Gun shows, a diffrent world
- Thread starter mephisto
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I went to a gunshow today. I get more of a kick out of the stuff for sale, but I agree, there are some unusual characters there. Ironically, I almost went to the gunshow in a complete Swiss military uniform. I shoot in Vintage Military Bolt Action Rifle matches. I bought a couple K31 Schmit-Ruben rifles and realized this was the ticket for these matches (for me). I was looking around the internet one day and came across an ad for a uniform. I thought the guys at the match would get a kick out of me showing up to shoot my Swiss rifle in uniform so I paid I think $35 for it. It arrived with everything; I mean boots, sox, underwear, helmet........................... I didn't wear it last month and the match director came up with a new rule; if you are in a uniform, you get two extra points on your score. I would have won last week with two extra points so this morning, I put the whole thing on including chaps or gaiters or whatever they are called. After the match I was going to the gunshow. I thought better of it and took some extra clothes with me, although I would have had to change outside. Pulled out of the driveway and realized the match was next weekend. :banghead:
But, I went to the gunshow anyway. Checked out the shotshells loaded with carpet tacks, jerky, cures for neck and back pain, miricle solutions for cleaning glasses.........................................
Made a deal for a new safe that will pretty much take up a whole wall in the spare bedroom. This safe is three times bigger than the one I have now, maybe bigger. It was 16" wider than the biggest safe he had on display and the biggest one he had on display was rated to hold 54 long guns.
But, I went to the gunshow anyway. Checked out the shotshells loaded with carpet tacks, jerky, cures for neck and back pain, miricle solutions for cleaning glasses.........................................
Made a deal for a new safe that will pretty much take up a whole wall in the spare bedroom. This safe is three times bigger than the one I have now, maybe bigger. It was 16" wider than the biggest safe he had on display and the biggest one he had on display was rated to hold 54 long guns.
Oh, I forgot the best thing. In one of the display cases in beween the Nazi daggers and stuff there was some kind of title belt from big time wrestling. One of those ones that goes around your waist and comes about half way up your torso.
Braz
Member
Gun shows used to be wonderful 15 years ago,
Then the grabbers got what they wanted, no more personal sales. With paperwork, fees and regulations, the sales and trades from private owners dried up. Used guns are now rare and usually valuable collectors items, rather than reasonable shooters. It's much easier to consign the gun, and dealers have little competition anymore. There's still a few pockets of freedom, but for Kali and most of the land, the days of hagglling with owners to find that rare deal are over.
I don't buy Nazi gear, but I admire the workmanship in German WWII weapons and gear. The guy selling it has the right to be there. I'd ask us to stick together and fight for our gun rights, but it's obvious we're too polarized for that. Heck, I like folks who are enthusiastic about their hobbys. Cowboy shooters come to mind.
Then the grabbers got what they wanted, no more personal sales. With paperwork, fees and regulations, the sales and trades from private owners dried up. Used guns are now rare and usually valuable collectors items, rather than reasonable shooters. It's much easier to consign the gun, and dealers have little competition anymore. There's still a few pockets of freedom, but for Kali and most of the land, the days of hagglling with owners to find that rare deal are over.
I don't buy Nazi gear, but I admire the workmanship in German WWII weapons and gear. The guy selling it has the right to be there. I'd ask us to stick together and fight for our gun rights, but it's obvious we're too polarized for that. Heck, I like folks who are enthusiastic about their hobbys. Cowboy shooters come to mind.
Tamara
Senior Member
Braz,
Don't believe their brainwashing! "Kali and most of the land"? Actually, Kali is one of the only states that won't let you sell your personal property without going through a dealer.
When I go to gun shows (and I'm sure it's the same most places) there's that cloud of vultures circling the front door "Whatcha got in the case? How much ya want for it? Trade for a Beretta?".
Don't believe their brainwashing! "Kali and most of the land"? Actually, Kali is one of the only states that won't let you sell your personal property without going through a dealer.
When I go to gun shows (and I'm sure it's the same most places) there's that cloud of vultures circling the front door "Whatcha got in the case? How much ya want for it? Trade for a Beretta?".
