Gun Show, then Cabela's new store . . .

[HankB]

Lousy luck this weekend. Went to a gun show, and found that all the stuff I didn't need and wasn't in the market for was actually available for a decent price. The stuff I was looking for was either OVERpriced or absent. Came out empty-handed . . . first time that's happened to me in a LONG time.

So today I went to the new Cabela's store in Buda, just south of Austin. Big store, nice & clean. Found and bought a few minor things, saw more I didn't buy . . .

* A Winchester lever action rifle made in 1880 . . . cost was $165,000. (Yep, you read that right, one hundred sixty five thousand dollars.) I guess I don't appreciate antiques . . . if I'd found that in my attic, my inclination would be to either shoot it or put it in a pedestal, run wires up the barrel, and make a lamp out of it.

* A variety of double rifles at prices over $10,000, a fancy Perazzi shotgun for around $40,000, and a couple of old Colt revolvers for $12,000 and $28,000 respectively.

* A Bushmaster modular carbine with telestock for $1339. Tempting, tempting . . . and a Ruger .357 with a police logo from Hawaii.

* Beretta 92 factory magazines for $35 . . . that's list price, except these were 10 round Klinton mags.

* Lots of mounted animals, with taxidermy that ranged from adequate to rather bad.

Overall, nice store, if you're nearby, check it out.

 

[Rembrandt]

I've seen that rifle on their web site....too nice to make a lamp out of.

The "One-of-One Thousand" was the same rifle the Jimmy Stewart movie "Winchester 76" was based on.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...y/inventory/sidney/winchester/324697_1000.jsp


A One of a Kind Winchester Model 1876 "One of One Thousand" .45-60
WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 1 OF 1000 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. Cal 45-60. SN 10036. This ultra rare rifle is one of only 5 ( and this being the only one currently known to survive) "1 of 1000" ever made with 30" bbls. The bbl is full oct. with full magazine and fine, center crotch cut, beautifully figured walnut with checkered forearm and straight stock that has a crescent steel buttplate with trap. The front sight is a Lyman hunting sight ivory bead and the rear sight is a very early Winchester folding leaf original sight. The tang is mounted with a Lyman tang sight. It has the second model screwed on dust cover rail with an impressed thumbprint dust cover. The chamber area of the exposed bbl flats is engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background and the engraved script legend "One of One Thousand". The muzzle is matching engraved on five flats with identical patterns and a single silver band to match the silver band over the chamber. The caliber marking is rolled on the top flat above the rear sight and below the bbl markings. This special rifle is further equipped with single set trigger. It is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter dated Jan. 22, 2004 completely identifying this rifle as having been shipped on June 8, 1880 to order number 20253. This very rare Winchester was recently purchased out of the family which had owned it since 1905. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains about 80% original blue, thinned and turning brown over the chamber area and in front of the rear sight. Magazine tube retains 40-50% original blue with the balance turned brown. Forend cap is a smooth brown patina. Receiver and sideplates retain 75-80% silvered case colors with the balance a smooth brown patina. Wood is sound and shows substantial wear and handling with no original finish remaining and with minor handling and use marks commensurate with the overall condition of the rifle. Mechanics are fine and the bore is bright and shiny.

 

[jason10mm]

I need to check that place out. I have a hankering for some black powder guns.

 

[auschip]

I went on 7-7 during the day, and it was still packed. Nice selection of used SxS in several flavors. They had a Russian O/U in 28G that was calling my name, but fortunately my wife called louder. I expected the prices to be better, but they weren't bad ... just not super fantastic.

Watching that big catfish chomping on a 3lb bass was entertaining. Made me wonder how much predation goes on in those tanks.

 

[JamisJockey]

We're getting a bran' spankin' new Cabela's in August. My knees are weak just thinking about it....
Lehi, UT store

 

[SLCDave]

You and me both, Jason...

 

[Fly320s]

Must be something in the air...

I went to the new Cabela's in Ft. Worth this past week.

