What Is Happening To Local Gun Shows?

[Yendor357]

The big Louisville and Indy gun shows in the 80s thru mid 90s were great. You could go to one of those with $200 and come out with an SKS and a thousand rounds of steel core ammo. They had all that WW2 stuff (you know what I mean). Powder and primers were cheap. I haven’t been for years.

Gunbroker ruined gun shows for me. Yeah, you’re going to pay too much, usually. And the fees stink. But I can always find what I want.

The little local shows are for amateurs and scalpers.

 

[Eddietruett]

Ironically this question was discussed recently with our shooting group.
I’ve been attending shows for 45-50 years and setting up tables for 10+.
These are the main reasons most of my friends think shows are worse at least here in SC.
The market has changed. Most of the collectors like us here are dying out and the younger crowd is looking at plastic pistols & AR’s. I used to set up a table with nothing but 30-40 beautiful Smiths and Colts and people would be 2 & 3 deep trying to get a look. Now younger guys walk by glancing at my stuff and keep walking.
A lot of collectors and dealers don’t keep up with the market trends and don’t accept the fact that the market is soft right now and are pricing guns like the Covid era. I’ve seen guns priced double of what they are selling for on GB. With the internet, customers are more educated in current pricing trends. When prices are that high, it doesn’t take long for the word to get out and people stay home.
No one is spending big money these days. The market is for $400-600 guns. Hardly ever see a $1000+ gun sell.
While rules are certainly necessary for safety reasons, some have become ridiculous. At some shows if a customer wants to inspect a gun close or try the action, the dealer is not allowed to cut a strap, a security guard must do so and people don’t want to wait 15-20 minutes or longer to find a guard. At the last show I attended I watched a guard who obviously had no clue about collectible guns, take the cutters and put a nice scratch on a pristine Python.
Another thing that hurts is the big mail order companies that are putting the small dealers out of business are also hurting gun show sales. For some reason which I don’t understand, customer service and knowledge a dealer can provide mean nothing when customers can save a few dollars.
I will keep attending if for no other reason than to see friends I only see at shows.

 

[Ματθιας]

The thing I don't like about gunshows is that dealers will make low ball offers to private sellers before the show. Then, they'll put it on their table with a huge mark up or sell it at another show. That left a bad taste with me. I understand, capitalism in action. If the buyer and seller are happy with the transaction then, great!

That being said, if I'm selling my stuff, I'm not selling to dealer with a low ball offer just for them to make a profit off of me. If there's a profit to be made, it's going to be me, not them.

If a dealer is going to low ball me, especially if they won't work with me on something they have that I desire, I tell them I want retail for my stuff. Now, if a collector or noob is willing to haggle, I'll give them a screaming deal. Or I'll go home with my stuff.

But since I don't/won't go to gunshows, and I don't want to part with any more of my milsurps, it doesn't matter.

Like I always say; Gun guys are socialists when we want to buy and capitalists when we want to sell.

 

[LVSteve]

I sympathize with the OP. We had a few great shows here in the casinos, but the management found that the gun buyers did not spend money in the cafes or at the machines. That doesn't fit the local business model.

We used to have a big show at the Cashman Center, but it was one of the more expensive shows to get in AND they charged for parking. I went twice, the first and last time. Last show I went to had stupid prices on most stuff except ammo. Still, it got me out of the house.

 

[CH4]

Shows definitely aren’t what they used to be, but I still usually come home with something I can’t live without. However, it’s getting to the point where the juice ain’t worth the squeeze.

 

[Fishinfool]

Since you are a PA resident, I'll give you a tip - Feb 1st & 2nd is the dates for the Benton FD show. Relatively small, it is one of those local shows that attract a lot of private sellers, unlike the Eagle shows that are primarily big dealers who seem to specialize in plastic pistols and AR-15's. A buddy and I who always go have scored some nice shooting iron there over the years. Good food, too.

Another really good one is the spring gun show at the Centre County Fairgrounds. Again, mostly private and smaller FFL's.

IF you are looking for classic, blued steel and walnut type stuff, these smaller FD, Grange, etc. shows are the ones to hit.

Also wanted to add that I have had good luck hitting yard / garage sales. Often times, they may not have a gun showing, but if you spot some gun related paraphernalia, it's worth asking....

Auctions can be hit or miss. If there are a couple FFL's looking to increase inventory, it can be tough, but then again, the last one I went to I picked up a really clean 1934 Winchester model 52 target rifle for just under $500.00 out the door.

Larry

 

[rwsmith]

Around here....

...if they aren't selling 'miscellaneous' items, they are LGS people with the same stuff on the table that they have in their shop. All plastic semi autos. Tables and tables of them. Doesn't matter, though. All I really want are reloading supplies, but I'm impecunious, so I'm not going to any gun shows.

 

[Bekeart]

AMEN

The thing I don't like about gunshows is that dealers will make low ball offers to private sellers before the show. Then, they'll put it on their table with a huge mark up or sell it at another show. That left a bad taste with me. I understand, capitalism in action. If the buyer and seller are happy with the transaction then, great!

That being said, if I'm selling my stuff, I'm not selling to dealer with a low ball offer just for them to make a profit off of me. If there's a profit to be made, it's going to be me, not them.

