PennsyPlinker
Member
Greetings all
I got my first gun way back in 1970, a Ted Williams .22 falling block carbine. I have been shooting ever since then. But I had never been to a gun show for a whole list of reasons, the big one being one was never being given when I had free time. All that changed this weekend. I knew of a small show going on just down the road. Our last Plinkette was at a church retreat, so I was free and clear of any responsibility for several hours, a rare treat for me, so after church, and feeding Mrs. Plinker at a KFC (fast, but not too fast) I dumped her off at home and headed out for the show.
On the way out the door I had warned her I might need to spend some money. Her response was emphatic: "You do NOT need to spend money just because you are going to the show." Right, just like, "You do not need to buy clothes just because you spend the day going to 25 different stores." I allowed that I probably wouldn't spend any money, but that if I ran across any really good deals, I would call and confer with her before I signed any papers or produced any cash.
I have read numerous threads here on different gunshow experiences, so I had an idea what to expect. As I arrived, I discovered that the parking lot was close to full, and there were the requisite people lounging about in various degrees of camouflage. There was a big sign stating no loaded weapons in the building, and while I could have lied (no one did more than ask) I had left my usual carry piece at home. The truck was still fully armed though, just in case bad guys were lurking about.
Getting into the show, I was immediatley struck by the number of relatively unkempt looking people, of which I was one, wandering about. This is not one of your yuppie shows, where people are walking about in expensive suits or whatever. I don't mean to suggest people were dressed like bums - uhh, I mean homeless people - just that there were a lot of Carhartt coats, heavy boots, dirty jeans, and other signs of country livin'.
While the parking lot had more pick up trucks than cars, there were a few cars there, a number of them with Joisey plates. I wonder what they thought they might be buying today. 
But what I found to be true was what a lot of others have reported, or at least what I remember them reporting as I have read through threads. Used guns were priced like they were rare collector's items. If it were not for the general seediness of the displays, I would have thought I was in Cabela's gun library!
I did not see any ninjas, mall, tactical, or otherwise, despite the number of camouflage clad individuals roaming about. At least, none were proffering advice unsolicited. There were the expected tables with Nazi memorabilia.
I scanned almost every table that had handguns on it. Most were not worth the time I spent looking at them. They were priced higher than Cabela's, and a lot higher than my favorite local gunshop. There were two items that caught my attention, one a Kel Tec 9mm P-11, and the other - well I'll get to that. I was not impressed with the price on the Kel Tec. I have a P3AT, and I really like it, and the price was okay, but not enough to inspire me to buy it right that minute. Besides, I already have a 9mm CZ. But the other...
I came upon it in the basement, i.e. the second level that the signs said I should be sure to check out. I asked the boy who was assisting the owner to produce it for me. He swept me once, twice, and on the third time as he struggled to get the action open, I asked him in a very polite tone to please not point the gun at me until he got it open so that we could verify that it was not loaded. He was somewhat embarrassed, and rightly so. I do not think his action was intentional, and I was pretty sure the gun was unloaded. Besides, he did not have his finger on the trigger, so I saw no need to blast off into orbit for incorrect handling. He was trying.
As it turned out, the gun was locked, and the owner produced the key in short order. I fiddled around with it a bit, and then thanked them for their time. I walked off to a reasonably quiet corner to call Mrs. Plinker. Did she say "hi!" like she normally does when I call her? No, she answered the phone (cell with caller ID) with an emphatic "NOOOOOO!!!" You would have thought I was buying a used car or something. I told her what I saw, and asked if she could check some prices on the internet, since she was sitting at her computer. After a little dickering, and some price checking, it turned out that the asking price was actually a very good one, and the piece in question was one in a caliber I did not have, and I did have the money in the account, and it might be an option for our daughter, so she said go ahead. So,I came home with this.
"This" is a Taurus PT 145 Millenium Pro, .45 ACP. It is quite compact, which I really like, and looks like it is going to be ideal for some carry situations. I also like the fact that it can hold as many as 11 rounds with one in the pipe. As it turns out, it fits Mrs. Plinker's hand, as well as that of the youngest Plinkette. I was able to find a couple of boxes of ammo for it. That was tough, and I was afraid I would not be able to shoot it for a few days, but I was fortunate, and I got to pull the bang switch a few times. All I got to shoot was snow, and recovery of brass was impossible, since it melted its way right down to the ground on impact, but this looks like a real nice gun to have and shoot. Now I need to get some stuff done for Mrs. Plinker to mollify her somewhat...
So why might this be my last gun show? I don't think she is going to let me out the door for a while. Upon my arrival home, she asked me how many more guns I was going to need before my collection was complete!
That was a scary question. I put her off for the time being, but I have got to be a good boy for a while.
