Worst gunshow I have ever been to...

[Moparmike]

Ugh. Granted, the number of gunshows I have attended I could count on one hand, but this sort of sets the standard for the bottom.



It happened in a place about the size of a small basketball gym, and had about 4 rows 20ft wide and 80ft long. There was enough room between each row for a game of 2on2.

Of the tables, I would say 50-60% of the tables were knives, the cheap crap you could get for $1 in a gas station with confederate flags, etc, as well as the Wal-Mart bought camp axes.

10% of the tables sold knick-nacks, like those crystal-looking rectangular cubes with a wolf or Indian Princess or some such inside. The sad thing was that these tables were the most interesting. "You know a gun show is bad when..."

It had a friggin Avon table. I'll just leave that one to speak for itself.

There was the Nazi memoriabilia collector table, rather sparsely populated with patches and medals.

There was the guy who left his collection of $2000-4000 WWI and WWII pistols unattended for the entire half-hour I was there.

The guy who is still peddling his years-old boxes of .270 and 00 buckshot for $2 more than they are worth. And his $35 box of Norma 7.92x57JS.

The guy selling frayed romance novels.



The highlights, if you could call them that...

I found a dealer with a new-ish Auto-Ordinance 1911 for $450, who was actually willing to talk turkey with my Witness 10mm. I decided against it, because I don't know much about AO1911's.

I handled the cheapest-feeling Rem700 I have ever laid eyes on.

I found a Hi-Standard Duramatic .22lr for $300.

I found a Norinco SKS for $175. He wanted $250 for a russian though.

I found a bubba-ized Yugo8mm for $175 too.


All in all, I have thrown away a $5 beer and it gave me more enjoyment to do so. *sigh*



Lets hear your bad gunshow tales.

 

[zastros]

I'll always cherish the memory of one show that I attended with some friends of mine. The high point was as we entered. We were almost run over by a little old man in a powered wheel chair with an SKS slung over one of the rear handles and a 'Don't Tread on Me' flag sticker pasted on the back of his battery pack. We knew we'd be safe as long as he was there to defend America!

[And yes I know, he might well have been able to at one point and I knew nothing about him, blahblahblah]

 

[P95Carry]

Bottom line Mike is - some gun shows just - well - they suck!

I did three or four earlier this year ... in fact they were all ''bearable'' ... even tho not remarkable. If nothing else - I get ammo - and more ammo!!

 

[SmershAgent]

I was at one about 10 months ago that was very similar to the one you described, mike. The room wasn't very large to begin with, though there were lots of tables. The only problem was that about 75% of them were deserted. There were 2 booths that I recall had a decent selection of pistols. I fondled a Glock 32 and a Sig P232 but didn't buy. Then there was a WW2 table. Normally I'm extremely interested in that (though I find the stuff that appears at shows, other than weapons themselves, isn't too impressive), but the selection there was motely, at best. I moved on to the overpriced, crappy book section, and then to the overpriced, crappy knife section. It's possible we encountered the same dealer, as the inventory here was the gas station variety you described.

The real zinger is that I had a friend with me who was developing an interest in firearms. Fortunately, I'd taken him to a good show a few weeks before, so his first impression of the experience was not of the pathetic dissaray we witnessed that day.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

Next gun show I go to I'm going to get myself one of those Klingon swords, and maybe *accidently* jab a hole in an indoor whirpool display model as I mosey over to the table selling Boca Raton time shares and venison jerky.

 

[454c]

Mopar
Was that show in Fayetteville at the fairgrounds?

 

[Moparmike]

Yes, it was. I went Sunday morning at about 930-10am. I was out the door before 1030.



What astonished me was the complete absence of 90% of the brands of pistols I had heard of. No Glocks, no Ruger autos, few of anything but poor specimens of revolvers and some no-name autos that weren't worth their weight in sawdust.

I think I saw a grand total of 900rds of ammo in the entire show. And most of that was the guy with 500rds of 45acp and 9mm in Wolf.



What led me to false hopes was that it was being held in a building called "Thompson Hall." Liars...

 

[hillbilly]

Moparmike, to my knowledge, there is no such thing as a "good" gun show anywhere in Western Arkansas.

They quite simply don't exist.

