Last weekend- gun show observations

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FL-NC

FL-NC

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Went to a fairly decent show Sunday in Fayetteville NC. Plenty of merchandise and vendors, but a light turnout. I saw that this is quite the time to buy a S&W shield- after rebates and all, one could be had for around $250. ARs from S&W and Ruger were available between $400- $475, along with some other brands. 300 B-O upper, complete, with railed handguards were $375. SKS rifles (the few that were there) were around the $400 mark, Mini 14s in the $700-$800 range, depending on model. Did not see a single AK under $500. I left with a Ruger American ranch, 16" barrel 300 B-O. $384 out the door, and I bought 2 nice looking Hawken rifles for going away plaques for $300 total.
 
This coming weekend is the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia (just outside of Washington, D.C.). It's a three-day show, and it's huge. It's going to be interesting to see where prices are going.

One thing I've learned is to ignore some of the people (you know the types) and concentrate on the guns.
 
I went to a gun show several weeks ago. I admit I don't live in a big city but it was not what I call a gun show. Could have bought a nice knife or some great looking candy . 8 Revolves in the whole place , lot's of polymer pistols , which don't work for me. But there was a Colt Python 357 magnum with a $1350 price tag on it( crappy condition). No good bolt rifle's or shot guns or anything interesting. No reloading stuff at all and the ammo was old and not a good deal. Oh well.:(:thumbdown:
 
Prices run a bit higher here than up there. I'd be surprised to see any sub-$550 AR-type rifles at a gun show here (unless it was in .22LR!)

But, I still tease (or torture?) myself by going to them a couple of times a year..
 
AlexanderA said:
This coming weekend is the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia (just outside of Washington, D.C.). It's a three-day show, and it's huge. It's going to be interesting to see where prices are going.

One thing I've learned is to ignore some of the people (you know the types) and concentrate on the guns.
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Also ignore the beef jerky vendors, the beany baby vendors, the heat pad vendors, etc....
 
In S.C. we are seeing prices drop a bit. I guess it's from Trump being president and folks feel a little more relaxed
that there is not some imminent gun control coming over the hill.. Ammo is becoming available and dropping in price too. Might be because everyone's garages are filled to overflow proportions
 
FL-NC said:
Also ignore the beef jerky vendors, the beany baby vendors, the heat pad vendors, etc....
Click to expand...
I think that about 20-25% non-gun-related stuff is about par for the course at the larger gun shows. (Anything above that, and it's just a flea market.) The things I see most are jewelry, beef jerky, chocolate fudge (way overpriced!), water filtration systems, wood carvings, war movie videos, etc. (I haven't seen beanie babies in a while.) If the gun show promoters insisted on a guns-only policy, they would lose a lot of table rent revenue. So I can see them being forced to allow non-germane things just to stay in business.

That's why the very best gun shows are sponsored by collector organizations, so that profit is not such a big factor. I'm thinking here of the annual Maryland Antique Gun Show, held in March at the Timonium Fairgrounds. It's huge, and it's all guns. (Of course, they don't allow post-1898 handguns.) The shows sponsored by the Virginia Gun Collectors Association are also pretty good, and they're a bit more liberal as to what guns they allow. But at least you won't find the flea market stuff there.
 
Last show I went to there were not one, but two booths selling homemade scarves, gloves, socks, etc. made from llama wool, with the llamas owned by the female sellers.

I guess you gotta' justify owning llamas somehow, but at a gun show? I've seen them at several shows so I guess they're selling something or they wouldn't be paying the table prices.
 
Speedo66 said:
Last show I went to there were not one, but two booths selling homemade scarves, gloves, socks, etc. made from llama wool, with the llamas owned by the female sellers.

I guess you gotta' justify owning llamas somehow, but at a gun show? I've seen them at several shows so I guess they're selling something or they wouldn't be paying the table prices.
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Was the llama wool "tactical"?
 
We always have the same guy selling Nazi paraphernalia, basically relics for a ridiculous amount. Some things are neat, but way overpriced. He never sells any guns though.
 
