"Do Not Touch"

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DC300a

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(RANT ALERT)

I went to a local gun show over the weekend and was struck by the absurdity of the guy that is always there with a table full of handguns and longguns that says "DO NOT TOUCH"......

Honestly, what is point of selling at a gun show if you expect people not to pick up you merchandise. You might as well start a website and stay at home. I am sure that would be cheaper on gas. :rolleyes:
 
I don't see a problem with it. Seeing as how any fool off the street can come into a gun show, it's understandable (to me) that a seller would want to be present before anyone actually handled the merchandise.

Now, if it was DON'T TOUCH at all, then yeah, I'd be a bit skeptical of his wares. But usually those signs mean "DON'T TOUCH unless I'm there to watch you do it.

In short, I'd cut the guy a little slack.
 
I'd be willing to bet that if you said something to the effect of, "I'm seriously interested in buying this; would it be ok if inspected it" that he would have handed it to you with a smile.

Having seen the kind of nonsense and mishandling that goes on at gun shows by some folks, it's pretty hard to blame the guy.
 
Exactly. Without the sign, the dealer is going to turn away for a moment to help a customer then turn back and see 70 people fondling his guns, racking slides, dry firing, etc.

Nope. I'd put up a sign too.
 
I ask to handle the firearms on tables first, most are happy to let me fondle their wares.

I've seen plenty of dropped, dinged, and scuffed guns at shows to realize why some are
so defensive about letting folks touch their stuff.
 
Most add "without permission," I'm OK with that, but would pass a "Do Not Touch"
sign.
Been in this game over 50 years and completely out of patience with some of the "peculiarities" you encounter.
 
Agree with Jorg. I've been on the selling side of a table at a gunshow. You make a phone call to NICS and look up to see someone field stripping a gun and dropping a part under the table, and then you get to ask the guy at the table next to you to help watch your table while you crawl on the floor looking for the part, as the "customer" places the frame and slide back on the table and walks away without so much as an apology.

Our sign read "Please ask before handling a firearm" or something similar, but I'm guessing "Don't touch" means the same thing: Don't touch without permission.

If you asked to handle it and they refused, I'll agree, the guy might as well have stayed home.
 
If they don't want you to touch them, they need to have them under glass or out of your reach


Edit: I would NEVER field strip a weapon unless I were extremely interested in purchase and would likely ask the vendor to strip it FOR me if I wanted that close of an inspection.
 
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waterhouse probably has the answer, but just as easily is the answer that the guy doesn't want to have to inspect and wipe everything down over and over to keep his investment from becoming damaged.

I'm amazed the number of people who will walk around munching salted/"buttered" popcorn, jerky, peanuts who think nothing of picking up a nicely blued rifle or shotgun by the metal. I understand having a case of the munchies, but chow down on the overpriced concession stand junk and then go wash and dry your hands before you put your mitts all over someone else's firearms.
 
I would never handle a firearm without asking first, that is just plain rude. Having sold firearms, never at a show, before I can understand not wanting every person coming through the door handling my firearms. Do Not Touch, might be a bit standoffish, but I am sure a smile and a polite please would go a long way.
 
The sign makes sense logically, but is going to offend some people. I wouldn't be surprised if it hurt his sales. Of course you are taking a risk by letting them handle the guns, but they really aren't all that delicate anyway. If you are worried about corrosion from grubby hands, wipe it down with a gun cloth after they handle it.

I personally wouldn't buy a gun unless I could pick it up and inspect it. Although, some smooth negotiation will most likely get his permission.
 
A number of years ago I attended a gunshow, at the back of which was a guy with some neat NFA weapons. One was an M1A1 Thompson. There was a label saying "PLEASE DO NOT HANDLE WEAPONS." In any case, I asked if I could pick up the Thompson, as the worst he could do was refuse, and he might react positively if asked politely. Well, he said I could -- and that was the first real honest to by golly Thompson I got to handle!
Never hurts to ask.
What I think the people who place these signs are doing is trying to discourage all sorts of people from handling things, it getting out of control .... and maybe some security concerns with expensive NFA stuff. In any case there was no one else around when I was there ... so he wasn't going to have a big problem with anything disappearing into a crowd.
 
I've noticed that a lot of times the sellers who have these signs also project a "do not touch" attitude by their demeanor. Not coincidentally, they are usually the guys you see at every local show with the same inventory and ridiculously high prices. I don't think they are there to sell anything. I think they are there to show off. I like to chide them when I walk by saying a cheery, "Selling anything today?"
 
You make a phone call to NICS and look up to see someone field stripping a gun and dropping a part under the table
Click to expand...
,

Or, slipping that part into a pocket and walking out with it.

I used to work in a fishing tackle shop, and we had a problem with people buying fishing reels, taking parts out, then bringing the reels back for a refund. Or put the broken part back in and exchange the new one for another one.
 
I think that such signs are just rude and unfriendly.
I can understand placing a sign on a specific item such as "Antique, please ask to handle." if the firearm was indeed an antique.

But if they have a Glock 17 or an XD9 or a Ruger GP100 (or some similar non-rare non-collectible) on the table, and they don't want people to handle them, then they sure don't deserve my hard earned money.
It's ironic, funny, and sad all at the same time for someone to tell you how tough and rugged a Glock is, and then pretend that it's a fragile ancient painting when you want to touch it.

As for finger-prints, popcorn oil, candy, etc...
If one takes their weapons to a gun show, they should fully expect to have them handled, and yes, they will need to clean them several times before the day is done, and once again at the end of the day.
That's just the price of doing business.
 
You rent a table at a gunshow. You get to set up the day before and man your table when the set up time hits on show days. You shop the other tables before the rifraff shows up and fondle everyones elses firearms. Meanwhile you scarf up any good deals you are interested in prior to opening. Seems like a good deal to me.
Joe
 
Now, here's a tougher one. Would you fry fire to test the trigger without asking?
Click to expand...
If one is concerned with the possibility of people dry firing the guns, then why not put up a sign "Please don't dry-fire these firearms"?

In fact, these two signs would be better than "Don't touch"....

"Please don't dry-fire these firearms".

"Please, no field stripping or dis-assembly without permission".


See how much friendlier that is than "Don't touch".
 
I always ask before handling any firearm at a gun show. The one that annoys me is the guy who has a large display and a big sign that says "Not for Sale." Apparently an ego display ..
 
I like to see a table where the handguns are displayed in glass-topped shallow trays, hinged at the customer's side. That encourages the customer to enquire about the firearm, and gives the seller an opportunity to define handling rules. no signs are necessary.

It also provides a bit of security; it's darn foolish to consider shoplifting at a gun show, but there's a lot of fools around. :uhoh:
 
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