So I went to a gun show...

[entropy]

You go to the gun shows for the show, WH, and if you accidentally find a bargain, all the better. Even if it hadn't been skipper's BD, I wouldn't have gone to that one, I would have gone to the one in Altoona, WI. The one they had there in May is where I picked up that 1899 Izhevsk Finn M91 and FrankenTula, that you saw. Neither of them is very pretty, but $65 for the pair, and $10 on ebay for a stock for FrankenTula, and I have two good shooting Mosins. Of course, the dealers salivate when someone like my boss, John, goes to the show. He picked up a Saiga .308 at that show on a whim. I showed it to him as we walked in, and he had to have it. Guess that's why he works two jobs! (I have to pay bills with the two jobs I work. )
I pick up odd boxes of 7.62x54R to try out in the Mosins at shows, parts when I find them cheap, and usually several knives for skipper's collection. But I always have my eyes open, you never know when you'll find that M1907 carbine for 50 bucks.

I don't have the link, but there was a hilarious thread about gun shows, and 'Da AK wit' da switch' a while back.

 

[mokster]

I was of a very low opinion of gunshows, like you. I had been to two gun shows and was thoroughly unimpressed by the "deals" offered. I went to a gun show this weekend though and even though it was small it was about 98% guns and knives. Everything seemed to actually be a deal also, or they seemed more willing to dicker granted it was in Pahrump but I think their were as many guns at this one as at the ones 5 times bigger in vegas.

 

[mokster]

Im kicking myself for not buying a S&W model 10 in 32-20 for 150.00 at this show.They havent made it in that chamber since 1941

 

[madhatta]

hmmm...
this all makes me think that great gunshows are like great people...

...that they are kinda rare...

meaning we deal with less than desirable people most of our lives, so that when we meet or have the pleasure of knowing one of the good ones- we truly appreciate them for what they are- a rarity in this world...

having said that- the last 2-3 years I have been attending a lot of gun shows. I feel the same frustrations of all the other posts here. However, you just never know what you are going to come across. I have found some really good buys because the dealer had had the gun for so long and no one wanted it and he finally dropped the price cause he was tired of looking at it.
I remember certain dealers that deal mostly in used and collectible guns and they generally have decent prices, and are pretty easy to deal with and trade with.
I think John Taffin once wrote that he perused the classified ads- looking at thousands of guns for sale- his hope was that out of looking at all those guns, he would find a good deal on A gun or perhaps two every year.
Going to gun shows and wading through all the junk, overpriced new stuff, and outright rip-offs has unfortunately become the same.

 

[pytron]

I don't have the link, but there was a hilarious thread about gun shows, and 'Da AK wit' da switch' a while back.

I had to find this thread. Here is it: Is your gunshow anything like this one?

 

[jdseven1]

Picked up an Marlin 39a this weekend at a gun show for $130 it was old but in good shape had to fix the eject spring and it needed a good cleaning on the chamber area. Has open sights and shoots good. also picked up a compound bow for $15 dollars. I notice they did not have many sks for sale and they wanted about $200.

 

[Bainx]

No doubt about it, you yankees need to get down south to some real gunshows!

 

[Ryan1021]

The Gun shows around here are decent. They vary from month to month. I got my WASR-10 from the gun show. I use the show to pick up ammo mostly, 500 rounds of 7.62x39 can be had at a pretty reasonable price at these shows. I also use it to pick up all my 30 round mags.

 

[RobW]

If you consider it "A Day At The Circus", it's worth the attendance fee.

 

[Shane333]

I agree with the advice that you should know what you're looking for before you go, if you really want to make an educated purchase.

A couple months ago I went to one in Salt Lake City looking for "normal" capacity CZ-83 magazines. I was hoping to purchase one for about $40. There were three vendors selling them. Two vendors were asking $90+ per mag. One vendor was asking $24. I asked how much for two, and next thing I knew I had two mags for $40 total!

Moral of the story: Shop around and know what you're looking for before you go.

 

[BluesBear]

There are Guns SHows and then there are Flea Markets disgusied as Gun Shows.


Sadly too many gun shows loosened their rules in the depression of the later 1980s early 1990s and as aas result they have become Flea Markets.



The secret it to find a REAL gun show. THey do still exist. Once you find and attend one you'll understand. And then you'll want to go again.

 

[Daniel T]

DWS1117:

Don't those prices only apply to people with 01 or 03(C&R) FFL's? Someone correct me if I am wrong please. At least that is what I had understood from the sales policy on AIM's web site.

The prices apply to everyone, but they will only ship guns to 01 or 03 FFLs. You'll probably have to pay a transfer fee to the FFL that the gun is shipped too, but AIM and SOG charge you directly, and they charge you the prices shown on the websites and in the catalogs.

 

[Rimmer]

carp killer

Gun shows are a crap shoot. Sorta like going to garage sales, thirty with womens clothes, broken toys and exersize equipment to one with tools and gun stuff.

(Homer......... Ummmmmm tools and guns )

 

[Red Tornado]

Went to my first gun show last weekend

in Cape Girardeau. There was some neat stuff to look at but I couldn't find a .22 pistol that I wanted. Several were close, but nothing really 'blew my skirt up' so to speak. (No, I don't really wear skirts.)

However, since I felt I had to buy something, at least a souvenir, I found a really nifty 50lb hand crossbow for $8.

At least I left happy, and it's great fun in the back yard.
RT