Braz
Member
I hope your right Tam,
But buds in Texas say the same thing. So how does a personal trade or sale work in Tenn? Who files the paperwork? Who holds the gun during the check out period? I thought all states required an FFL transfer the guns and make the check. And of course they charge a fee, then you have to go to the store to pick it up. Glad to hear there's some good deals left in them there hills.
I used to like gun shows a lot. Maybe after I move the enjoyment will return?
But buds in Texas say the same thing. So how does a personal trade or sale work in Tenn? Who files the paperwork? Who holds the gun during the check out period? I thought all states required an FFL transfer the guns and make the check. And of course they charge a fee, then you have to go to the store to pick it up. Glad to hear there's some good deals left in them there hills.
I used to like gun shows a lot. Maybe after I move the enjoyment will return?
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twoblink
Member
When I went to the gunshow with Oleg and Runt; the fact that I was "from the PRK" spread like wildfire...
I had people walk up to me, pat me on the back, and tell me how sorry they were. I had no less then 4 people tell me to move to TN...
Gunshows are strangle, filled with strange people...
I had people walk up to me, pat me on the back, and tell me how sorry they were. I had no less then 4 people tell me to move to TN...
Gunshows are strangle, filled with strange people...
Tamara
Senior Member
Braz,
1) Double-check with your buds in TX. I am 99.99% sure that private transactions are unregulated there.
2) I hand him my gun, he hands me money. Same thing in Georgia.
3) There is no paperwork.
4) There is no checkout period.
5) Nope.
Move back to America, friend; deny the socialists your tax dollars.
1) Double-check with your buds in TX. I am 99.99% sure that private transactions are unregulated there.
2) I hand him my gun, he hands me money. Same thing in Georgia.
3) There is no paperwork.
4) There is no checkout period.
5) Nope.
Move back to America, friend; deny the socialists your tax dollars.
Greybeard
Member
Among residents, What Tam said above true here - for now. But ... a "bill of sale" often not a bad idea as CYA for one or both parties ...
454c
Member
I used to go to gun shows,but the table with the best prices was the dealer I allready bought from.I've been told that Tulsa was worth the drive,but I haven't talked myself into going yet.
Minute_Of_Torso
Member
Our local monthly gunshow is usually 99% "Normals" and 1% "Other".
The guys that bother me are the ones that have the nice booth set up and are selling Mein Kampf, Nazi battle flags, and always have a smattering of Anglo-Israeli literature. I don't know if they really believe in that stuff or are neo-Nazis, but I usually stay away in case I'm associated with them by anyone.
The re-enactors don't bother me at all, in fact I usually try to corner them and pump them for period information.
The guys that bother me are the ones that have the nice booth set up and are selling Mein Kampf, Nazi battle flags, and always have a smattering of Anglo-Israeli literature. I don't know if they really believe in that stuff or are neo-Nazis, but I usually stay away in case I'm associated with them by anyone.
The re-enactors don't bother me at all, in fact I usually try to corner them and pump them for period information.
Waitone
Member
You wanna see some odd characters? Attend the Scottish Highland Games of your choice.
Dorrin79
Member
for the record, private party transactions between residents are completely unregulated in Texas.
No paperwork needed (although I show them my TX driver's license just to let them feel diligent.)
No paperwork needed (although I show them my TX driver's license just to let them feel diligent.)
JohnBT
Member
I spent 4 hours at the gun show Saturday. I saw one guy in camo and it looked to be brand new - it still had the creases from the package. Otherwise, it was a generally clean and casual bunch. Probably has to do with deer and duck seasons being over - no plaid outfits and people wearing clothes dipped in deer scent or smeared with mud.
John
John
I feel the need to make a couple comments about the nazi stuff at the gunshows and some of the posts here.
#1: It appears to me that some people believe that if we only would act a certain way, or dress a certain way, or repeat the right things, the antis would announce that they have been wrong all along, that we are a bunch of nice guys who should be allowed to own guns. My opinion of the matter is that there is nothing we can do, no compromise we can make that will ever make them go away. I am not interested in their opinion influencing what I do.