I got my first gun way back in 1970, a Ted Williams .22 falling block carbine. I have been shooting ever since then. But I had never been to a gun show for a whole list of reasons, the big one being one was never being given when I had free time. All that changed this weekend. I knew of a small show going on just down the road. Our last Plinkette was at a church retreat, so I was free and clear of any responsibility for several hours, a rare treat for me, so after church, and feeding Mrs. Plinker at a KFC (fast, but not too fast) I dumped her off at home and headed out for the show.
On the way out the door I had warned her I might need to spend some money. Her response was emphatic: "You do NOT need to spend money just because you are going to the show." Right, just like, "You do not need to buy clothes just because you spend the day going to 25 different stores." I allowed that I probably wouldn't spend any money, but that if I ran across any really good deals, I would call and confer with her before I signed any papers or produced any cash.
I have read numerous threads here on different gunshow experiences, so I had an idea what to expect. As I arrived, I discovered that the parking lot was close to full, and there were the requisite people lounging about in various degrees of camouflage. There was a big sign stating no loaded weapons in the building, and while I could have lied (no one did more than ask) I had left my usual carry piece at home. The truck was still fully armed though, just in case bad guys were lurking about.
Getting into the show, I was immediatley struck by the number of relatively unkempt looking people, of which I was one, wandering about. This is not one of your yuppie shows, where people are walking about in expensive suits or whatever. I don't mean to suggest people were dressed like bums - uhh, I mean homeless people - just that there were a lot of Carhartt coats, heavy boots, dirty jeans, and other signs of country livin'.
While the parking lot had more pick up trucks than cars, there were a few cars there, a number of them with Joisey plates. I wonder what they thought they might be buying today. But what I found to be true was what a lot of others have reported, or at least what I remember them reporting as I have read through threads. Used guns were priced like they were rare collector's items. If it were not for the general seediness of the displays, I would have thought I was in Cabela's gun library!
I did not see any ninjas, mall, tactical, or otherwise, despite the number of camouflage clad individuals roaming about. At least, none were proffering advice unsolicited. There were the expected tables with Nazi memorabilia.I scanned almost every table that had handguns on it. Most were not worth the time I spent looking at them. They were priced higher than Cabela's, and a lot higher than my favorite local gunshop. There were two items that caught my attention, one a Kel Tec 9mm P-11, and the other - well I'll get to that.
I was not impressed with the price on the Kel Tec. I have a P3AT, and I really like it, and the price was okay, but not enough to inspire me to buy it right that minute. Besides, I already have a 9mm CZ. But the other...I came upon it in the basement, i.e. the second level that the signs said I should be sure to check out. I asked the boy who was assisting the owner to produce it for me. He swept me once, twice, and on the third time as he struggled to get the action open, I asked him in a very polite tone to please not point the gun at me until he got it open so that we could verify that it was not loaded. He was somewhat embarrassed, and rightly so. I do not think his action was intentional, and I was pretty sure the gun was unloaded. Besides, he did not have his finger on the trigger, so I saw no need to blast off into orbit for incorrect handling. He was trying.
As it turned out, the gun was locked, and the owner produced the key in short order. I fiddled around with it a bit, and then thanked them for their time. I walked off to a reasonably quiet corner to call Mrs. Plinker. Did she say "hi!" like she normally does when I call her? No, she answered the phone (cell with caller ID) with an emphatic "NOOOOOO!!!" You would have thought I was buying a used car or something. I told her what I saw, and asked if she could check some prices on the internet, since she was sitting at her computer. After a little dickering, and some price checking, it turned out that the asking price was actually a very good one, and the piece in question was one in a caliber I did not have, and I did have the money in the account, and it might be an option for our daughter, so she said go ahead. So,I came home with this.
"This" is a Taurus PT 145 Millenium Pro, .45 ACP. It is quite compact, which I really like, and looks like it is going to be ideal for some carry situations. I also like the fact that it can hold as many as 11 rounds with one in the pipe. As it turns out, it fits Mrs. Plinker's hand, as well as that of the youngest Plinkette. I was able to find a couple of boxes of ammo for it. That was tough, and I was afraid I would not be able to shoot it for a few days, but I was fortunate, and I got to pull the bang switch a few times. All I got to shoot was snow, and recovery of brass was impossible, since it melted its way right down to the ground on impact, but this looks like a real nice gun to have and shoot. Now I need to get some stuff done for Mrs. Plinker to mollify her somewhat...
So why might this be my last gun show? I don't think she is going to let me out the door for a while. Upon my arrival home, she asked me how many more guns I was going to need before my collection was complete!
That was a scary question. I put her off for the time being, but I have got to be a good boy for a while.
