First Gun Show

[LordGibson]

I just attended my first gun show today, in West Lebanon, NH. Took the wife with me and for the $12 door charge we spent maybe 30 minutes perusing the "120 tables". And if it weren't for the crowded, tight quarters, we could have been out in half that time.

I'll admit, I didn't really have very high expectations to start, but I was still a bit disappointed. Our primary interest at this point is handguns which eliminated about 80% of the vendors. Of those remaining, probably 80% again had only antique or very well used guns.

Now, we're shooters, not collectors, so a well used firearm isn't necessarily a bad thing. But many were priced near or even above NIB market prices. Insanity!

I really expected to see at least one or two local shop owners with store inventory to unload. Or maybe even a roving retailer who likes to make the gun show rounds.

Nope. It was basically a gun-themed flea market. Which is OK, and like I said, not totally unexpected given the locale. Just not for us.

The one nice thing was I was able to check out some Kel-Tecs in person. I've read a lot about them and seen loads of pictures, but it was good to see them up close and get a real sense for their weight and handling. Surprisingly, they seemed to be the most prevalent handgun there.

Perhaps the show in Manchester coming up in mid-January will be more to my liking.

 

[Manedwolf]

Sorry you went to that one first, by all accounts, it's so small and dinky that it's not even worth it. Manchester and Concord have more, yes. Manchester probably has the most. A couple of the good stores I stop at don't even bother with the Londonderry one. It's SO far up there, 80 miles from Manchester, nowhere near any other state borders, either, that it's just not worth it to haul their good stuff all that way. Manchester gets more good deals if you get there early, IMO. That's where I'd nabbed a mint Radom TT-33 for $225 last time, soon after opening, and with a few "I wish I'd seen that!" people behind me. There were also some of the "bring your own hand truck" level of ammo dealers there selling in serious bulk.

I really wish there was another organizer than DiPrete promotions in the state. Their shows, apparently the only ones, are...underwhelming, and in grungy venues.

 

[Lou629]

Number one or number one thousand, they're all pretty much the same for the most part, the basic recipe seems to be this: take one hall or room, overfill it with table after table of worn out over-priced crap, mix in a few surly dealers who would rather take all of theirs back home with them than make you a reasonable deal, and top it all off with a large portion of over-weight, under-washed bubbas.

 

[TOADMAN]

Most of the time at gun shows, I just buy ammo..Georgia Arms takes care of my ammo itch at a fair price...Today, went to a gun show in the Hampton Roads area and came home with 600 rds. I guess you can never have enough ammo.

 

[Outlaws]

I don't go to many gun shows anymore. Everything seems to be overpriced and no one wants to negotiate even a hair. People hock stuff as "new" even though it looks like it has been around the block once or twice. Then there are the tables upon tables of non-firearm related stuff for the wives to look at....they need to make a wives quilting section seperated from the gun stuff like casinos have arcades for the kids. Dump them off and let me browse for what I paid for.

 

[lionking]

what you guys have said is true.But then again alot if not most of my surplus rifles I bought at shows.Between the BS'ers sometimes you find a dealer and a deal,or at least a very nice firearm,which for instance I recently found a very nice walnut K31 for $250 ,with 2 cartons of GP11 included thats not a bad deal.And the guy was straightfoward.

The normal gunstore guys that set up,well some will be higher than others.Best to find 1 or 2 you trust and build a relationship.Its easy to learn who the gougers are then forget about 'em. If there is a dealer I like who is cool with me I might spend a little extra (a little) then someone down the lane who might be $25 cheaper or something.

And most of the time you can find deals on ammo,or get hard to find ammo.

Plus it beats staying home and cleaning,painting,fixing the house lol!

 

[hksw]

Sorry to hear of your poor experience.

It's been my experience from going to shows for the past 18 years that the content of each show can depend on the size and the organization running the show. Different show organizers can have different standards as to what will be shown and sold at their shows. They also pick who will be in their shows.

Size is a big factor too, IMO. As you've seen fron the 120 table show, pickings can be slim. Not only will offerings be low but competition will be also. This can keep prices up. After going to every show possible within a 200 mile radius (and a couple big shows outside of that) early on, I've come to the conclusion that anything with less than 300 tables is not worth going to.