Never been to a Little Rock Show.

But Tulsa with its huge shows is a lot closer than LR.

I think it's called Wannamacher (spelling?) or something like that.

Literally about 11 acres of gun show in a huge warehouse type building.

hillbilly

 

[TheDutchman]

At least no one got shot at your gun show. Happened last month in Austin,TX at the Saxet gun show. Then we have the crap collectors cheap knives and cheap plastics toy guns. :banghead:

 

[scbair]

Well, ya gotta have realistic expectations, but what you describe is beneath anything I've ever seen.

In Columbia, SC, 2 weeks ago, my recollections:
Several tables with "$! special" knives.
Most tables firearm/hunting/cutlery-related, at least.

Highlights:
$150 "NIB" Bulgarian Maks at one table.
$110 Spyderco Manix (and similar decently priced quality cutlery).
Pair of old S&W top-breaks (.32 and .38), blued finishes, in velvet-lined old Cuban cigar box.

Low point:
One table, manned by two "dealers" (and I use that word in the most negative way possible) whose items were all rare and valuable, while all "trade-in" potential merchandise was undesirable, useless, etc. I had encountered these same sterling characters at a previous show; I was looking to trade a Taurus M431 .44 Spec. (perfect condition, in box, manual, etc.) for "sumthin' new." Guy #1 spotted the box, asked what I had, etc. I showed him, and told him my asking price/trade-in value. He scoffed; said it was not in demand, not a good revolver, etc. Fine; no problem; I'll keep it! I started to walk away, Guy #2, says "Waitaminnit, let me see it!" OK, here's the revolver & here's what I'll take for it. "Naw, it ain't worth that" (as I eye a used Taurus M85 in his case for MUCH higher price. Ooookaaaay.

Still no problem; I'LL KEEP IT! Again, I start to walk away; Guy #1 stops me; "C'mon, what's the lowest price you'll take for the old gun?" I repeat the price I'd already named, and he (& cohort) had found so amusing. He waves me away, and I TOOK OFF.

A short while later, I negotiate a favorable deal with another FFL, and a trade is made. I deliberately walked back past the "Losers' Table." Sure enough, Guy #1 comes out into the aisle, looks at me conspiratorially, and whispers, "What'll you tkae, bottom line?" I whispered back, "Why don't you ask the dealer two rows over, 'cause he now owns it." I smiled, he looked crestfallen, and I sauntered off.

I saw the same behavior this time, with different "customers." No way I went close enough to speak with either of these two!

My bottom line, huh? Know what you want, what you'll pay, and don't get conned by a fast-talking con artist. Then, enjoy the company of other folks who enjoy guns & shooting. You're sure to learn something new, even if you walk out empty-handed.

 

[Spot77]

My only complaint about the central MD shows is taht the same players are at EVERY show.....rarely do I run into a new dealer.

Although the last show at PG Equestrian Center was pretty good....ran into a few nice leads.

Seems to be mostly guns and related, but the usual junk is mixed in too.


Plus it's pretty hard to find a really good deal.....but this is MD afterall....

 

[bigmike45]

Dutchman,

Thats what is so funny!!!!! I have been to Saxet Gun Shows in Austin, San Antonio and Houston and some are good and some are not so good.

I live just north of Victoria and the KC Hall in Victoria usually holds a pretty good show 4 times a year. I went to one about 3-4 week a ago there and I almost asked for my $5.00 door fee back.

There were 10 tables of guns there. 6 tables were from one vendor that had the black soft side gun cases for every imaginable type, size or shape of gun.

The other tables had guns. 1 table had 15 handguns and only one was new. Another table had 8 new guns, another had 15 rifles, 7 handguns and some knives and other junk. The last table had a bunch of ammo, realoading equipment, bullets, cases and one gun. A Colt 1911, Stainless, NIB with 2 mags. As I was looking at it a woman came in and plopped down $800.00 to buy it for her husband for Christmas. My kinda wife......

I talked to several friends that frequent the gun shows as I do and they are going to file a complaint with the promoters.

 

[HankB]

Next gun show I go to I'm going to get myself one of those Klingon swords

Make sure it's a genuine Klingon sword . . . there are a lot of fakes around.

At least no one got shot at your gun show. Happened last month in Austin,TX at the Saxet gun show.