#2 What is it with the Nazis ? To our society they are the personification of evil. They are the bad guys. Notice that no one ever says, hey !! that guy has nambu pistols, and arisaka rifles and rising sun flags; those are the people who are responsible for the Battan Death March, those are the people who bayonetted thousands of innocent civilians in Shanghi, those are the people who hated us so bad that they were willing to fly manned planes into our ships. You don't hear that, you only hear about the Nazis. You will never hear anyone say, look at all this Russian communist stuff. Stalin was a monster, he killed tens of thousands of his own people............................... You won't hear that, only about the Nazis. Why ?
#3. Items of history have always interested me. In fact, most things interest me. Going to a gun show is very similar to going to a museum if you think about it. If you wanted to educate someone about the history of firearms, you could take them to a gunshow and they could see examples of firearms from the last 200 years, along with the associted equipment, uniforms, insignia, and other non-firearm weapons. Then there are refernce material about all this stuff (books). Let me ask you this, if you were at the Smithsonian and there was a display of German WWII uniforms and insignia, would you be ashamed to look at it ? If they had a display of WWII German guns would you be afraid to look at it for fear someone might see you looking and associate you with it ? Are you secure enough with yourself to watch The History Channel and see footage of WWII in the Europeon theatre without being afraid that you will be branded a Nazi ? Are you this afraid to hear ANYTHING the thought police say you shouldn't ?
#1: It appears to me that some people believe that if we only would act a certain way, or dress a certain way, or repeat the right things, the antis would announce that they have been wrong all along, that we are a bunch of nice guys who should be allowed to own guns. My opinion of the matter is that there is nothing we can do, no compromise we can make that will ever make them go away. I am not interested in their opinion influencing what I do.
#2 What is it with the Nazis ? To our society they are the personification of evil. They are the bad guys. Notice that no one ever says, hey !! that guy has nambu pistols, and arisaka rifles and rising sun flags; those are the people who are responsible for the Battan Death March, those are the people who bayonetted thousands of innocent civilians in Shanghi, those are the people who hated us so bad that they were willing to fly manned planes into our ships. You don't hear that, you only hear about the Nazis. You will never hear anyone say, look at all this Russian communist stuff. Stalin was a monster, he killed tens of thousands of his own people............................... You won't hear that, only about the Nazis. Why ?
#3. Items of history have always interested me. In fact, most things interest me. Going to a gun show is very similar to going to a museum if you think about it. If you wanted to educate someone about the history of firearms, you could take them to a gunshow and they could see examples of firearms from the last 200 years, along with the associted equipment, uniforms, insignia, and other non-firearm weapons. Then there are refernce material about all this stuff (books). Let me ask you this, if you were at the Smithsonian and there was a display of German WWII uniforms and insignia, would you be ashamed to look at it ? If they had a display of WWII German guns would you be afraid to look at it for fear someone might see you looking and associate you with it ? Are you secure enough with yourself to watch The History Channel and see footage of WWII in the Europeon theatre without being afraid that you will be branded a Nazi ? Are you this afraid to hear ANYTHING the thought police say you shouldn't ?
444:
Preaching to the choir is emotionally satisfactory, but does little to EXPAND our cause.
When I generalized "Nazi regalia," I meant not only the ususal Nazi/SS outfits, gear and etc., but also Mein Kampf, neo-Nazi books and pamphlets, anti-Jewish conspiracy theory books and so forth. If I were to see a booth or two every gunshow that sells books extolling the virtues of Japanese imperialism and why the "yellow people" (specifically the Japanese) are scientifically superior to other "inferior" races and why the rest of humanity is conspiring to keep the "Yellows" down, I'd object to it too.
In fact, that is my VERY point. Why is it that one rarely, if ever, sees booths dedicated to selling Russian (communist or not), Japanese (WWII or not) or even Italian (Fascist or not) paraphernalia (not to mention one dedicated to "Gears of the WWII G.I.), but one sees, persistently, show after show, booths that specifically dedicate themselves to trading Nazi/Neo-Nazi stuff at gunshows? Anyway you cut it, that looks "bad" and paints a very bad association to those who don't just sigh it off as readily as I do.
Let's put it another way. If, at gunshows, there is always a table or two selling Klan gear (white robes, "White Power" symbols, masks, hoods, hanging rope, burnt-out crosses and literature) - and I mean every darned gunshow - would you begin to wonder if there is any connection or would you just think "hey, they're just selling historical stuff LIKE EVERYONE ELSE"?
