Gun Show Table Alarm System

[gbw]

Over the many years I've accumulated a few guns, some quite valuable, that I never shoot and don't especially enjoy owning.

So I'd like to sell them.

I'm going to get a table at the next gun show, and I need suggestions for a cable alarm system.

The Dakota Alarm system looks ok, except reviewers all complain about the very low volume on the alarm.

Does anyone know of a similar better system? Price does matter, but not too much.

Thanks,

 

[hdwhit]

It's been a long time since I was at a gun show. Most of the people didn't have any kind of security on their table. One seller had a loop of aircraft cable across the top of the table and padlocked to the table legs. He then had some shorter loops of cable that ran through the trigger guard or magazine well of the individual guns securing them to the big loop of cable with small padlocks. The short lengths of cable were long enough people could still pick up and handle the guns, but not walk off with them.

 

[theothermike]

Make one! Get some wire with connectors (maybe like rca cables), a battery or 12v wall pack, an automotive relay, a on off switch and a backup alarm (or similar buzzer). Run 12v through the wire that goes around the guns to the relay coil, then hook a normally closed contact to the alarm. When all is good, power will go though the gun loop and hold the contract open. Then when the gun wire is disconnected, the normally closed contact will close and power the buzzer.

 

[Kingcreek]

I would just recruit another set or 2 of eyes, and the set the table up so you can control who can handle them and how many at one time.
A guy I know built glass display cases. Anybody can look but if you want to handle one, you ask, he then removes only 1 at a time and while you look it over it never leaves his sight until he puts it put back in the case.

 

[hso]

I just leash each firearm with paracord. Anything especially valuable I put in a case.

 

[Craig_AR]

I realize this is a naive question, but I am curious... with the current attitude at BATFE, notwithstanding the new Administration, would setting up a full table of guns cause them to consider you a dealer and hit you for not having a FFL? Carrying one or two around the show with a sign for sale is pretty obvious low-level personal seller. A table full seems like a different image.

 

[Tirod]

I saw all of the above at the gun show I attended yesterday. Cables, paracord, but mostly nothing at all. What I did see were a lot of labels tied to guns with the complete description and price. That was a significant change, in the past most exhibitors might have a small sticker with price if at all. You'd be left wondering if you knew what it was and that promoted picking them up to look. With tags you picked up the guns less. I got the impression those were gun shops, not individuals.

Glass cases were still in evidence but it was not always high dollar guns. In a lot of cases there were oddballs like large frame stainless .22 target pistols. I gathered it was more for the convenience of the table owner to haul around and pack up.

I have no doubt the next show could be the complete opposite. This one can be counted on for one thing, absolutely no consistency in exhibitors. You never know what might be there.

 

[buck460XVR]

Iffin it were me, and I had just a few valuable guns to sell, I'd try Gunbroker first before I'd rent a table at a gun show and sit there all weekend watching multiple "Bubbas" handling them.

 

[hso]

would setting up a full table of guns cause them to consider you a dealer and hit you for not having a FFL?

Not around here in TN.

It isn't unusual for someone that has been buying all their lives to decide to "thin the herd" and shift interests from milsurps to shotguns.

 

[hdwhit]

Craig_VA wrote:
I realize this is a naive question, but I am curious... with the current attitude at BATFE, notwithstanding the new Administration, would setting up a full table of guns cause them to consider you a dealer and hit you for not having a FFL?

The ATF has a publication that explains when you need a license and when you don't. The criteria for whether or not you are a dealer within the law, it appears that whether you are regularly engaged in buying and selling and whether or not you are intending to make a profit are important factors. As relevent to gbw's question in post #1, the whole pamphlet is relevant, but the Q&A on page 7 seems particularly helpful.

https://www.atf.gov/file/100871/download

 

[Dog Soldier]

I have collected guns for a very long time. For many years I culled off my less desirable firearms at gun shows. I am not an FFL or dealer.
I now prefer to have a dealer sell my guns on consignment. They can do the paper work BG and other gun sales exercises. I don't need to get involved in some violation or law suite.

 

[PaFrank]

If as you say, you have some that are quite valuable, I would go the Gunbroker route.

What is your time worth? Sitting behind a table for 18 hours (2 day show) plus the show fees, travel and meal expenses etc not to mention the additional travel and prep time just to save the very reasonable Gunbroker fees doesn't seem very cost effective.

Plus at a gunshow you only get a local audience. on GB you get a National audience and are more likely to get top dollar if what you have is anything special.