Gun shows and types of sellers

[Dale Alan]

The gun owning community could do without the stigma of being associated with Nazi sympathizers, holocaust deniers, and supremacists in general. If that's your bag, whatever. I'm not offended by it. I'm disgusted by it.
Just like Walmart around the first of the month, the woman riding the scooter with 12" of ass hanging over both sides of the seat. Leopard print stretchy pants barely holding together, with the spots stretched out so far it resembles a giraffe. Just because she can display it doesn't mean most people want to see it.

Wow , from a Nazi flag to you checking out the ladies at walmart...that's quite a stretch .

 

[CapnMac]

Militaria shows tend to have more people dressed in historical outfits. Whether that's "a thing" will vary with the observer.

And, historically, the militaria sellers have traveled the gun show circuit, used to be that was the way you got your wares in front of more eyeballs and maybe (only maybe) make a sale.

Also, historically the German National Socialist stuff always seemed to sell better--to the point to where easily 90% (or more) of what's out there is fake. It's also why there was (might still be) ads for all this sort of stuff back in the classified ads of many magazines (been so long since I picked up a paper periodical, I've no idea what the ads look like).

I know of a militaria vendor who specializes in ComBloc stuff, and every show prominently displays all manner of things like flags & banners--CCP, PRC, DDR, even a Stazi banner at one show. The thing that most offends me about that vendor is that he generally has a 100% markup on the same items available from eBay. I'll applaud his entrepreneurial spirit, he keeps buying six or seven $60-80 tables at shows and traveling the circuit showing the inventory.

From observation, the more "fringe" vendors follow the smaller (read cheaper table rental) show promoters. The bigger shows charge more, so you need a more sure to sell product to pay the table rental.

I'm not in the fringe, so I tend to not let the fringe bother me. Other than the chuckle internally to see "enemy" paraphernalia set up inside a VFW or American Legion hall show.

 

[.38 Special]

Re. the Nazi stuff - it's not the existence of historic Nazi collectibles that bugs me, nor the legitimate trade in such items, but rather the obvious fakes and modern recreations made by and sold to folks who think the Nazis might have really been on to something.

 

[wiscoaster]

.... I refused to walk up to it....

It's still a free country. They're free to display a Nazi flag, and you're free to disapprove by voting with your feet, which is what you did, and probably what a lot of other people did as well. Nothing else needs to be done.

 

[Howland937]

Wow , from a Nazi flag to you checking out the ladies at walmart...that's quite a stretch .

Yes, some things shouldn't be let out to flap in the breeze and you can't not notice those things. I'm forever scarred now, and not from the flag.

 

[FL-NC]

Like many of the items that were possibly in that man's booth, (and possibly in other booths throughout the show) that flag is likely a very valuable artifact. I have items that I obtained through my travels that are identifiable as things that at one time were connected to members of aq, taliban, and isis. I am certainly not a supporter of any of these groups. I can guarantee they don't care much for me.

 

[Howland937]

have items that I obtained through my travels

Honest question...
Would you feel the same way about the items you've accumulated, if they were treated in the same way in the future? We do hear sometimes about ISIS and Taliban sympathizers but fortunately there aren't groups of them holding rallies in public places in the U.S. the way some groups do.

I understand the concept of displaying a trophy, just don't understand showing off one I didn't earn. I've got my grandpa's dress blues from his stint during the Korean War. I cherish them, but they're vacuum sealed in my closet.

 

[MedWheeler]

Dale Alan writes:

(re: >> ..the woman riding the scooter with 12" of ass hanging over both sides of the seat..<<)

..checking out the ladies at walmart...that's quite a stretch.

I see what you did there..

 

[Jimster]

See, look. I’m keeping my mouth shut this time.

 

[FL-NC]

Honest question...
Would you feel the same way about the items you've accumulated, if they were treated in the same way in the future? We do hear sometimes about ISIS and Taliban sympathizers but fortunately there aren't groups of them holding rallies in public places in the U.S. the way some groups do.

I understand the concept of displaying a trophy, just don't understand showing off one I didn't earn. I've got my grandpa's dress blues from his stint during the Korean War. I cherish them, but they're vacuum sealed in my closet.

I don't have an opinion one way or the other. I also have nazi marked items that I didn't "earn", like my K98. I recently brokered a sale of a 1939 nazi marked Luger to a collector of Bosnian heritage at a gun show. He has quite an accumulation of such items.

 

[Basura Blanca]

Gun owners are already fighting a losing PR battle so stuff like this doesn't help, regardless of the context.
Back when we still had decent gun shows in my state, I never once went with the intention to shop for anything other than (a) guns or (b) gun-related accessories/ammo. I could do without all the ancillary items, including militaria.

 

[kwb377]

I was turned off when I walked in and very prominently was displayed a huge nazi flag at one of the tables. I refused to walk up to it, but from a distance I could see that this was a military/WW2 type of booth. But it was jarring and I just didn't think this flag had to be displayed with such prominence.

Yeah, there was also a rising sun flag spread out on his table.

So you're saying that this was obviously a military/historical display, and not some guy handing out Nazi literature...and you were still "jarred"?

What other items were displayed? Only the flags, or firearms/equipment to go with them? Or was he just espousing the tenets of Nation Socialism? At least he wasn't a Nihilist.

 

[scaatylobo]

I have only been to 2 gun shows in my life - this past weekend being the 2nd time. It was in Harrisburg Pa. I was turned off when I walked in and very prominently was displayed a huge nazi flag at one of the tables. I refused to walk up to it, but from a distance I could see that this was a military/WW2 type of booth. Is this a common sight at gun shows? I am definitely not the type to be very offended at stuff. But it was jarring and I just didn't think this flag had to be displayed with such prominence.