Been there.
Turned down his low ball offer.
Got my price from an attendee.

Bekeart

 

[tomhenry]

Is the Internet just destroying the enjoyment of wandering the aisle and tables and making deals?

Partly. But gun dealers have mostly created their own declining audience. They are unrealistic in their business model and pricing and are running themselves out of business.

I'm seeing this same phenomenon played out at our 4,000 table gun show here in Tulsa. Dealers bought inventory back in the Days of Scarcity and Panic and are determined to make money off their inflated inventory.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Every so often, I go to the Nation's Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This is about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C., and a stone's throw from Dulles International Airport. It's an enormous show, too big to cover in one day if you like to browse and take your time. (They do sell multi-day tickets.)

I was there a couple of weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised at the variety and selection available, everything from the usual modern polymer-framed pistols to antique rifles and shotguns.

 

[Muley Gil]

Every so often, I go to the Nation's Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This is about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C., and a stone's throw from Dulles International Airport. It's an enormous show, too big to cover in one day if you like to browse and take your time. (They do sell multi-day tickets.)

I was there a couple of weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised at the variety and selection available, everything from the usual modern polymer-framed pistols to antique rifles and shotguns.

Years ago, I bought some good guns at that show, including a 1st shipment 1926 .44 Special Wolf & Klar.

 

[Farmer17]

I've loved going to gun shows since I was 10 years old and looked forward to the Tulsa shows more than I did any other time of the year. I have not been to a gun show in at least 5 or 6 years and now have about all the guns I want and need to get rid of a few. Gun shows seem kind of depressing to me, seeing mostly some variation of AR-15s and black plastic pistols. I guess I haven't changed with the times.

 

[Dave_n]

Gun shows aren’t what they used to be, but I still go to a few. The Quarryville, Pa show is a nice small show. I didn’t get there this weekend because I bought a 64-3 at a local auction and spent all the gun money I had.

The Oaks, Pa show is the biggest show I go to. The best thing about Oaks is that it opens at 1pm on Friday. The other highlight is that Highland Arms is one of the vendors. Jeff always has a nice selection of S&W revolvers for sale. Oaks is also good for looking for less common ammunition, like .455 Webley.

The show I miss the most is the old Valley Forge gun show. It took up two floors of the convention center. I bought a lot of guns there in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

I agree. I live only 3 miles from the old VF show and it was well worth attending, particularly as it did charge for parking. One of my best "pickups" there was the last show before it moved. A seller from about 40 miles away was trying to sell cut Webley 0.455s. He then had a ratty looking Webley at the back of his table that caught my eye. He was quite happy to sell it to me using my C&R. He was not happy when I pointed out that it was one of the last 0.455s made as a commercial revolver and was still in 0.455 (uncut), not for the UK army. It turned out to be one of a small batch sold to South Africa in the middle 1930s. When cleaned up quite a nice piece of history. Dave_n

 

[paplinker]

I go to the Oaks show when I can and even help a guy at his table on occasion.Many dealers do not do there homework and good finds can be had. Seems the winter shows are much better than summer.
The Allentown show,forks of the Delaware can be a great show but most everyone knows what they own.A better chance of seeing some real old stuff.
I go to the VFW show sometimes and get great BBQ while up that way at Jesse's BBQ Best bbq in Pa I know of.

Maybe we need a Oaks show get together

 

[Golddollar]

Maybe we need a Oaks show get together

That would be neat. I've never been to the Oaks show. It would be pretty cool to put faces with the screen names.

 

[schwantz]

Gun shows aren’t what they used to be, but I still go to a few. The Quarryville, Pa show is a nice small show. I didn’t get there this weekend because I bought a 64-3 at a local auction and spent all the gun money I had.

The Oaks, Pa show is the biggest show I go to. The best thing about Oaks is that it opens at 1pm on Friday. The other highlight is that Highland Arms is one of the vendors. Jeff always has a nice selection of S&W revolvers for sale. Oaks is also good for looking for less common ammunition, like .455 Webley.

The show I miss the most is the old Valley Forge gun show. It took up two floors of the convention center. I bought a lot of guns there in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

I have bought more than a few items from Jeff as he’s the only one in my area with vintage S&W firearms. Since I retired 2 months ago I have been helping him at a few of the western Pa. gun shows.

 

[Nomadmax]

Most gun show "vendors" are on crack with their pricing, on everything. I belong to the OGCA and there are "vendors" there that think $35.00 for box of 38 Special range rounds is a bargain. Despite the fact that range rounds are currently $19-$21 per box. The only reason I go is to see what other people walking around have for sale. Currently, it's the only place to buy a S&W revolver that doesn't need to be sent back to the factory because it came in 2 piece cardboard box.

 

[dben002]

Locally that being the Greensboro and Winston-Salem North Carolina area there's a gun show about every 3 months with the same old vendors the same old displays and not a lot of deals unreasonable prices and unreasonable selections

 

[gym cat]

Haven't been to a gun show in at least 25 years, after reading this thread I went to one last weekend. Same guys -- Same stuff LMAO.

 

[rkrcpa]

The show I miss the most is the old Valley Forge gun show. It took up two floors of the convention center. I bought a lot of guns there in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

The Oaks show is the old Valley Forge Convention Center show (only with a better parking lot).