For me, just the opposite... our local gun show was one of the best since the 80’s.

Interesting items at somewhat reasonable prices.

Though for years it was dreck.

quote:

Originally posted by dwright1951:
The last several gun shows that I went to it was to buy reloading supplies (powder and primers) to not have to pay hazemat fees. Sure I looked around but prices were way high.

That's because the seller is trying to recoup HIS hazmat fee...and more. Truth be told, I've NEVER been to a gun show. I'm sure I missed some good times "back in the day"...

I need to get to Wannamacher. I've been saying that for years, but now I have no excuse.

quote:

Originally posted by Herknav:
I need to get to Wannamacher. I've been saying that for years, but now I have no excuse.

It's the only place I ever got tired of looking at guns.

I still go to my local shows, even with parking and admission prices.

I usually hit any of the Crossroads of the West shows here in Phoenix, and for me, its always about the hunt for something.

Im always looking for odd stuff. AR-15 parts mostly, A1 and A2 stuff. One show I went to, I found an A2 carbine upper for an XM177 clone I built. Vendor told me that he always keeps one on hand for people like me, not everyone wants a flat top! Similarly, there is one military surplus dealer (from California of all places!) that has better than internet deals on cleaning gear and first aid supplies. These same shows are the only places I can find Simmonds 20 round GI AR mags for 15.00.
One of my LGS always has a table there and usually bring the SIG, Glock, and S&W police trade in guns and are of a great price.

There are always downsides of every show, but nothing can be perfect and everyone's tastes are different. Except one, the BO smell somedays is really bad. I think Right Guard or Speed Stick could make some serious money by having a booth right near the entrance of the show.

Granted, my results may be different, but I always have a good time and get to hang out with some friends.

quote:

Originally posted by Herknav:
I need to get to Wannamacher. I've been saying that for years, but now I have no excuse.

Now that is a SHOW

http://www.tulsaarmsshow.com/home.html

I've been setting up for about 20 years. Old revolvers are my thing and I have C&R license. Major decline in the last 10 years. Still enough action to make it fun but most of my sales and purchases are dealer to dealer and Friday set up is where the action is.

At the last National Gun Day a couple weeks ago I sold a Colt Officers model .22lr for $625 to a dealer. I had $750 marked. I bought a S&W 586-3 6" rb for $640 from another dealer. That's it for my business.

I'd venture to guess that 2/3rds of the walkins don't have $500 in their pocket and are just there for the entertainment value of finger fucking display guns. I price all my guns and my standard opening line is, those tags are mere suggestions. One offer is better than a thousand lookers. I'll flip coins if buyer wants to gamble and have offered to go double or nothing a few times but never had any takers. Most gun shows will be gone in 5 years is my prediction.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Most gun shows will be gone in 5 years is my prediction.

Careful Dave. We got burned on the other forum saying truthful things. The gunshow promoter complained about it.

Just like we read the threads on gunshows, we also need to understand that posts to these threads need some rules. When somebody comes along to complain and then says he's never been to a show or hasn't been to one in years, you really shouldn't take the comments seriously. I haven't even been to one this year!

Could be the ones complaining about sweat are allergic to honest work. The stench reminds them of how lazy they are.

People who only own one or two guns, both modern, aren't really in the market. Those who only want new production really won't find much other than the ability to actually handle the things they otherwise can only view pictures of.

Keep in mind gun shows come and go. They don't last forever and the promoters themselves get tired. The shows reflect that. I actually enjoy the occasional beef jerky booth. I even liked the chinese kids with their drone booth about 10 years ago. They were flying them right in the faces of people walking along. I stopped walking and clogged up the aisle until I saw one old guy get taken by surprise and swat the thing to the ground. It was a classic generational meeting. Kid wants to play, grandpa didn't.

WE used to have a montly gun show at the Gibraltor Trade Center, a "Weekend Public Market" a fancy name for what was really a large Flea Market. BTW, at one point there were two locations both with something like 300,000 sq. feet under roof. However about 4 or 5 years ago the location in Taylor, MI closed and last fall the one in Mt. Clemons closed. BTW, cost for these shows was minimal, parking was just 2 bucks and admission on Friday's was free.

Really is a bit of a shame because while the shows did have the obligatory ridiculous knife dealers they also had an array of regulars that sold items are now only available via the Net. However the owner is getting well up in years and wanted to be able to kick back and relax for whatever time he has left. One example is the dealer where I would get my reloading supplies, powder ran about 24 dollars per pound recently and I could get Extreme or Berry's plated bullets for the same prices as on the Net. He also did his own 300 Blackout conversions using Lake City cases and only Lake City cases using barrels of Military range brass. Lake City 300 BLK for just 10 cents a case fully cleaned and sized is IMO a bargain.

