What Is Happening To Local Gun Shows?

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jmiles1960

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I eagerly planned to attend a local gun show in Gettysburg, PA hosted by Eagle Arms with my sons this weekend. The small number of firearms dealers / sellers who were there was beyond disappointing. The event was advertised as "250 tables", but probably the majority of vendors were selling knives, jewelry, food products, etc.. more of this stuff, than firearms! Is the Internet just destroying the enjoyment of wandering the aisle and tables and making deals? We were out of there in about an hour. Somebody has to making money; I guess Eagle Arms! Maybe this show was too small scale to be bothered and I didn't know it. There were virtually no deals to be found. Lots of vendors selling ammo and not having to ship or deal with hazmat ($) was a plus.
 
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The waiting periods inflicted by the state legislature and governor in Colorado and New Mexico have put a damper on show attendance. Then there's the daily gun show on your laptop or phone that hasn't helped.Table costs and venue restrictions by municipalities are additional hurdles that have all worked to shut down participation by both dealers and buyers. The good old days of gun shows are largely gone.
 
Why I Quit Setting Up

1) Table Charges went up again.

2) Promoter and staff were in competition, getting first chance to buy from dealers at set up times.

3) Promoter and staff were buying guns from attendees at their entrance table.

4) Promoter sent announcment post cards, only to those who had signed up for a drawing at last show.

5) Promoter stopped having bill boards - they had brought NEW customers in.

6) Fewer attendees after entrance price went up.

7) Lack of sales. Attendees seemed to want to pay $7 for $10 bill.

When I mentioned not appreciating the numerous non-gun tables I was told:
"I don't care if they want to sell watermelons, I want to sell tables."
 
The Eagle Arms Shows have been going downhill for a couple years now. I believe they were sold and the new owners jacked up the table prices. The Gettysburg, Lebanon, Bloomsburg, and even the big show at the Oaks are much smaller than before the change of ownership. I don't see many private sellers anymore as well.
This weekend the neighbor and I went down to the Lancaster County Gun Show in Quarryville, then went up to the Leesport show afterwards.
The trip to Quarrysville was well worth the time and admission was only $5. Lots of guns and gun stuff, much of it was black powder but there was something of everything. It was well attended. I'll go again.
The Leesport show was a dud. It is an Appalachian Productions event and turnout by both vendors and goers was thin. Same as with the Eagle arms shows. Admission was listed online as being $10 but we were charged only $8 at the door.
I much more enjoy the small, local shows staged by Fish and Game Clubs, Fire Halls an such. While smaller, they are more like the swap meets and shows of the past.
I quit going to the Gettysburg show. Its just not worth it. The only large show I look forward to seeing is the York Tri-County one held at the fairgrounds.

John
 
The gun shows here in the Texas panhandle are nothing like they used to be even 5 or 6 years ago. We have Pioneer Gun Collector sponsored shows and Texas Gun and Knife sponsored gun shows and they alternate through the year with shows. Most of what you see for sale is trinkets, nuts, military paraphernalia, and such. The old time gun collectors and sellers are gone and don't rent tables anymore.
We had a gun show sponsored by Old Crow Productions the weekend of Jan 11th, 2025 out at the Tri-State Fairgrounds and I was going to take a look around and we got 10" inches of snow, very cold, down to -4 degrees one night. It wasn't worth the trouble to go, so I stayed in where it was warm.
I've not heard of Old Crow Productions before now.
 
I stopped going to gunshows years ago.

I spend money to park.
I spend money to get in.

Then, when I walk around, there are no deals, just overpriced stuff I can find online cheaper. Any deals that were to be had, were made the day before the show started amongst the sellers themselves. It's just the same sellers selling the same stuff they've been bringing FOR YEARS.

I used to go just to hang out with friends, and look for military insignia, but it's simply not worth my time any more. Besides, all the collectors I used to see are either dead, or too old/sick to do anything.

Add the New Mexico's 7 day waiting period and all sales are supposed to go though an FFL - they don't - plus they moved the shows from the fair grounds to out of city limits, it REALLY isn't worth the time or money!

If/when gunshows go away, I wouldn't know or care, frankly.
 
I went to exactly two local gun shows after the Covid pause. Admission prices went drastically up, and nothing worthwhile was to be seen anywhere inside at either. Easy decision to not bother going in the future. I have not seen any gun shows advertised recently here, I guess they have become extinct in San Antonio. At one time back in the 90s, there was a gun show somewhere in town nearly every weekend. That is not an exaggeration.
 
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Okay, so, I've never been to a gun show. Couple motorcycle & car swap meets, but anyhow...here in PA there's a local one at the Monroeville convention center fairly regularly. When one buys a handgun, neither is a FFL, is there an FFL available? Or how does that work? (This is PA but as far as I know, we gotta do forms.)
 