FL-NC said:
Went to a fairly decent show Sunday in Fayetteville NC. Plenty of merchandise and vendors, but a light turnout. I saw that this is quite the time to buy a S&W shield- after rebates and all, one could be had for around $250. ARs from S&W and Ruger were available between $400- $475, along with some other brands. 300 B-O upper, complete, with railed handguards were $375. SKS rifles (the few that were there) were around the $400 mark, Mini 14s in the $700-$800 range, depending on model. Did not see a single AK under $500. I left with a Ruger American ranch, 16" barrel 300 B-O. $384 out the door, and I bought 2 nice looking Hawken rifles for going away plaques for $300 total.
Click to expand...
 
We get some lame gun shows around south east mi. The last good gun show I went to was Bill Goodmans as a kid back in the 80's. They stopped coming here years ago. Lots of garands, carbines, shotguns and colts. Loooong gone now. I don't bother anymore. High priced krap now.
 
Wait, what's wrong with beef jerky at gun shows? I'd rather see that then another crappy jewelry or Nazi merch table.

I did notice at the last one I went to about a month ago overall prices were better but it didn't seem anywhere near as busy as they usually do.
 
For the most part I like gun shows. But a few weeks ago I attended an RK show in Topeka, KS and one vendor was selling rain gutter covers. At a gun show? Really?. I won't be going back. I believe that the Wanenmacher show in Tulsa has a self imposed standard that no more than 5% of the displays can be non-gun related merchandise. That show, held twice a year, is one of my all-time favorite things to do. I reunion with old friends and we have a great time. Over the years I've bought several guns, lots of ammo and reloading components, holsters, gun cases.....this list could get very long. I've also accumulated many fond memories. And BTW, I like beef jerky. It's a tradition at nearly every gun show I've ever attended, even if I rarely buy it.
 
but it didn't seem anywhere near as busy as they usually do.
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Problem around here lately has been too many show promoters chasing the same dealers and customers, for example this weekend, June 10-11 there is the what is usually one of the best shows in Texas, the Dallas Gun Collector's Association Market Hall show, along with one in Houston at GRB by "High Caliber" and one in Pasadena by "Premiere". There is no way either Houston area show will be worth going to with Market Hall sure to suck up the best of the vendors.

Its been like this for pretty much every show since before the election which has made them to diluted to be worth attending. HGCA used to have the best shows in Houston three times a year but they've ruined them by moving to Reliant Arena which is plain and simply a dump with horrible walks from the car to the show and very poor traffic management.
 
pezo said:
We get some lame gun shows around south east mi. The last good gun show I went to was Bill Goodmans as a kid back in the 80's. They stopped coming here years ago. Lots of garands, carbines, shotguns and colts. Loooong gone now. I don't bother anymore. High priced krap now.
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I remember going to Bill Goodman's shows in Nashville back when I was at Ft Campbell (90's).
 
Zendude wrote:
Was the llama wool "tactical"?
Click to expand...

No, "strategic".

I like beef jerky. I think it goes with the whole shooting/camping/outdoor ethos, but I prefer pork jerky.

I typically skip the big gun shows in the Dallas and Ft. Worth area because the sellers all seem to arrive with their merchandise priced for Jerry Jones and Ross Perot. I can drive an hour (or two) outside of Dallas, catch many of the same vendors and find prices for many the same items 20% less.
 
wally said:
HGCA used to have the best shows in Houston three times a year but they've ruined them by moving to Reliant Arena which is plain and simply a dump with horrible walks from the car to the show and very poor traffic management.
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That is no lie.
AstroHall was a slog, but at least, a smart perosn could go all the way to the back rows, then weave bark and forth across the rows and wind up back at the front door. (If you were really smart, you'd stop and get a shoe shine to rest your feet :)). Some of the most interesting dealer were in the back, anyway.

Reliant, the few times I went was laid aout as a lazy "L" and with no rhyme or reason to it. And the parking bites.

I've decicded to go to Market Hall, see if that's worth the 24 mile drive. I'll probably hit up the "Original Fort Worth" show over at Will Rogers in three weeks--other than having to pay for parking, that one has been a good show to go to.
 
All my buddies I would see behind the tables...are gone. Now I'm the old guy just looking as I walk by. I still like going off and on so maybe I'll ride over to the next one. Been a while.

Mark
 
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