This weekend will be the first gunshow I attend after our mandatory ten day wait on all guns has gone into effect. It's been in decline for years now as the grabbers have pushed more and more in this state. Gone are the days of picking up a greasy milsurp for a couple bills and a handshake. Shit, even the regular jerky guy hasn't been there in a few years. It's shaping up to be a real depressing weekend.

I haven't been to one since the wu-flu hit. Most all of them got cancelled for the duration. I'm tempted to hit the next one here, just to see if anything's changed.

We hit one, a Crossroads of the West show, about two weeks ago. Good selection, even though it was small, but prices were gunshow weird. For example, M1 carbine ammo had a $15 differential for the exact same ammo. Standard black HK VP9s ranged from $599 to $799 depending on the dealer. No difference in the sights or number of magazines either.

I did buy a knife from a maker who is retiring due to arthritis in his hands. D2 steel so nothing special but I liked the one I bought a year ago from him so, I bought a second one (I bought the larger one this show). My son had a good time so all in all it was time well spent.

Nowadays I go to a local gun show to pick up items like Transfer Syringes for TrueOil I use to touch up the finish on my shotgun stocks. I also like to keep various sizes of Hemostats on hand because they are a lot more useful than needle nose pliers. There was a time pre-Covid when I would browse the shows to pick up primers and powder but that is a waste of time and effort nowadays. Once I've bought out the syringes in stock at the medical supply stall I'll just walk the isles once to see if there is anything interesting. Last time there I spotted a very high grade Moruku O/U but when I checked the action the joint was beyond loose, the barrel lug would have to be Tig welded up and re-cut to get the joint back into usable condition.

I think gun shows have been that way for 15 years now. It seems like a bunch of old guys getting together to show off their stuff and get out of the house and that’s about it.

Local show at Gettysburg a week or so back was smaller than their usual small show. Little of antique, vintage or military interest, but then I’m not really hunting for much.

Did find an AR kit minus the receiver for $350. Thought that was a pretty good deal. M4 clone style.

Otherwise haven’t seen much for a while.

I agree back when I was a kid, early 1980’s gun shows were a great place to find bargains of all sorts. These days not so much.
What you do find is a fair amount of old classics in one place, and do occ get a fair if not great deal. Most shops in my area ( and we have a ton- probably 20 within a 45 minute drive of the house) have as many glocks and AR’s as you could ever want, but old classics are scarce.

I look for things like reloading components and bargain small stuff.
I like to dig in those “ any thing in the box $5 or $10 bins, and often get good deals on things like bullets for reloading that may be an open partially used box. Some of my more decent scores in the last couple years:
2 S&aw victory magazines for $10. 10 for both not each.
A brick of SKstandard plus for $50, probably should have bought all he had
Dug in a bargain bin and got a Wilson 47D and a Tripp cobra 1911 mag for $30 for both.
Approximately 2000 component bullets for 45 and 38 ( a bunch of 250 and 500 round boxes of various types and styles with a handful missing out of a few) for $80

'95 was my last show. Found a great deal on an Officers Model 1911. When the gunny came over to do the paper work, it was the owner of a local shop I frequented. Other than the gun, which I could have gotten locally, all I encountered was body odor and roller dogs. About the dogs-when they were shutting down, one vendor spoke to his boss, saying they were out of ice. Boss said, "No big deal, tomorrow is the last day. Throw them in (the ice chest) without ice." It's pretty hard to make gas station snack bars look good, but he did.

It is a shame when the shows aren’t that good. I still like going though. I occasionally do find something I have to get, lol. It’s been a while though, and pickings can be slim. I remember the good old days too. I am acquainted with a few dealers who recognize me, and will chat a bit, so that’s nice too.

I get a gunshow email, local shows & big ones further away. I used to go with a milsurp collecting son. He’s in the military now. My going has dropped 90%.

For some reason I had the idea of a small 327 Fed on my mind lately, even looked at the lower cost Taurus. The Taurus is kinda heavy for its size. I was able to renew my relationship with my 340PD, no need to load for yet another cartridge.

Sometimes the ‘Vets are free’ for admission gets me to go. It’s nice to look, I don’t need to go either though.

Just 2 months ago I at a guns show I Found an HK wood stock set for my G3 clone for $120. Not the cetme. Actual HK factory wood is getting tough to find especially the fore ends. Occasionally find good deals on guns. In FL if buyer has a CCW they can take delivery same day no wait upon background check passing, if buying from a FFL.

Usually old out of print gun and other reference books can be found. I don’t usually go looking to find an actual gun. My local shop has very fair prices on new stuff. If I find an older used something then that’s a bonus.

Never been to one and reading the stories here, I have no desire to go.

Went to one Corvette show when I had a Corvette. Never went again. Was mostly old guys more concerned with how clean their cars were than guys driving their cars.

Went to one Saturday for the first time (well, maybe the second time) since 2020. New production Colt Anacondas were the items calling to me most, but I resisted. Very few deals, except at one table with stuff I had no hankering for. May go to one next month.

Signs just popped up on local major hwys advertising a local gun show for this weekend... Have not attended one in maybe 4 years. ................................... drill sgt.

I live near Harrisburg, PA so when the big one at the Farm Show Complex happens, I usually go. Sometimes just for the people watching. But the one last weekend was actually good. For the first time since pre covid. Lots of Garands and M1 carbines. Crazy overpriced, but available. Lots of Smith & Wesson revolvers without the stupid lock and not horrible priced. And a lot less garbage jewelry sellers.

I haven't been to one for about 10 years . They got stupid with their admission charge and it's probably worse now .

It's funny that you say that, the admission price to the Harrisburg show was $12 for the last 5 years but today it was $13, because they sent out a text saying "Show this text to get $1 off admission". What tools.

I got to maybe three shows a year. One local (Lebanon Fairgrounds), one in York and one in Centre Hall. Generally one is totally lame, one is marginal and one is rather good. The ratings don’t seem to favor one location more than any other, but the general pattern I have seen develop is pretty reliable. I just accept these odds before I go and try to keep my hopes at an appropriate level.

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Originally posted by Gustofer:
If "for awhile" you mean about 30 years, then I'd agree.

Mid 90s was about the last one I went to. Sounds like things haven't changed too much.

Sounds exactly like me! Mid-90's, way too much for the entry fee, and forced to unload and zip-tie my lawfully carried concealed pistol! Everything was seriously overpriced and I left rather quickly... and I've never been to another one.

My favorite LGS puts others to shame, and is most definitely much cheaper than all the stuff I saw at that show!