Observations from the Ft Worth Gunshow today

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CapnMac

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It was a bright , sunny, mild day today.
Pretty obvious that our community encompasses all types, kinds, natures, and predilictions. But, boy howdy, do we not know how to park o_O

AR magazine prices are all over the place, neither consistently high, nor consistently low. Some distinct outliers--like the person with a box of Colt 20 round mags listed for $24. Not pristine nor NOS, or very remarkable. Then, three tables over, Colt and Okay 30 rounders for $16. Go figure.

AR prices are very stable, if not a tad ($10-20) lower; if anything, the only real change was the lack of 'expensive' ARs

Speaking of expensive things, I found a Garand for under $900--both erosion gauges listed were over 4, gee, I wonder why it's not selling? (The two import stamps probably not helping, either.)

Saw a second double import, an alleged Inland Carbine, only $1100. Same vendor had a "genuine WWII" Universal carbine, a steal at $600.

Really, beyond a hand-rolled cigar, the only thing that caught my eye was an Astra in .32acp, but it wasn't quite nice enough.

Was a pleasant day, and since I was downtown, I had good chow (tacos barbacoa y tacos asada at Cafe Límon)
 
I laughed at the guy selling tubs of clearly used and dirty PMAGs for $15/each...

I picked up a 18" 450 Bushmaster upper with a freefloat keymod handguard on it for $575.

My favorite vendor of all things fancy mexican leather was there, so I picked up another belt.

I was surprised to see that alternate caliber AR seem to now be 1:1 with .223 ARs. Lots of 9mm. 7.62x39, .308 and 6.5 uppers.

Almost every Rock Island 1911 I saw had goofy grips on them.. grim reapers and such. I thought it odd. Never seen anything like that on Rock Island guns... which reminds me of the other oddity with 1911s today. .38 Supers everywhere. First time I had seen one in a long time, and I saw dozens of them.

The other first, the ultra rare CZ-75SA made an appearance today. In the middle of a regular table no less. Not in the weird and eclectic used piles some people have.
 
CapnMac

Sounds like a good time even if you didn't find anything worth buying. Sometimes it's just nice to get out, walk around, and see what's going on at a local gun show.
 
Sounds like the one I went to a couple of weeks ago. Still, nice to just walk about with like-minded folks. I did see a couple of "tempters", but exercised some self-control. I've done better in the gun shops than at shows.
 
clearly used and dirty PMAGs for $15/each
There was a guy, back near the cub scout salsa and "healing" salt glass tables, had a whole rainbow of ProMags (white, cream, pale grey, etc.) for either $4 or $5 each. Six or seven tables' worth of these, no less. Not a lot of action--but, I did not see a lot of magazines being bought, either.
 
Those AR magazine prices are silly. There are very good sale prices on the Internet; Gen 3 PMAGs for $10.00, Gen 2 for $8.00 and I just got metal 20 round mags for 10.00 each.

Fall Gun Shows will be pretty hot if it looks like the Democrats are going to win the House.
 
Those AR magazine prices are silly. There are very good sale prices on the Internet; Gen 3 PMAGs for $10.00, Gen 2 for $8.00 and I just got metal 20 round mags for 10.00 each.

Fall Gun Shows will be pretty hot if it looks like the Democrats are going to win the House.
Looking for straight 20 rounders, where did you happen to find the 10 dollar ones? Thanks
 
I like going to Gun Shows. For the last year and a half my kids and I have been getting a table at the local Gun Show every other month. We make and sell Paracord bracelets. We have made as little as $300 and as much as $700 on those weekends. When I make under $400, I don't go home with much money. I pay my two boys $100 each for the weekend and feed them. But it gives me time with the boys and I see a lot of my old friends. I have gotten to know some of the dealers, some I like, some I don't.
There is a local gun forum, Bayou Shooter, that I'm a member of. I always post on the forum that any member that stops by my table, they get a free bracelet.
The next show is May 19th and 20th. I'll be there with my boys and seeing some friends. The good thing about the boys being with me, I can go and have a look around while they work. :)
 
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You are braver than I am. I quit going to gun shows. At least here it is always the same vendors with the same stuff.
There are a few individuals who have some neat stuff but not often. People walking the isles with guns to sell have some neat stuff sometimes.
 
