packs (have one myself), lots of guys with carts on wheels, motorized carts, etc because I am glad those people can get get out and enjoy the show as well. It is all part of it and who knows when we will be the ones who inconvenience someone else in our later years. I do mind the family reunions in the isles. Did see one older lady behind a table ask a mother with stroller to move so people could get to their table. The double wide strollers are difficult to work around but the upside is I like families being together and getting them started really young!
The Snake guns are out of the safes and I think every table had at least one! Many collections and you had your pick. I didn't see many moving. Prices were all over the place up to mid 3's. That is a market I don't dabble in.
Smiths were very high I thought. Found a 66 no dash for $925 and it wasn't all that clean. 27's were all well above $1,200. 19's could be had around $750 for a shooter to $1,500 and more for others. I thought things were about 1 - 3 hundred higher than last year. I only found three Dan's and one worth looking at and it was $800.
We cover the floor pretty well and take good notes so we go back and forth on things. A lot of things I looked at on Saturday early were still there Sunday. In most cases guys were willing to deal on prices so I don't always let the high numbers scare me. I picked up a very clean 28-2 in the box although I would like to have a four instead of a six but his gives me something else to look for now.
My biggest pet peeve were the empty tables, way more than usual. Guess people just didn't show up. Then others had stuff covered most of the day and worst of all, many people starting packing up at 10:00 on Sunday. We get there right at 8:00 both days and we felt sorry for those coming to the show and forking over 10 bucks on Sunday at noon only to see a large number of dealers closing shop. I think that is really bad form and something they will need to address.
Have a friend who gets a dealer pass to go on Friday and that is where the money is made for dealers. That would be fun someday. Having a wad of $10,000 cash gets you some neat stuff I hear.
Bottom line is stuff was high but if you looked and took some time, there were deals to be made. I find this true each year but it is work and you need to be prepared to walk. Thought maybe numbers were down but my friends thought it was packed so what do I know. I do want to go in November just to see what is different. Heard they have a different set of dealers and not as many people attend because of the weather.
Where was the S & W Forum booth?
