Didn't go to the gun show ...

[takhtakaal]

I didn't go to the gun show this weekend. The wife stole our wheels on Saturday and spent half the day at the hairdresser's, and then I got out a bit late on Sunday and wound up not getting back from temple until after the show had closed.

Somehow, I don't feel as bad as I thought that I might have. The hand stamp went up another buck this year, and from what I've heard, the $1.75 sodas are now $2.50.

I may not have found something that I've been looking for for half of forever, but I also didn't have to deal with the "Klingon" "whatchu got, whatchu got?" non-FFL wheeler-dealers just inside the front entrance, nor did I have to see all the Nazi garbage on proud display, nor contemplate the same dour-faced dealers with the same dozen and a half overpriced milsurp rifles indecorously dumped on an otherwise bare table, nor feel the burn as I realized that some jerk from two aisles over had a rifle trained on me, with his finger inside the trigger guard.

No, I thought long and hard about it, as I pulled out of the lot, and realized that most of what I need can be gotten online at this point.

Of course, there is another one next weekend a few hours away, one I've never been to ...

*SIGH* Wondering if the beef jerky is really juicier and chewier on the other side of the fence.

 

[Tribal]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you probably missed the show with the $500 HK P7M7. Your loss!

 

[Kind of Blued]

I went to one Saturday here in Denver. I found quite a few things I would have bought if I hadn't spent $2K at a gunshop the Monday before. They included:

A new Garand for $650

The new Remmy 870 Desert Recon with pistol grip

A couple Mossberg 930 SPXs

A Stainless NIB Colt XSE for $700-something.

But alas, all I walked with was a PodGrip for the M4, some mag couplers, and 500 rounds of UMC 223. I immediately drove up in the mountains and put 150 rounds through my new 20" A2. SATURDAY WAS FUN! It was my first day off from work AND school since I moved here three months ago, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

 

[HK G3]

Every time I've gone to a gunshow, I always leave disappointed, and really irritated by the people that proudly display all that Nazi crap. Seeing those banners proudly displaying the SS stripes and swastika+eagle seriously makes me feel dirty for even being at a gunshow sometimes...

 

[nelson133]

I went to the Birch Run show on Saturday. It's a big show with 700 tables, but I left disappointed. I'm really tired of the same guys with the same over priced stuff. Don't know how they make any money, they have the same guns every time I see them/
I have usually found something every time I go, but it was pointless this time.

 

[marksman13]

I know the feeling. Went to a show in Tupelo, MS Saturday. Not so much the Nazi flags on display as the rebel flags. It's amazing that some people not only think the South should rise again, but that it actually will.

Same over priced guns as always. Dealers still selling on the gold vs lead principle. Everything they had was made of gold. Everything I had was made of lead.

 

[jrfoxx]

In spite of all the junk I see at gun shows, I still go to every one I can, because honestly, a gunshow is a couple hours of entertainment for $5, a movie of the same length, is twice that usually, and the movie is much more likely to suck than looking at guns for 2 hours.YMMV though, as all the shows I've EVER been too dont seem to be filled with all the beanie baby, beef jerkey, nazi propoganda (not talking about legit memerobilia) that I here people complaining about all the time here.

 

[Wopasaurus]

I don't think I've ever seen tons of Nazi memorabilia when I go. Granted, I've probably only been to 5 in my life, and maybe it's because I stay away from the knife and memorabilia section. I have no interest in that, so maybe that's why.

It bums me out to hear you talking about that though, because first time shooters/people who are on the fence about firearms, are going to associate us with that.

 

[takhtakaal]

It bums me out to hear you talking about that though, because first time shooters/people who are on the fence about firearms, are going to associate us with that.

It's there, it's ugly, but it's the truth. Fortunately, it doesn't change the fact that everyone but the insane and felons deserve the full benefits of 2A.

 

[davera]

I went to the Montgomery AL show on Saturday. This is a small show with gun tables being only about 2/3 to 3/4 of the show. Fewer vendors compared the bigger Eastman shows in Atlanta. But for me there was plenty to look at -

As a "second tier" (small time) Winchester collector -
1923 vintage Winchester model 12 (almost bought it), this guy also had a nice Win model 77 and a Taurus reproduction model 63.
An otherwise OK Win 1890 that had an obvious and ugly stock repair.
A nice Win 1906 with the early model smooth handle.
A table of nice vintage Winchester .22's of the type I really lust for ... but this guy's prices were too high for me. He had a good 62A built in 1956 that would have gone nicely with my same year model 61 ... but he would not budge on price. (good luck and god bless capitalism I say!)
Another table of vintage Winchesters where I picked up a 1956 vintage model 94 at a decent price. (it looks nice next to my same year 61). He also had some model 12's and a .22 WRF model 61 for 1200-ish.