Though I didn't attend this month's Saxet show in Austin, I understand they posted a PC30.06 sign.

 

[LiquidTension]

scbair - which dealer had NIB Maks for $150? I was at that show and would have jumped on that one had I seen it. Oh, and was it the fairgrounds or Jamil? I was at both...

 

[Moparmike]

Hillbilly, the Springdale Convention Center gunshows are pretty decent. They are about the size of 3 basketball courts, lined and filled with tables. Maybe its just my newbie perspective towards guns, but I think most tables there are even worth walking by.

 

[sm]

I have not attended a Gun Show since I guess '96. That was at the "Expo" off I 30 as you head to Bryant. In '95 I "think" I went to one at the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock. The vanilla ice cream was good, the jerky was not.

I used my truck to haul a pc of furnniture from a Antique Store for someone a few yrs ago, I found a Ambassador 5000 reel ( I paid a whole $7) a speedloader for a K frame ( $1,) and paid $3 for a USGI 1911 mag.

These folks were into high priced antiques, I was mulling around spying stuff taken out of the furniture. I suggest if you come to LR...go "Antique" shopping.

I noticed a Billboard somewhere the other day advertising a Gun Show in LR the first part of Jan.

Go to Tulsa Mike...
...is that indoor Skating Rink still in whatever Mall? If so go check out the scenery after attending a Tulsa Gun Show.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Avon? Avon?

Incredible.

 

[trapperjohn]

Mike, as hillbilly says der aint much here in W ark. The ones in springdale are the best around here, Do NOT waste your time driving to the ones in Ft smith.
The only reason I go anymore is my wife thinks is a "fun date" to go to the gun show ant that it is romantic.
Aside from pleasing my wife, i probably wouldnt go anymore.

 

[454c]

Yep,sounds like the Fayetteville show hasn't changed.I went to one a couple years ago and thought we was at the wrong place.Never went back.At least in Springdale you get to see guns in a gun show.

 

[ddc]

Trapper John,

It'd be interesting to run a poll and find out what percentage of wive's would consider a gun show a "fun date".

Another interesting poll would be how many guys only go to gun shows to please their wife.

Sounds to me like you two have a pretty decent relationship. Maybe I'm reading too much into all of this but it seems to me that if you're with the right person it doesn't make all that much difference what you're doing; and it sounds like you're with the right person, eh?

Good shooting.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Worst gun show ever

Moparmike,

Every few months here in sacramento, they hold a "Gun, Knife, and Doll show. When I first moved here, I went to one. Want to guess which element dominated? And the guns and knives? The best analogy is running into your high school valedectorian 20 years later, and he's homeless and drunk in an alley. All you can think is, "My God, what a complete waste! What coulda been..."

 

[MAURICE]

As others have stated, the only shows in our little part of the world occur twice a year in Tulsa.
The Springdale shows aren't all bad, but I rarely go to them simply because I have gone to several of them and have never walked out with anything. There just doesn't seem to be many deals there.

 

[Zundfolge]

Was there some magical era when gun shows where worth a darn?


All I ever hear is complaints about them ... I'm basically left with the impression that if a dealer sells at gun shows he's not to be trusted and you have to be a gun expert on par with that guy you see on Tales of the Gun who works for the Smithsonian AND be extremely lucky to not get ripped off (and thats only if you can find anything that looks remotely like its worth buying in the first place).

Sounds like the only good thing is the deer jerky.

Then theres always that weird old dude with the table full of Nazi stuff ... never quite sure if he killed the Nazis himself and brought the stuff back when his tour was over or if he IS a Nazi who escaped Simon Wiesenthal and his gang




Sometimes I wonder why we're all worried that they'll shut the "guh show loophole"

 

[trapperjohn]

Sounds to me like you two have a pretty decent relationship. Maybe I'm reading too much into all of this but it seems to me that if you're with the right person it doesn't make all that much difference what you're doing; and it sounds like you're with the right person, eh?

BINGO

she is definately the right person, has even told me she would much rather we spend money on guns than on Jewelry

 

[Ol' Badger]

Cool Hand Luke

Must have been a Old Dominon Show. But dont knock the Jerky Hut guy. Good Stuff!