As a Jew ,I will take umbrage only when anyone acts out like they are a nazi wannabe.

That happened a decade or more back at a gun show in Hamburg NY.

The asshat was actually wearing a full nazi uniform and playing their music in his table area.

Myself and a few other older men were standing there and stating LOUDLY our objections.

Show manager came by and told the wannabe asshat to change his uniform,turn off the music,or leave.

My first choice was to confront him and tell that POS that 'they' lost the war and he should eat his uniform !.

Close friend saw that I was about to lose it,and being a cop ,it would have cost me a lot.

That was the one and only time I ever saw such crap.

I go to gun shows all year for well over 4 decades.

 

[Ivy Mike]

This whole idea of "Nazi memorabilia" at gun shows is being overblown by the antigunners, to make gun owners look bad. In my experience, the trade in WW2 memorabilia (including Nazi stuff) is driven by historians, collectors, and reenactors, not by neo-Nazis. And remember, most of the "Nazi memorabilia" was originally brought back by American GIs, as souvenirs. Those were the last people who would extol that ideology.

Nevertheless, we need to recognize that sensibilities have changed over time. The vendors need to be discreet in their display of such items.

I might agree, but most historians aren't perusing the tables at the local gun show looking for that long-lost trinket from a high ranking SS commander. The Nazi flags are usually newer production aimed at people who want that sort of thing. You'll also note that you rarely see (at least in my case, but I haven't been to a gun show in years) flags from the USSR. Why no communist Russian flags? They were part of the Allies. They lost the most men. Russia's industrial output dwarfed other nations including the USA in some areas. The Eastern Front was what kept Hitler from taking all of Europe. So why do we see Nazi flags at gun shows, but no Commie flags?

hint: it's not because of historical interest. It's because of the type of people they're marketing to, not necessarily pro-gun types but the type they do market to often has an interest in owning lots of firearms.

 

[Dale Alan]

Dale Alan writes:

(re: >> ..the woman riding the scooter with 12" of ass hanging over both sides of the seat..<<)



I see what you did there..

Good catch, I was wondering if anyone would get that one. Just trying to lighten things up . Humor can be tricky on the internet . In real life I am a nice guy.

 

[Rubone]

Good catch, I was wondering if anyone would get that one. Just trying to lighten things up . Humor can be tricky on the internet . In real life I am a nice guy.

I'm not...
.

 

[Howland937]

I'm not...
.View attachment 1017730

At least she's not wearing leopard print.

 

[CapnMac]

You'll also note that you rarely see (at least in my case, but I haven't been to a gun show in years) flags

Actually, there are more communist flags any more--available cheaper and in volume for resale.
And. there's a cachet with those who did not grow up with the Communist threat looming large over them every day of their lives (CCCP fell thirty years ago, an entire generation and then some).

 

[CapnMac]

Perhaps we ought drift this thread to closer to its title and harumph about actual vendor types.

Like the bored guy who already made his table rent in trades & sales on Friday night, and is only waiting for five o'clock to roll around.

Or the vendor, already tired from the elbenty dozen trips to set up the eight tables of magazines on display, and was wore out being asked stupid questions "Ya got any 'em dirty-ate sooper mags fer my revolver, huh?"

The over eager cub scouts trying to sell you jarred salsa; or the dudes flogging the anti-fog stuff for your glasses.

The kindly couple who have displaced a portion of their brick-n-mortar store to see more customers.

The grump with the one table of POW who wants "blue book" for his beater safe queens . . .

O the range of folk at a gun show are legion, and that's just the vendors.

 

[.308 Norma]

^^^^
All of the above, plus the dealer who is standing there watching, but saying nothing as some jerk shows his buddy how fast he can "flick" a revolver's cylinder closed with a flip of his wrist - over and over again.
Edited to say: I did say something. Right in front of the revolver cylinder flicking jerk, I told the dealer I wouldn't be buying that revolver. All it got me was some questioning looks, so I walked off.

 

[Zerodefect]

^Hahahajaja!

That's exactly why I go to gun shows. I leave the reasonably priced tables alone, and spend all day FF'ing everything at the overpriced tables. If I find something that fit's my hand, I swing by my favorite gun shop on the way home.

My favorite gun shop charges a little extra, but they have massive turnover. Usually a pistol has only been handled by the guy who put it in the case a day ago, and the buyer. Don't have to worry about people like me.

 

[DeepSouth]

I recently watched a documentary about “Hitlers Mercedes” it came over here in the late 40’s and the owner toured it around the US with people paying to see it, he eventually sold it to another guy that toured it and charged people to see it..
It was described as taking a victory lap in the looser’s prised possession, again thousands of Americans paid to see it. Eventually that played out and it was resigned to being used in WW2 era movies.

Interestingly the next guy to buy it paid a heavy price for it so he have a piece of history, it made the news again because of the high price and the new owner started getting death threats, this was in the 70’s. The death threats got so bad he sold it, the next guy got so many death threats he put it in storage and it was basically lost for 30+ years.

The point is public perception is fickle, from victory lap to death threats in a generation. How people perceive things is always different. The motive of the display is the core issue IMO, and that’s not always obvious.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Actually, there are more communist flags any more--available cheaper and in volume for resale.
And. there's a cachet with those who did not grow up with the Communist threat looming large over them every day of their lives (CCCP fell thirty years ago, an entire generation and then some).

Probably all printed in China. Have to give it to the Tankies, they sure do capitalism really well.