Are you prepared to buy "the Grail Gun" at a gun show?

I always bring extra cash to gun shows.

I've done so in the past. Sometimes I don't have expendable income and will go to gun shows just to look. I have rarely gone looking for one specific firearm, but many times in the past I carried a firearm I no longer wanted to use as trade bait along with a few hundred dollars. Even then most of the time I don't buy anything. I've seen lots of stuff I liked, but not at prices I'd pay.

But there have been several times that I ran across something that I could really use and the price was right. Several of my favorite firearms were acquired that way.

I know a lot of people get frustrated with gun shows. But I think of it like hunting trophy deer. Most of the time you see nothing, but every once in a while you get a chance at a nice one. And you're not going to get that opportunity sitting at home.

Always carry disposable cash just in case.

Ill usually bring trade fodder. Ive found it helps discourage impulse buys since I have to weigh my desire for the new shiny versus my regret at letting go of the old shiny.

I always find what I want when I can’t afford it. Like the ppc 686 no dash at the last show I went to. Guy also had a couple contender barrels reasonably priced. I went to sell but wasn’t carrying anything around in that mess of a show.

Stash of cash for me. There is a reason I work 7 days a week, I like to be able to buy something if I want it.

If I ever get a chance to go to a gun show, it won’t be without money…

Though I’ve been told a horse couldn’t pull a bill from my clutches, there no sense in walking away from a perfectly good deal for want of cash.

Especially a brand new CZC A01-LD, for less than eighteen. Oh, man. That would be sweet.

Mine would mean becoming an SOT and I don't have that kind of coin to throw away.

Bill

"Grail" ya say?
Well then. If in search of the "Grail" ye be, ye must be prepared to answer questions three.
What is your quest? what is your favorite color? What is the capitol of Assyria?

I'm going to the first full-blown Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly VA, first "real one" since Feb 2020. 1300 tables, probably one-fourth selling pallets of ammo they spent a LOT on and trying to recoup and with still out-of-touch prices. I'm off on Friday and will be there when it opens as I expect it will be a zoo on Saturday. It is so huge that it is fun to just check out everything. I need to pick up a bunch of small things, targets, some cleaning supplies, etc. I don't have a grail gun at this point. I got mine recently, my pre-ban IMI Galil a few months ago, which is still smarting the finances. But well worth it.

I will point out that good deals can still be found at huge gun shows, but they are rare. I found a minty Marlin Camp 45 for $625 4-5 years ago at the same show. Snapped it up. I ended up selling later because it was the filthiest gun I ever shot, and I;m obsessive about keeping my firearms tidy. And 45 ACP just does not get much extra velo for the barrel length. But it WAS a great deal. I also had a vendor sell me 1000 rounds of Sellier and Bellot in 30 carbine for $400. Those were Aquila or Armscor prices for some top-notch ammo that would usually go for closer to $600 for 1k.

In the end, it requires perfect alignment of several planets.

I presently have no grail gun. I was in the gun of the month club for many years. Being single and having a high paying job allowed me to buy whatever I wanted at the time. Now years later I have all the bases covered many times over with lots of overlap as well. Retired and having fun as well as my health will allow anyway. I have concentrated on reloading to get better accuracy out of what I have and more practice or hunting. Still go to LGS or gun shows and have cash on hand but am a looky loo more often than not now. Still if a real bargain was found I have SOME room in one of my safes.

Honestly, I am prepared to buy a grail gun at all times. I keep enough cash in my wallet to convince anyone that I'm serious. Even if they have to wait on the rest.

I guess my chances of finding what I want at a gun show are equal to my chances of winning the lottery. I don’t waste my time/money with either. Before the Internet I went to them though.

I have searched for things I wanted though putting “WTS” in front of items and joined obscure forums just to get in contact with the seller. Purchased some years after originally listed, for less than originally offered and far below auction site/gun show prices.

My "Holy Grail" of guns has been an original Pedersen Device, with all the accessories. There was one for sale at a gun show, back in the1970's, for $5,000. The dealer was someone I had had dealings with before, so I knew this was on the up-and-up. But I was at the beginning of my career, and I really didn't have that kind of money to spare. So I passed on it. But I did get a Mark I Springfield, and retrofitted it with the parts needed to accept a Device.

By the way, during this same time frame, the same dealer had an original Thompson submachine gun for $750, and a BAR for $700. Those I did buy.

I did just a few weeks ago. I bought my grail gun and have been enjoying it quite a bit since. Due to it being a used gun the gun store had to hold it for a couple weeks but if push came to shove I could have and would have bought it right then an there.

I always carry the cash for that elusive grail gun . My wife is a great enabler ,most times she uses cash from her top secret stash in her purse . Tells me , hold onto yours in case we see something else .

It all depends on the situation I’m in I can’t justify to myself making my wife do without to get something but yeah if everything else lines up I’ll most certainly jump at it

Hi...
I usually carry enough cash to a gun show to buy something that I want...not much reason to go to a gun show if you aren't prepared to spend some money. I am not interested in selling or trading firearms.
I am always on the look out for a Dan Wesson revolver or a Sako bolt action rifle plus any other shiny thing that catches my eye.

A true "Grail Gun" would cost more cash than you could carry.

If I go to a gunshow, I always carry enough Benjamins to buy if I see something I want.
I haven’t attended one in a couple of years but the last one I did attend, I was very disappointed until I was on the last row before walking out the door.
One table had a mint 1949 Win 94 in 32 Win Special. The guy had just marked it down from $700 to $600.
I pulled out 5 Benjies and he jumped on it.
It’s been my experience that you can talk all you want with no results. Pull out $100 bills and things happen.

AlexanderA said:

A true "Grail Gun" would cost more cash than you could carry.

Click to expand...

I don't follow. Why does a "Grail Gun" have to be an expensive gun?

jmr40 said:

Most of the time you see nothing, but every once in a while you get a chance at a nice one

Click to expand...

That's what keeps me going back as well.
I don't go in with the expectations of seeing a lot that interests me, but rather, maybe getting to see one or two.
I usually bring a bit more cash than I have set aside to spend, CC pin numbers and ATMs would take care of most any contingency if I needed more.

mcb said:

Why does a "Grail Gun" have to be an expensive gun?

Click to expand...

Because quality usually costs more? And I'd bet most grail guns dreams involve real quality made guns. At least mine sure do!

JT

mcb said:

I don't follow. Why does a "Grail Gun" have to be an expensive gun?

Click to expand...

Because a "Grail Gun," by definition, is something that's extremely rare and desirable. For example, a Pedersen Devce or an unaltered M1894 Krag, each of which has maybe 50 extant examples. Such things are rarer than the grossly inflated machine guns. A Thompson and an M2HB are expensive, but they're not "Grail Guns" because they can be found if you're willing to spend enough money. On the other hand, a "Grail Gun" is nearly impossible to find regardless of price. But it goes without saying that such rarity carries with it a hefty price tag.