I saw an OK Remington 121 that needed mainly some cleaning - but I already had the 94.

As a sometime milsurp collector
There were Garands and M1 Carbines at market prices. I saw a passable Arisaka if I were in the mood for one but not many other milsurps.

I'm not particularly interested in black rifles and handguns but there were dealers with some black rifles, and some dealers with nice selections of handguns.

A few tables of beanie baby like stuff, women's purses, leather goods and such.

As it was, I spent all I had on the 94 but if I had a lot more money there were plenty of other things I could have added to my inventory.

Now, that is what I call a fun Saturday morning.

 

[ceetee]

I'm in the process of ordering the parts for an AR15 build, and I went to the local show to kick some tires, maybe get some deals on furniture and accessories from some local dealers. I figured I'd keep my money local if I could, instead of spending it all online.

Over a dozen times,I asked dealers displaying AR15's if they had any furniture or accessories, and know what I was told? "Go look on the internet."

 

[Dravur]

hmmmmm

And now for the opposing view....

here are a few of the things you missed.... At the gun show this weekend, I picked up a minty model 19-4 4" barrel for $150 in a trade. I got a set of green furniture for an AR I am building. I sold a few dozen magazines and several pounds of reloadable brass. I sold a few guns, had a few laughs and showed people a new line of holsters. I took alot of orders and just had a ton of fun... I'm gonna do it next weekend as well at the tanner show.

As to the Nazi Memorabilia... one table had some. No one was goose-stepping around the table and no pro nazi agenda could be seen.... They were selling relics from the war... and here's the kicker, they also had relics from our side...

See the difference? These guys are not nazis. Not even Illinois Nazis.... They are selling relics from a war. Should they only be allowed to sell american and british relics? Would this satisfy the haters? I happen to have a German Luftwaffe generals Dagger hanging on my wall. I also have a Navajo blanket on my stair railing with a reversed swaztika on it.. Does this make me a Navajo Nazi?

If you get your panties in a bunch when you see a display of relics from our past, then you need to pull the pickle out and have fun with life.

Go to a gun show, see what is offered and if you don't find anything, then great, but sometimes you find those great deals, and sometimes you just have some freaking fun.

And this is from a dealer... Some time, ill tell you about some of the "customers" we get through there. Remember, there is always another side to these stories.

And Ceetee, if you had been at the Crossroads show this weekend in denver, you could have found every part for an AR-15 your heart could have desired. The Panther Arms guy was there, with his array of parts and furniture items as well as another guy I had not seen before. I could have built dozens of ARs, with furniture from all the parts on display. I dare say it was a Plethora of parts.

 

[armoredman]

Relics and memorabilia are one thing, but the last show I went to had t-shirts with Hitler on them, as the "good guy", new Nazi flags, belt buckles, hats, etc. Not war memorabilia or relics at all. Sure, they can display and sell all legal merchandise, but the fact is, it's nazi loving garbage, unless you buy the flag to shoot it up on YouTube.
As for actual memorabilia and relics, sell whatever there is, interesting stuff, makes good displays with your Mauser. Mosin, or Garand, no matter what side they are from. I wouldn't mind that at all, but to promote the guys who were evil personified, no, not for me. I see that enough at work with the ABs, Nazi Lowriders, Skinheads, etc.

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

I hate Illinois Nazis! Anyways, I found a whole set of reproduction election buttons at a booth one time, lady wanted 5 bucks for the bag (sizable bag, full of em, winners and losers). I knew they were reproductions (that is why I wanted them, for fun, not collecting) So I gave her 10 bucks to make her happier and left feeling great. Was going great until I got to the exit and found the roasted almond stand. Darn! I could have used that other five bill...

 

[hankdatank1362]

Last time I went, I did hapen to run across a large knife table selling Cold Steel for dirt cheap! I mean, like 1/2 MSRP or less!

No gun deals though.

Did see the most interesting collection of vintage 1911s I've ever witnessed... he was there to buy, not to sell. He told me the only kind he didn't have was a SInger, and that's what he was there looking for.