Big place, good selection on firearms. Unfortunatly for me, my tour guide didn't want to look at the guns. He wanted to see the stuffed animals. Of course, he's only 7 years old, but still...

HankB, was the bad taxidermy that you saw on the animals that were in the water. I noticed that fake legs were used on the animals standing in the water.

 

[GEM]

I was there also. It was a fun store. However, the gun and ammo prices weren't any great deals.

For example, they had a $229 Bersa - Academy for $199. Winchester 9mm 115 gr FMJ for 6.99 - too high. Glock 19 for $539 - Academy $499.

The stuff animals were cute and the fish were fun to watch. The restaurant was jammed back. For the heck of it, I had an Elk sandwich - the ellk tasted like generic lunch meat. I have had elk steaks before and they were tasted. I guess you can Arbyize anything.

I bought an Uncle Mike's pocket holster in a size that I don't usually see in the stores.

No really great sales. I was looking at boots.

But a good addition to the area. With a Bass pro shop in San Antonio and a couple of Sportmans' Warehouses opening up - that's some fun. The gun shows and Academy still are the price places for guns and ammo.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

HankB you should have stopped and said hello.......i saw a few THR guys at the Austin Show.

if it was Saturday though i could have been pretty busy, i got slammed midday.

DanielT got himself a Tacticool LaRue scope mount to go on his Rock River and a poopy scope lol.

 

[lyricsdad]

Wow Cabelas is getting big.. I remember when they were only in Sidney and me and my dad used to take trips there. Then when they opened up their 1st store in Mitchell SD we were in heaven.

You should check out the gun Library in Sidney lots of old cool guns..

 

[dolanp]

However, the gun and ammo prices weren't any great deals.

I guess it depends on the caliber. I got a bunch of Wolf 7.62x39 at $1.99/20 which is even hard to beat online recently. Plus you can buy in bulk 500rd plastic ammo cans for $50.

 

[Daniel T]

DanielT got himself a Tacticool LaRue scope mount to go on his Rock River and a poopy scope lol.

You're just an optics snob.

Ya did me good on that rail though Steve, yet again. Thanks.

Earlier in the day I managed to pick up a nice Schmidt-Rubin 1911 Swiss rifle for a great price from Mel at General Firearms. He always has a fascinating array of C&R stuff.

Hank, I agree that there is a lot of overpriced stuff at the Austin show, but there are deals to be had all over. I have fun every time I go, and I always get a laugh out of watching people trying to sell things like a used Bersa Thunder for $250. The folks that sell ammo by the case usually have good prices and a good selection, and one of the regular dealers has a large slection of handguns at decent prices. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I've only gone a few times to the show where I was looking for something specific, and each time I found what I was looking for, so I've been satisfied.

 

[Drizzt]

OK, yeah the prices weren't always the best you could find, but just walking around there was great. I'm afraid that, if I worked there, I would not be able to make it out the door with my paycheck intact ( mmmmm..... generous employee discounts...... )

I was at the gunshow Saturday. Didn't find much worth getting worked up about. Of course, with no job, I probably shouldn't even be tempting myself.

 

[wmenorr67]

I'm afraid that, if I worked there, I would not be able to make it out the door with my paycheck intact ( mmmmm..... generous employee discounts...... )

I agree on that comment. Bass Pro is going to be opening a store here in the Tulsa area in the next couple of months. They are having a job fair next week and I am going to go apply for a part time job. My wife's friend has told her that I cannot work there for the fact she says that my paycheck would never make it home.

 

[Farnham]

My wife and I took a SOFA day from work last Thursday and went up to the new Cabelas, I was surprised, we ended up looking around for a good 3 hours. I figured once around the place and she'd be done, but we spent at least 30 minutes just ogling the stuff in the gun library, a lot of time reading the buck stories on the walls, and digging around in the bargain cave.

We also had to try an elk sandwich, I thought it was pretty tasty stuff. The original Cabelas in Sidney was right down the road from where I grew up, I think it's kind of cool how big that chain has gotten.

Now where is this Bass Pro Shop in San Antonio you speak of???

S/F

Farnham