As for firearms, there was lots of new stuff, multiple dealers of AR components competing with each other, and a few dealers that carried some very interesting Antiques. I've seen Trapdoor Springfields, 30-40 Krags, 03 Springfields, M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, and so many Mosin's and AK's packed in cosmoline they could not be counted. As for prices at one point you could pick up a Mosin for just 69.95. Yeah, I know there was a time when Mosin's were sold at about 30 bucks but I didn't go to my first gun show until 2008. Personally I've purchased two Ruger SR1911's in 45 ACP when none were to be found in any LGS and one 9mm SR1911 that still can't be found at any local dealer. Then there are the 4 Spikes AR lowers I picked up at 45 bucks each total, that is a deal you can't beat even on the net when you factor in transfer fees. Also picked up two uppers and the big advantage to doing this at Show is you can take your barrel with you and test fit the barrel to each upper and buy the one that fits snugly. BTW, there is a LOT of variation in the fit in budget uppers like a Spikes or Anderson so testing for fit is essential to build a truly accurate AR.

Also picked up a 1904 vintage 1892 Winchester that a previous owner had rebarreled in 357 Magnum and refinished at Winchester when they still did those services. Knucklehead also did a very poor job of installing some highly figured walnut and dented the magazine tube at the front mounting notch so it would shift forward after each shot and jam the rifle. As a result what I now have is a very pretty 1892 Shooter with a magazine tube I repaired using a custom made ID arbor out of oil hardened tool steel that only cost me 600 bucks total and that will shoot under 1 inch at 100 yards off a rest using a rear tang peep sight.

Bottomline I still find value in Gun Shows and am saddened that the only one left in my area only comes around 4-6 times per years and is nearly an hour away in Novi, Michigan and costs 5 bucks to park and 7 bucks to get in. However powder prices are reasonable and it is a larger show that is well attended so hopefully it will be around for another 5 or 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:

quote:

I miss the ones that used to be at Hugo's Skating Rink in Bealeton.

Seems like it has been at least 15 years or more since I have been to that show. When did they close down?

About that time, 12-15 years ago. It was small, lots of surplus stuff, enjoyed the drive out into the wilds of VA. One year, Carlos Hatchcock was there, offered to get him a Coke as he'd been signing autographs, books and talking with guests for several hours and looked quite tired.

Dixie Gun Shows does a pretty good job here in Charlotte. I will most likely go to the next one. I try to go a few times per year.

Para is right as usual - the Stun Guns are obnoxious as hell.

I remember going to the Portland Oregon expo gun show and there would be stacks of german hk 94 91 93 tons of mags for them all the stuff that was cool at the time great prices. cheap ammo people wanting to deal.

I used to enjoy the Eastman Gun Show in Gwinnett many years ago. Times sure have changed. I think the only show I enjoy anymore is at Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. No Chinese throwing stars, toys, Chinese nylon holsters, arrowheads, and dealers with the same old Nazi daggers, Civil War Cannon balls and genuine arrows that killed Custer.

I used to go to a couple of the local Dallas shows, mostly to see and chat with friends who had tables or just hung out. Over the years those connections died out and I don't get the same experience any more, so I don't go. (I already have more guns that I need or really want, so that is not a motive.)

flashguy

Talk about the gun show Leupold has been quiet for a while...

I go to one now and then, mostly just for the scenery. And the occasional find like M16 bandoliers with stripper clips, or seriously discounted discontinued Benchmade knives. But mostly for the scenery.

Go Wannamachers or go home.

The last gun show I attended years ago had a vendor with used pistols. They looked like they were drug behind his truck from Dallas to Houston.

Me too!

quote:

Originally posted by Herknav:
I need to get to Wannamacher. I've been saying that for years, but now I have no excuse.

Those shows were fantastic. I lived in Orange before I moved to Bristow, and that show was right in between

Used to go to the old showplace show in Richmond too

Nation’s used to be great...but a lot of the good vendors (dark sun comes to mind) cashed in during the boom caused by the Obama years. And everybody and his brother got an FFL and tried to strike it rich in the gun business

After that the show is just full of people selling glocks at close to MSRP

I miss the days when deals could be had...I still go, and will probably go in a couple weeks. I buy targets. Sometimes find good ammo deals on some rare stuff

The last time I was there I was able to snag two huge milsurp pelican cases which I will use when to transport guns and valuables when I move to the house I’m building on bull run mountain

The way I see Utm it’s like going to a movie...about the same cost, and I get entertained.

quote:

Originally posted by rat2306:

quote:

Originally posted by 41:

quote:

I miss the ones that used to be at Hugo's Skating Rink in Bealeton.

Seems like it has been at least 15 years or more since I have been to that show. When did they close down?

About that time, 12-15 years ago. It was small, lots of surplus stuff, enjoyed the drive out into the wilds of VA. One year, Carlos Hatchcock was there, offered to get him a Coke as he'd been signing autographs, books and talking with guests for several hours and looked quite tired.