Why stay away from Gun Shows?

[ISCS Yoda]

I go occasionally - they're fun, I usually can stock up on ammunition at reasonable prices, and sometimes a gun follows me home. Not so much as in years past, however - so many guns, as noted above, are now gold plated!

Holsters and stocks have been known to follow me home, too!

 

[.455_Hunter]

The last Denver Tanner Show I attended was very fruitful- A 90% 10-8 w/ magna grips for $325 and a 90% 39-2 for $400 w/ extra mag. Not screaming deals, but resonable for hard to find in the flesh guns (not GB).

 

[weatherby]

So, remind me why do you stay away from shows?


Because you are local to me and have already scooped up the good deals

 

[JohnAC]

There were plenty of nice Smiths floating around the show this weekend. Good to see.

 

[3S16]

I'm sure everyone has at least one gun show find - here's mine. I generally have to work weekends and worse yet live in central coastal SoCal. I had a Saturday off that corresponded to a small gun show at the local fairgrounds.
A lot of AR stuff, plastic guns, WWII stuff, and beef jerky. I ran into an old friend and chatted while he looked at some Nazi stuff. I happened to glance into the dealers show case and there in the very back was a stainless S&W. I asked to see it - 657 3" with original Combats in LNIB! I tried to contain my excitement. He wanted $900. I whipped out 8 one hundred dollar bills and the deal was sealed. Better yet, it was my 66th birthday!

 

[Club Gun Fan]

So, remind me why do you stay away from shows?


Because you are local to me and have already scooped up the good deals

Paul
I am surprised at your response. If you looked around the show, you would have seen a Model 60 for $400.00, a .45 1937 Brazilian import for $525.00, a stunning .38 1905 Second Change for $500.00, a 38/44 Heavy Duty for $600.00. Do you want me to continue? By the way, I didn't buy any of them. I only buy Club Guns, Model 53's and an occasional Presentation gun. The two Model 53's are the first S&W's I've bought in 16 months, and in that time frame I've set up, or attended a dozen shows or more. How many "good deals" have you picked up in that same time frame? Just an FYI, the Model 53's that I bought were from my buddy Jim Martin.

 

[Twiki357]

Out of 5 or 6 a year local gun shows, I think I've only missed 1 or 2 in the last 5+ years. Free parking and $7 or $8 admission for an afternoon of gawking, talking and I almost always bring something home, even if it's just a bag of fired brass.

I like looking at the big shows down in Phoenix, but haven't been for at least 4 or 5 years. It's just too expensive. Between admission, parking and gas, it's $50+/- just to walk in the door and bargains are almost nonexistent.

 

[gmiller0737]

I go to quite a few Local Gun Shows mostly to buy Reloading Supplys,I am less than impressed with the amount of non gun related stuff they allow,I don't go to a Gun Show for Beef Jerkey or Junk Jewelery!

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I go to quite a few Local Gun Shows mostly to buy Reloading Supplys,I am less than impressed with the amount of non gun related stuff they allow,I don't go to a Gun Show for Beef Jerkey or Junk Jewelery!

I know what you mean. Promoters don't care what you put on your table or where they put you. At some of the shows I attend, I've seen tables full of high end Winchesters right beside beef jerky and hot sauce. I used to go to a show in PA years ago where they set up the show in two parts, Antique on one side and Modern on the other. I guess those days are long gone.

 

[fat tom]

I have inserts for all of them, but don't use them. Why shoot .22LR's in it when you can use a Model 17.

Precisely! And still,the cost of a Model 53 doubles when the box and inserts are included.
f.t.

 

[fyimo]

I use to go to gun shows a lot and I made some really good buys at them but my collection is as large as I want it to be so I don't go anymore. The last gun I bought at a gun show was a mint 14-3 for $400 about 6 years ago and I was stunned that it was at that price. I saw it and walked away only to go back 10 minutes later and buy it.

 

[TRE]

I go to shows fairly often. Sometimes I find good deals, sometimes not. Sometimes I even see/find hard to find guns that interest me (at last months show I saw not one but THREE S&W M52s, which are on my bucket list), other times nothing but new guns and junk.

No matter, something always follows me home. Parts, accessories, brass, SOMETHING. Plus, the venue has really, REALLY good hot dogs, lol.

Either way, it's a fine way to waste a Saturday. $6 is little to pay to be around like minded people and amongst things I enjoy. Sometimes I'll spend an hour or more just shooting the bull with someone there, usually an old timer, and it's always entertaining and usually educational.

I've done it all my life, I guess it's just my thing.

TRE

 

[bulldog06]

Springfield GS

I went to the Springfield show on Saturday. Always fun seeing what is there and visiting with Don, Paul, and others.

I saw a lot of tempting Smiths and also some nice Colts but was saving my dollars for a pending deal from another forum member.

Small GS this weekend at Plymouth (home of the small rock). I'll probably take a ride. Small, lots of surplus and accessories. But last time a dealer selling all black guns had a nice nickel 27-2 consignment gun almost hidden at the back of his display.

The show before that, another dealer had a pre 28 5 screw 4".

Each one was $650 or less. Not a steal, but not bad for here. Glad I went to those little shows.

 

[DAinTX]

I don't go to as many shows as I did at one time. Yes, many dealers' guns are overpriced...however, the possibility of a good deal always exists and I have gotten many good/great deals over the years, some recently. Plus, you occasionally see items at gun shows that you wouldn't see, or would rarely see, anywhere else just due to the number of guns brought in. I certainly don't count on gun shows for what I want...but I don't discount them either.

 

[H Richard]

I don't travel to as many shows as I used to, but at a sort of small show, maybe 300 tables, a couple weeks ago I found not 1 but 2 like new original magazines for my 1910 FN Browning .380. Took to the range last night and both feed JHP's reliably. Price wasn't bad either. My buddy picked up a supply of the new powder coated bullets to load up. I'm getting to really like these.