Went to the Fort Worth Gunshow today (20 May 23)

[CapnMac]

Hi the timing just right, left just as baseball traffic was backing up to get into the Ballpark. And got to Will Rogers after the first crush of folks had found parking for the Colonial.
Was there just after the typical lunchtime crush, too.

Well-attended show, and plenty of tables. My ammo guys, Plinker's out of Brenham were there, but I saved them for the end of the show, so as to no lug ammo around.

Was sore tempted by a Baby Rock 380 at a circa US$400 sort of price. I finally saw 380 version of the SIG 365--all of those were in the US$600 range, so, ouch.

Several vendors had RIA 1911 in 38super for almost reasonable prices.

For me, it was mostly a case of "I have one of those" anytime I saw great prices. There were some Tok and Maks that caught my eye, but not enough to set the hook.

There were several vendors with lever guns, but the prices reflected current market values. Ditto the revolvers I saw.

Did stop and talk to the people with a semi-auto 1919A6 out on their table, along with several boxes of links for same. Made me nostalgic for my long-gone 1919A4.

Skipped downtown eateries for Mercado Juarez and ate far too much

A good day for coming home with a decent deal on 556 & 380 and a 30 cal ammo box to carry it in.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Hi the timing just right, left just as baseball traffic was backing up to get into the Ballpark. And got to Will Rogers after the first crush of folks had found parking for the Colonial.
Was there just after the typical lunchtime crush, too.

Well-attended show, and plenty of tables. My ammo guys, Plinker's out of Brenham were there, but I saved them for the end of the show, so as to no lug ammo around.

Was sore tempted by a Baby Rock 380 at a circa US$400 sort of price. I finally saw 380 version of the SIG 365--all of those were in the US$600 range, so, ouch.

Several vendors had RIA 1911 in 38super for almost reasonable prices.

For me, it was mostly a case of "I have one of those" anytime I saw great prices. There were some Tok and Maks that caught my eye, but not enough to set the hook.

There were several vendors with lever guns, but the prices reflected current market values. Ditto the revolvers I saw.

Did stop and talk to the people with a semi-auto 1919A6 out on their table, along with several boxes of links for same. Made me nostalgic for my long-gone 1919A4.

Skipped downtown eateries for Mercado Juarez and ate far too much

A good day for coming home with a decent deal on 556 & 380 and a 30 cal ammo box to carry it in.

Any old guns from the Boomer’s tables?

 

[Old Dog]

Nice to see a (semi?) positive review of a gun show. I've found if I go with no expectations, just go for the experience and a chance to mingle with a bunch of like-minded folk, I enjoy the shows a lot more.

But I always leave with a lot of bulk ammo, too.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Nice to see a (semi?) positive review of a gun show. I've found if I go with no expectations, just go for the experience and a chance to mingle with a bunch of like-minded folk, I enjoy the shows a lot more.

But I always leave with a lot of bulk ammo, too.

I use to love going to the huge gun show in Washington! was so much FUN!

 

[Ks5shooter]

None in NJ need to go to PA havent been in a while.

 

[kimberkid]

For me, it was mostly a case of "I have one of those" anytime I saw great prices.

I suffer from that too, it may come with age. I rarely travel more than 50 miles for a show because it’s mostly I’ve got one or I’ve had one … or it’s some ugly new age wiz-bang that I have no interest in. I still enjoy going though.

 

[Appalachiannative]

My favorite gun show is an hr away in Greenville SC, but the WNC agricultural center us 5 minutes from my house so that's the show I visit the most. This show you went to sounds more interesting than the Ag center one

 

[CapnMac]

Any old guns from the Boomer’s tables?

Some, sorta--Most of the "old boomers" are vendors of one sort or another, rather than just people renting a table.

There are some crusty dudes from Dallas Gun Collectors who will have cool items--they had a pretty Garand, a Carbine, and a 1917--just all at market value (too rich for my blood).

 

[CapnMac]

My favorite gun show is an hr away

One of the things I really like about "The Original Ft Worth Gun Show" is that the Will Rogers center is only 20 minutes' drive away.

And, the "West University [Drive]" area in FW is an oasis of good eateries, so, that can be fun, too.

 

[dredd]

Saturday would have been a great day to over indulge while sitting outside at Mercado Juarez.

 

[P Flados]

Brings back memories.

Before I left home (Benbrook) in 1980, I went to that show a couple of times. I recall picking up a 6" Ruger 22 auto pistol and my 10" 30 Herrett contender barrel at the show.

 

[citizenconn]

Did stop and talk to the people with a semi-auto 1919A6 out on their table, along with several boxes of links for same. Made me nostalgic for my long-gone 1919A4.

I was just talking to my niece yesterday about how best to set up and carry a 1919A4. She is in the reserves in West Virginia and their unit has one of these and no one had any idea what it was or how to use it or how to set up the tripod for it. She sent me some video and the 3 person crew assigned to it looked like the proverbial monkeys. I certainly have fond memories of one from my service days several decades ago.
That conversation got me to thinking I "need" a 1919A6 and now you mention seeing one just a couple hops away from where I normally go shooting with my Dad. Strange how the universe works.

Did those guys have it for sale or just out as a conversation piece? You mention links for it. Did the A6 only use disintegrating links or would it still use the cloth belts? I've seen a couple in use but have never fired an A6 myself.

 

[CapnMac]

Did those guys have it for sale or just out as a conversation piece? You mention links for it. Did the A6 only use disintegrating links or would it still use the cloth belts? I've seen a couple in use but have never fired an A6 myself.

It was for scale, US$2600--I didn't ask if it was a side-plate build-up or not. It was very pretty.

308 was in the belts, but that's an easy swap on the 1919.
Belts are not really an issue, the cloth belts being a smidgen easier to hand load; the metal links being better for making short belts.

The A6 will need a long table at the range, with the bipod at the far end of the barrel.

Those original tripods were designed around a notion that the MG would be set up for pre-spotted fires at 2400 yards, out to a maximum of 3200 yards. As area effect weapons the intention was to site them perhaps 100 yards behind the Forward Edge of Battle, so operating them in a seated fashion was logical, too.

The Marine use of 1919 (and 1917) with the T&E removed was very unusual--and subject to rather a lot of doctrinal review by the Marines.

One thing is for sure, you show up at the range with a 1919, it will get very quiet, and a rather large number of people will want to make your acquaintance.

 

[Charlie98]

Fort Worth is still my favorite... being local to some good eats is a bonus.

Nice to see attendance was good. I remember some years ago, it was either Dallas or Mesquite, they had half the tables they normally did, they were spaced further apart (which I don't mind, but you see what I'm saying...) and it was a ghost town in any event. Further, and as usual, 1/3 of the tables were selling joolry, candles, or had carnival hawkers trying to get you to sign up for whatever it was. I had 3 firearms to sell that visit... and I was lucky to unload them.

 

[CapnMac]

they had half the tables they normally did,

The first show they had after the couf was goofy like that. Twelve foot wide aisles felt really weird.
I was not a fan of come in on the Concourse side and leave by the north entrance, as that was inelegant for parking in the garage.
It was pretty obvious that most of the crowd was out just because they needed something to do that they were allowed to.