 

[Dravur]

wow

I have gone to and been in hundreds of gun shows and have never, ever seen a table displaying "New" Nazi items. Never...

I have never seen a table that was sympathetic to nazis or their cause. I would be very surprised to find one at any show in Colorado or Montana. You guys must have more Illinois Nazis out east than we have here.

 

[Flame Red]

Please don't get me started with the Nazi 'memoriabila'. Went to the local show this weekend and there is always one guy there that has a prominate display featuring busts and portraits of 'der Fuhrer' framed and displayed like he was George Washington. Most of the time people flame me when I post my discust on various boards. I have no problem with military memorbila, but his display is definately does not take THR.

Funny, I never saw anything like that for Stalin, Moa, or Chavez. But I see lots of promentent displays of Bin-Laudin - on targets!

 

[sceetshooter]

anybody go to the Biscoe show?

i got a nice double barlle 20 gauge there for $275. I dont know much about doubles but i thought it was a pretty good deal!

 

[takhtakaal]

For those of you who are wondering, no, I have no issues with people having an interest in history or even collecting curiosities from something like the Third Reich without the express end of burning it all up with a Zippo. It's the guy who covers his merchandise with an enormous NSDAP flag, and the skin-head neo-Nazis parading around in BDUs at their table for the local "militia" who concern me. But really, it's only one factor in deciding just how eager I am to stand in line and spend ten bucks on two hot dogs and two sodas.

 

[Technosavant]

The only readily identifiable racist stuff I've seen at a gun show was at a table selling T shirts. They had one of those idiotic "Original Boys in the Hood" T shirts (the one showing KKK members). Folks like that diminish us all.

However, any Nazi stuff I've seen at the shows have always been in the context of historical/milsurp interest. Maybe we're lucky around here in MO, we don't get the Illinois nazis and the Missouri ones also steer clear. I'm fine with that.

But then again, I've never actually bought anything at a gun show. I just haven't found anything I liked there at a price I was willing or able to pay. Generally, prices have been higher than the local gun shops. About the only good deal I've ever seen at them were the CMMG "bargain bin" ARs for under $600. Maybe I'll get one of those eventually.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Thankfully the Nutzis don't hang around here in MI at the shows, Just that pesky 3000 year old ammo, and adult playing cards .

 

[skidmark]

Being from Virginia, "going to the gun show" could mean something very different from what you guys are talking about.

VCDL www.vcdl.org has a table (usually donated by the exhibitor) at just about every show in the state. Members volunteer to sit at the table and get folks to sign up for the email newsletter and to become members.

At a lot of the shows the table is out front in the lobby area, along with the NRA guy and the political candidates and petition-pushers. If you "work" the table you get the chance to see everything that comes in, and can get a headstart on any deals (most shows have rules that all FTF deals must take place inside of where they collect the tickets).

Having worked the local shows almost every time they are in town, I know a number of the folks who also come. We talk about just about everything under the sun, sort of like old home week every 6 weeks. Besides, whilke I am sitting up front doiung my grassroots thing they are willing to scout the show for my list of "does anybody have ...."

Then, for "working" the table for a shift (opening till lunch or lunch to closing) I get the biggest benefit - I get in for free. The exhibitor provides exhibitor/vendor badges for us. Sometimes that means we get discounted prices as well as the free admission. Not always, but always a nice feeling when it happens.

But the best part of "working" a show, for me at least, is the chance to win just one more person over to our side. There are lots of folks who go to the gun shows but are not concerned or involved in anything to do with protecting their RKBA. If it's getting them to sign up for the email newsletter, paying a year's membership, or just talking about the latest broohaha, it puts one more on our side.

If you have a grassroots RKBA organization in your state that shows up at gun shows, look into putting in some time helping them out. If your state/local RKBA organization does not have a presence at the shows, be the one to make that happen.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[FuzzyBunny]

I have seen the same nazi guy many times at the shows in Texas.

I thought GREAT I can get some real WWII nazi collectables. It would go great with all the U.S. WWII goodies I have.

Well, I wander over there and all he has is junk, cheap repro junk at that!
He had some new nazi handouts and other useless doodads. Does he really think National Socialism is on the upswing??

Here is what really got me to laughing. His "nazi" flags were made in China!
National Socialists flags made by the same commies Adolf hated. I still chuckle thinking about that!

It takes all kinds I guess.