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My last two purchases were from antique bottle shows. One is a 4" pre 34 and the other a 4" triple lock .44 special. I average at least two shows a month locally and go to Tulsa and Louisville at least once a year. I'm not interested in anything new. I've got all the fantastic plastic I need. If all you have is new stuff on your table I don't stop. I have a local dealer who will order anything I want, if he doesn't already have it, for 10% over cost. The tables are too high, meaning prices will be too to cover table costs. We went to a show in Biloxi last weekend. It cost $8.00 per person to get in + $10.70 to park. We had to eat and buy gas to get there. Total was around $80.00. We bought nothing.

I've been going to the shows since the early 60's. They are not what they used to be and they're not coming back. There are not as many people walking around trying to sell old guns. My interests are in old military and police stuff. The internet has hurt sales locally in three ways: 1-A lot of stuff is being sold on the internet. 2-Prices are inflated. 3-A lot of the gun show dealers will look at inflated asking prices on the net and put those same prices on their guns and then complain because they aren't selling anything. Deals are still out there but I seldom find one at a gun show.

My advice to the promoters is lower the table price. Keep the costs to get in under $10.00. Advertise everywhere, even if it's small road signs. You're going to get more dealers with the lower table prices (and hopefully lower prices on what they have to sell) and more folks paying to come in who have actually found out there is a show going on.
 
I went to a small gun show in Lancaster yesterday, figured it was something to do on a cold morning and the admission was only $5. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of guns. Was able to get some bullets at an okay deal and a great lunch from the local Lions Club. I'll go again next year.
 
I've been going to gun shows for at least 60 years going back to when I went with my late father. When I was finally grown up and working I would drive to any gun show within a four hour drive. I can't disagree with what has been said here, because I've seen it too.

But for the shows that don't charge for parking, keep the admission fees within reason for this day and age, and aren't too awful far away I'll probably keep going. Over the decades I have relationships with vendors who know what I'm interested in and/or reliably have stuff that I can pay cash for and carry away. And maybe there is a little bit of old memories mixed in. My hope is that the free market will remedy a lot of the issues that are discouraging us from going to the gun shows.
 
I enjoy gun shows and have for decades, especially when I rent table space.The "original" Ft. Worth gun show has had tables for $100.00 for the last year or two. Recently they have gone to $150.00 for non-FFL holders but remain at $100.00 for FFLs.
 
Two shows in Florida that are very worthwhile, I just got home from one of them. The Lakeland Fl. Rifle and Pistol Club show is held 3 times a year, I've been going to them since they started in 1968.
The show this weekend was the Ft. Myers Antique Gun and Militaria show. It was an excellent small show, no black guns, jewelry or jerky. The next one is in November, some Northern dealers/collectors come and some of the usual Florida suspects as well.
I have to hunt for good shows but there are still some worth seeing.
Regards,
 
Like the for sale/classified ads in the local paper-how many of them left ?
I am a fan of the English 3-speed, first place I look is Craigslist, though I did just find one at a local thrift shop. Lucked out a few years ago, found a 1918 SMLE at an estate sale, a friend who is the pastor of a church had a Red Ryder BB gun at their big annual rummage sale, it's mine now.
 
This all boils down to commercial gun shows and their owners. Their #1 concern isn't providing a quality show, it's the almighty dollar and their profits. Anybody with the money to rent tables gets one, with no rules on what they sell. That ruins the show, and customers give up on high entry fees, high table rental, and low quality of items for sale.
I attend only club shows that are run by gun collectors and are not for profit. Those shows have strict regulations about what sellers can have on their tables and they enforce those rules. Locally here in NW Oregon that's Oregon Arms Collectors gun shows that requires 90% of what's on your table to be gun or knife related. And we have no FFL sellers of new guns. We do have an FFL dealer or two who will do transfers when the type of guns require it. Our shows are 4th Sunday every month and parking is free, and entry is free for a $20 a year membership, or $5 a month for non members. Tables rent for $10 a month for members, and our venue is packed with people wanting tables, and buyers attending every month. This morning we were scrambling to try and setup extra tables for sellers!
I also attend the Colorado Gun Collectors show every May and it's a fantastic show that also got strict rules. Only antique or C&R firearms allowed to be sold, and the quality of their shows are fantastic. We'll have tables there again this May for their 3 day show, and drive 20 hrs. each way and feel it's well worth it!
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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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.
 
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Ματθιας;142158382 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Bekeart
 
jmiles1960 said:
Is the Internet just destroying the enjoyment of wandering the aisle and tables and making deals?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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