Who has been to the Mike Holloway gun show in Knoxville lately?

[sorny]

I'm looking for a North American Arms Mini 22 and the gun show comes to Knoxville the day after my tax refund will be deposited into the bank So instead of ordering online and having to send an FFL and pay about 1/4 price of the gun in fees, I thought I might stop by the show. I've never been to any gun show and didn't know if it was all Glocks and expensive rifles, or if theres a little bit of everything? Dunno what the odds are of even seeing an NAA Mini there but thought someone who's been before could prepare me. Also, do any of the places there charge a background check fee or any other types of fees? I guess the shops setup have to charge sales tax don't they?

I'm such a penny pincher it's not even funny. I'd go all the way to the gun show to save $2

 

[JMusic]

I've been to the one at the Jacobs building several times. It has a full representative of firearms. Not sure if this is the Mike H show you are refering to.
Jim

 

[sorny]

Yeah, I'm talking about the one at the Jacobs building. I think it's 2 weeks from tomorrow.

If I don't see an NAA Mini I'm hoping I can find a snub nose .38 or something for under $200 (new or in good used shape).

 

[22-rimfire]

I have been to the Holloway show in the Jacob's building which is located over near the zoo (fairgrounds) on the east side of Knoxville. His shows are generally fairly good for new guns. Prices are competitive generally, but like everything else, you need to have some prices in mind prior to going. There is always a fairly good assortment of new and used handguns for sale there.

I know it's a bit of a drive, but the gunshop (Legends) in Athens is very competitive on guns overall and they sell the NA Arms mini-revolvers. Price will be within $10 of most show prices on new guns for the most part. Interesting store also. It is like a mini-bass pro. They sell few used guns though.

 

[sorny]

Well, I'm about an hour and a half from Knoxville, so unless I had to, Athens is a bit too far.

Does the Holloway show have a good amount of used guns? I'm really hoping I can find a .38 snub for under $200 (and at least a Taurus, Ruger, etc).

 

[22-rimfire]

Call Legends 423-746-2321 to check a price on them for your reference. At the Holloway shows, you will see a lot of used guns typically. For example, you can almost always find used Colt Detective Specials for around $300-$325 there. I may attend his next show as I want to visit Bass Pro in Sevierville.

The NAA Mini-revolvers are cute, but they are hard to shoot accurately. If I were you, I'd look for a used snubbie in 38/357 or something like that. You aren't necessarily trying to conceal it, rather sized for convenience when you are out and about. I used to carry a 4" 22 Diamondback years ago when I tromped around the mountains of Eastern KY and East TN and snakes were always an issue every day. I know they are expensive these days.

Is this your first handgun?

 

[sorny]

Nope, not my first handgun. I've had a Taurus 92, Kahr P-40, Sig P230, and CZ-52. Still got the 92 and 52. I carry the 92 sometimes but it's just so big that it's hard to conceal when sitting down a lot (and hurts my back).

I have been looking at snubbies more, but really want something that will drop in my front pocket of my jeans (in a pocket holster I guess) and will be ok. I don't want to not be able to sit down or anything because of the gun. I used to conceal my P-40 IWB and would forget it was even there, but I got a junk one and wasted $600. Traded it for the P230 which wasn't much better for carry (IMO). I have a wierd body shape though, big gut, no ass, so I can't keep my pants up, especially with a gun IWB in the back. And carrying IWB in the front would be fine but impossible with the gut

 

[22-rimfire]

I purchased a S&W 442 (38spl) for just the purpose you are looking at. (Just not the price.) You can sit down with the gun in say blue jeans. Yeah, you notice it, but it is not bad. It is easily carried in a coat pocket, but not a shirt pocket. I have looked so many times at those little NA Arms revolvers and just could never bring myself to buy one. Nothing against the gun really. The Smith 442 or the stainless 642 model stings a little when you shoot it. It is quite concealable and very popular these days. So, it is not something you take to the woods for a major plinking session or shoot for very long at the range. They have the 22 version too. I still carry 22's in the woods. I switch between a 4" N-Frame Smith (Model 57 41 mag) Mountain Gun, a Ruger Mark II 5.5" bull barrel, or a 22 revolvers depending on my mood for walks in the woods. I just don't buy the off-brand revolvers and pistols much. Ruger or Taurus is about as off brand as I go.

 

[JMusic]

In the mini's I'd recomend the 22 magnum model. My wife carries one. I have the Blackwidow which shoots very well. You can get these with a LR cylinder also. Shy away from the 22 short version small but anemic. Have you tried Outdoor Sports off of exit 108 I75? They are right by the Outback there. I've bought some there before.
Jim

 

[JMusic]

repeat

 

[22-rimfire]

By the way, I have attended many of Holloway's shows back to about 1990. They have gotten better over the years. My favorite gun show in Knoxville was always the Smokey Mt Gun Collectors show at the convention center (Holiday Inn), but I don't believe they are being held any more. That is a shame as you could find some really nice stuff there and the bigger dealers would have tables.

Another place for a price check is Benton Shooters Supply in Benton TN. You will find the telephone number easily on the internet. They carry a very large selection of handguns and long guns and are usually very competitive. I usually stop when I'm in that neck of the woods... usually fishing on the Hiwassee River for trout.

 

[Hobie]

From what I've heard Mike has been successful in drawing a wide range of dealers to his shows. One reason he's down there is because he was frustrated by a promoter he worked for here in VA. I think you have as good a chance of finding what you want as is possible at a show.