For me, the PR efforts aren't geared toward convincing the "antis," which is enormously difficult (without certain personal experiences), and thus not "price-efficient." The PR efforts, rather, are geared toward convincing those sitting on the fences in the middle.
Preaching to the choir is emotionally satisfactory, but does little to EXPAND our cause.
I don't have a problem with people who buy WWII artefacts, whether they are Japanese, German, Italian or American. A lot of people like to own pieces of history (and I am included in that).
When I generalized "Nazi regalia," I meant not only the ususal Nazi/SS outfits, gear and etc., but also Mein Kampf, neo-Nazi books and pamphlets, anti-Jewish conspiracy theory books and so forth. If I were to see a booth or two every gunshow that sells books extolling the virtues of Japanese imperialism and why the "yellow people" (specifically the Japanese) are scientifically superior to other "inferior" races and why the rest of humanity is conspiring to keep the "Yellows" down, I'd object to it too.
In fact, that is my VERY point. Why is it that one rarely, if ever, sees booths dedicated to selling Russian (communist or not), Japanese (WWII or not) or even Italian (Fascist or not) paraphernalia (not to mention one dedicated to "Gears of the WWII G.I.), but one sees, persistently, show after show, booths that specifically dedicate themselves to trading Nazi/Neo-Nazi stuff at gunshows? Anyway you cut it, that looks "bad" and paints a very bad association to those who don't just sigh it off as readily as I do.
Let's put it another way. If, at gunshows, there is always a table or two selling Klan gear (white robes, "White Power" symbols, masks, hoods, hanging rope, burnt-out crosses and literature) - and I mean every darned gunshow - would you begin to wonder if there is any connection or would you just think "hey, they're just selling historical stuff LIKE EVERYONE ELSE"?
Not at all. However, if EVERY SINGLE MUSEUM (history museums, art museums, etc.) I visit have the dedicated "Nazi Germany/SS" corner with absolutely no provision of politico-historical context of Nazism, I'd begin to feel a bit odd about who is exactly running the museums too and wonder if there is a connection between the museums and the glorification of Nazism.
I have never understood the whole idea of selling military collectables at guns shows, or for that matter knives at gun shows let alone jerky, and glasses cleaners or whatever. I guess they sell it because people buy it. Maybe people who are into guns are also into collecting other stuff. Or maybe people that don't have a problem spending money on their hobby are willing to spend money on other junk also. It is kind of funny how some of this stuff goes together. It seems that a lot of guys that are into guns are also into good watches ???
I have seen this military stuff for sale at shows for the last 30 years. And I always found it interesting no matter the nationality. I never assumed that these guys were pro nazi or anything because they sold this stuff or collected this stuff. I also never had a problem with reading Mein Kamf either. I read it myself when I was in high school. I have only really seen one table at gunshows that actually sold this nazi/skinhead/ whatever you call them stuff. It is the same people, at every show with the one table. I don't know what that is all about. I don't know if people buy it or not. I didn't see them at the show this past weekend. I actually talked to some of the guys with tables at the shows, who I knew outside the gunshow and asked them what was up with these guys. All of them told me that they have been trying to get rid of these guys, but they can't discriminate against them ??? I don't know.
I have seen this military stuff for sale at shows for the last 30 years. And I always found it interesting no matter the nationality. I never assumed that these guys were pro nazi or anything because they sold this stuff or collected this stuff. I also never had a problem with reading Mein Kamf either. I read it myself when I was in high school. I have only really seen one table at gunshows that actually sold this nazi/skinhead/ whatever you call them stuff. It is the same people, at every show with the one table. I don't know what that is all about. I don't know if people buy it or not. I didn't see them at the show this past weekend. I actually talked to some of the guys with tables at the shows, who I knew outside the gunshow and asked them what was up with these guys. All of them told me that they have been trying to get rid of these guys, but they can't discriminate against them ??? I don't know.
"They" apparently didn't try very hard. "They" can't discriminate against sellers for their different religions, "races," national origins, etc., but can certainly choose to exclude sellers of products they do not approve or find "offensive," particularly when the gunshows are held at private facilities.
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