In NE OH, prices at gun shows are generally lower than those at shops and the diversity of the offerings is much much greater.

Try giving the shows one more try with a different organization and/or location and pick one that has at least 300 tables if possible.

 

[Manedwolf]

I recently found a very nice walnut K31 for $250 ,with 2 cartons of GP11 included thats not a bad deal.

60rd brick of GP-11 = $20 x 2 = $40.

A K-31 for $210? You know you paid $110 over the going rate even in many shops, right? Dunham's stores just had them for $89. It better have been all matching serials, including magazine, and come with the sling and muzzle cover too, or the seller made out REAL good on you, unfortunately.

 

[skipjack]

Manedwolf, what is the point of your post? I find it incredible that someone would try to make someone else feel as if he has been ripped off.

Of course, I am not the kind who visits 100 shops, burning up $150 worth of gas to save a few dollars. If I find something I like, and get treated with respect by the seller, I'm buying it.

Used gun values vary, widely. Unless you have seen the firearm in question, and have been asked, best course is to keep your opinion to yourself. But, hey, that's just me!

 

[TooTaxed]

I generally enjoy gun shows, though I normally buy little or nothing. (Inexpensive amusement?) At any show, you talk with the dealers and try to negotiate a fair price if you get interested in something, including trades. I look for bargains in second-hand reloading equipment, ammunition, reloading components, and stuff from individuals who have lost their interest in shooting and are selling their accumulations. It gives me a chance to see what the current value of my guns and gear is. I always meet some interesting people and have some enjoyable conversations...even with the very heavy contingent of law enforcement officers who attend! They are shoppers, also...

And, over the years, I've gotten some fine deals at shows!

 

[lionking]

quote manedwolf;60rd brick of GP-11 = $20 x 2 = $40.

A K-31 for $210? You know you paid $110 over the going rate even in many shops, right? Dunham's stores just had them for $89. It better have been all matching serials, including magazine, and come with the sling and muzzle cover too, or the seller made out REAL good on you, unfortun

Dont worry skipjack.I had a feeling someone might question that lol!

I've been following all the threads about K31's.From what I've read and after seeing surplus websites nice walnut K31's are getting scarce and those that are for sale were around the price that I paid anyway(or maybe slightly less) which take out the ammo I paid around $200.Most of the surplus sites list a walnut as soldout.My K31's wood has very little flaws.I would not have paid that much for a beech stock.And the fact that after 2 or 3 gunshows this was the only K31 except for a beat up beech stock one tagged at $150 that I saw.So no,I was'nt ripped off.And if I had ordered it with a surplus site,its roll the dice to what they send me and I'd have to pay a FFL a markup to have it sent anyway.

Check it out here.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=226432&page=2

 

[lionking]

here,I just browsed a couple surplus sites.Hre is a example of 2 sites offereing a walnut listed at around $150 without seeing true condition of the rifle.Add on a dealer transfer fee and taxes and at the most I might have paid $30 to $40 over to handpick my K31.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=k31&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

http://www.classicarms.us/

http://www.samcoglobal.com/rifles.html

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Swiss_1931_Carbine_Schmidt_Rubin_K31_Rifle.html

 

[kennedy]

remember, a bad day at a gun show is still better then a good day at work or raking leaves. I usually find at least one good deal at each gun show, it might be ammo or a mag or a knife, hopefully a gun, I might have to go around the show 3 times before I find a good deal. At the last one it was getting late in the day, a seller had his kids with him and they wanted to go home, he sold me a nib colt cheap, just to have sold something. made both our days.

 

[lionking]

flyboy73 found a K31 for $80 though he says the stock is a bit beat,thats a good deal though for any rifle.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=236613

never heard of Dunhams,wonder if there are any in Florida.You guys up north seem to have it better with sporting good stores,Cabelas and such.No sporting store down here sells surplus weapons,only gunstores.

 

[CountGlockula]

How were the prices on ammo and accessories?

I usually go for good prices on ammo and magazines, I don't care about anything else.