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Last one I went to had a little bit of everything. The one thing that stuck out was a Rem 600 w/ a 22" barrel. Guy said it was factory (no Rem markings on the barrel) and wanted $1500 for it. I did find a bubba'd up Krag carbine that I talked the guy down to $125 on. Sort of a 'project' gun for me. And picked up some .270 brass that will become 256 Newton brass for $5
 
In Phoenix I plot my shortest path from the gate to the SAR show tent when I can look at interesting things without dodging muzzles.

Mike
 
Last gun show I went to was the one that makes a circuit in Florida. They held it at the War Memorial Auditorium in Broward County, which just banned all future gun shows.

They had a no-photo policy, and I think I know why. Some Breaking Bad reject was selling Nazi memorabilia, and he was distributing pamphlets praising Rudolf Hess. Not helpful to the 2A cause. I was with a group of friends, mostly black and relatively new to gun culture. It was embarrassing to have them see their worst fears about gun owners substantiated.

One wonders if the Hess fan is one of the reasons the show got banned.
 
I went to the Asheville, NC show yesterday. They probably had the biggest selection of firearms I can remember. ARs of all type and price ranges, including 224 Valkyrie. A good selection of bolt action and lever action rifles as always. Pistols from just about everyone, most at decent prices. Plenty of reloading supplies. And most importantly, a good crowd.
 
I laughed at the guy selling tubs of clearly used and dirty PMAGs for $15/each...

I picked up a 18" 450 Bushmaster upper with a freefloat keymod handguard on it for $575.

My favorite vendor of all things fancy mexican leather was there, so I picked up another belt.

I was surprised to see that alternate caliber AR seem to now be 1:1 with .223 ARs. Lots of 9mm. 7.62x39, .308 and 6.5 uppers.

Almost every Rock Island 1911 I saw had goofy grips on them.. grim reapers and such. I thought it odd. Never seen anything like that on Rock Island guns... which reminds me of the other oddity with 1911s today. .38 Supers everywhere. First time I had seen one in a long time, and I saw dozens of them.

The other first, the ultra rare CZ-75SA made an appearance today. In the middle of a regular table no less. Not in the weird and eclectic used piles some people have.
Seams to me a lot of the older competition shooters are selling off some of their guns. I've seen a lot of 38 supers lately myself. Most of the younger generation aren't familiar with this cartridge and just how accurate it can be. A lot of these 1911's have been worked on by well known gunsmith's of the day.
 
You are braver than I am. I quit going to gun shows. At least here it is always the same vendors with the same stuff.
There are a few individuals who have some neat stuff but not often. People walking the isles with guns to sell have some neat stuff sometimes.
Pretty much the same, at least for my area. Last show I went to was in September when I was out of town last year and the few things that stood out were a .454 Rossi Puma lever rifle, Kel Tec Sub-9 (the metal version that preceeded the Sub-2000), and a Ruger Speed Six in 9mm. A lot of T/C Encore and Contender barrels, like way more than I've ever seen before.

Nice show I'd never gone to before, ended up buying some handloaded .38 Short Colts and conicals for .36 caliber percussion revolvers. While I'm not into gun shows as much as I use to be, I think going to those you've never been to before are worth it because new people means new stuff you've probably not seen before.
 
I took a buddy to a gun show in Miami. He had an old Colt 1908 (.25 caliber automatic) he wanted to trade. I told him to hold onto it until he had gone online to find out what it was worth. Obvious?

Instead, he traded it to some dealer for a Kel-Tec 9mm, which, I'm pretty sure, was originally designed to be a Cracker Jack prize. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

When I got home, I looked up the value of the Colt. Depressing.
 
Just got home from the Gun Show, you talk about slow. I have never seen such a low turnout. I made a whole $95 and gave away $30 worth of bracelets to kids. Maybe tomorrow I’ll have a better day.
I did have an older guy stop at my table and asked if I gave discounts to Veterans. I asked what bracelet he wanted and he pointed the the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon bracelet on my display. Well, it was to small for his wrist so, I told him to give me about 10 min. I tied one to fit his wrist and told him that it was free. I got a big smile and a handshake.
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Last gun show I went to should have been a knife and candy show. It will be awhile before I go again.
 
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