Gun shows and types of sellers

[CopperClad]

I've no issue with folk congregating under a flag for historical reenactments. I personally would question why someone would wish to be the 'bad guy' in context of WW2 reenactment. But it is still a free country.

Going to gun shows from the early 80's on , I saw some fantastic historical items. When presented respectfully with context I've no issue with it. When we came across axis re-enactors displaying weapons of their time frame, also interesting.

But again, someone in full dress throwing Hiel H's around? Joking about German atrocities, no. No place at a gun show. If I went into a business that behaved that way I'd leave as well. The gun show is that business.

My local club is having a swap meet in a few weeks, I'll bring my surplus there. Should be nazi-free, well other than the safety type.

 

[Alte Schule]

WW II memorabilia is mostly collected as a hobby or for their historical reference. How many of us here have or have wanted an authentic Wehrmacht or SS Luger or K 98? I'll raise my hand. A Jewish friend of mine has both. He also has a Nazi flag and some SS badges. Brought home from the war by his father. The story on how he gained possession of them is fascinating. No he does not display them in his home.

How about the Confederate Stars and Bars battle flag or the Springfield M 1861 rifled musket. A lot of folks have those though the stars and bars are kind of hard to find nowadays. Big money in American Civil War memorabilia. Battle reenactments are staged all the time. People spend $$$$ to get their uniform period correct. To most it's just a hobby. In the movie Gettysburg the majority of the confederate weaponry and uniforms, and a good part of the uniforms and firearms used by the Army of Northern Aggression, were provided by the actors.

The Museum of the American GI is not far from where I live. They have an open house every Spring. This year they had an authentic WWII German Sd.Kfz.251 (half track) complete with all the insignia that goes with that. When parked the actors, all in character, set up camp. Field tent, Nazi flag, mess gear, ammo boxes, inert stick grenades, even a copy of Mein Kampf on a field table. At first I thought their personal weapons were authentic but were air soft or paintball guns. The MP 40's carried by the officer and senior sergeant was a cool touch. Every fifteen minutes they would let visitors in, answer questions and provide information. Just a few guys into their hobby. As far as I know none were socialists although one of the actors I knew is a chiropractor. There were also similar displays of American soldiers and vehicles.

If you have ever been to a hobby show displays of military flags are quite common. It tells you where to go if your a collector. That being said it takes just a couple of idiots to put a stain on something other people enjoy. The display of the Nazi flag may not have been offensive to me personally, considering the environment, but some fool goosestepping around is in no way acceptable behavior.

I haven't been to a gun show in a couple of years now. I would usually go to look for older Smith revolvers and military surplus firearms. Prices for those items now are close to being obscene.

 

[Zerodefect]

Historical memorabilia brought back, and of collector value?

I've got a bunch of stamps from WW2. They don't mean anything about me.

I really don't care one way or the other. Those guys aren't forcing me to wear a mask. Aren't calling me a racist for nothing. Aren't smuggling people across the border. Aren't blowing stuff up. Aren't lobbing rockets at civilians. Aren't rigging elections. Aren't failing to do anything about rigged elections. Aren't brainwashing kids in school. It's just an old guy selling old historical stuff.

Of all of the silly stuff at shows, this seems like the least of my concerns.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I don't get offended by pieces of cloth. They can't hurt me. Never understood the outrage over the Stars and Bars either. It's a flag, it can't hurt you. There are many that collect WWII memorabilia, and flags are a part of that.

 

[Sniper66]

I've attended dozens of gun shows including the largest gun show in Tulsa....been there probably 30-40 times. At nearly every show, war memorabilia shows up. Selling off the remnants of vanquished foes is neither unusual nor offensive to me. I have no interest in such collecting, but have ZERO problem with those who do. BTW, Gernan WWII era Walther pistols are highly prized among collectors because, like many collectibles, they tell a story.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Last show I took my wife to had a gentleman in full Nazi regalia goosestepping allover the show, his table was full of WW2 Nazi crap. I've seen it before, my wife hadn't and was forewarned. We left without buying anything.

Bleep Nazis and nazi wannabe's.

Damn..... Nope, never seen anything that tacky at a show. Our local shows are usually very respectful and polite on both sides of the table.

 

[mnrivrat]

My 2 cents for what its worth is this. The war is over, and now part of history. History is not going to change so one has to decide if you are going to live in the past or live today and simply remember the past . Today we live in a woke world where people want to try to not only remember the past, but want to use the past to justify acting out in a manner not called for.
There are collectors of historical items from old toys to civil war, and yes, WWII items. People buy and sell these collectables all the time at various shows. The Nazi flag the OP seen got his attention. That is what it is suppose to do to draw people to the seller/buyers tables. If you were running a pool hall, you would put a sign over your entrance marking your business as a pool hall. If the buying and selling of WWII items offends you then a gun show is not for you. The gun show is the main venue for buying and selling WWII items.

 

[jmr40]

Sometimes it is hard to read a mans heart and mind. I don't have an issue with WW-2 memorabilia. My dad and an uncle served in WW-2, my grandfather WW-1. I have some items that some people might find offensive today, but that isn't my intent.

What we can't say for sure is why the flag was shown as it was. But the OP was there and had a better read on the situation than we do. Chances are the guy is one of those who give gun owners a bad name.

I used to attend gun shows pretty often. You see all kinds. Some great people are crooked, others jerks. I don't go as often as I used to, maybe once a year over the last few years.

 

[EIB0879]

I went to a gun show here in Dallas around 25 years ago (not a Market Hall) and it was more memorabilia than firearms. Several guys walking around in SS uniforms. Talked to one of them nonconfrontationally and asked him why SS Nazis. He asked what I had against Germans. I laughed and told him I married one whose father was a Fallschirmjager during WW2, was at Gran Sasso and North Africa, and the eastern front, captured at Brest, then spent four years in a British POW camp.

The guy said something about a true German would die before surrender. I asked him if he ever was faced with that or even served. He started getting belligerent so I suppose I got my answer. I walked off.

 

[dave951]

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.

If you're that offended, leave. Just 2 gun shows in your life and you're making this kind of observation? Really?

I've been to gun shows since the late 60s. The nature of the shows has changed over the years. Used to be you could get some cool stuff as it was more of a flee market but for guns. There were even some cool stuff being displayed by collectors. One seriously memorable one I still remember 40 years on, it was a collection of original Sharps rifles all the way from early paper cartridge through black powder cartridge. There had to be at least 30 Sharps rifles on display but no touch.

Fast forward to now, most gun shows are a joke. Too much cheapo chinese junk, jerky, and jewelry for sale and maybe half of the show is gun or gun related.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I went to a gun show here in Dallas around 25 years ago (not a Market Hall) and it was more memorabilia than firearms. Several guys walking around in SS uniforms. Talked to one of them nonconfrontationally and asked him why SS Nazis. He asked what I had against Germans. I laughed and told him I married one whose father was a Fallschirmjager during WW2, was at Gran Sasso and North Africa, and the eastern front, captured at Brest, then spent four years in a British POW camp.

The guy said something about a true German would die before surrender. I asked him if he ever was faced with that or even served. He started getting belligerent so I suppose I got my answer. I walked off.

Yikes!

Come to think of it, out of the dozens of shows Ive attended here over the last 25 years, Ive never once seen someone dressed up "cosplay" style- except for one (very good likeness) Donald Trump impersonator who was taking pictures with folks to raise money for a childrens hospital.

I did meet a fella who was walking around trying to find a cash buyer for a Reising SMG once. I suspect he was BATF, of course.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If you're that offended, leave. Just 2 gun shows in your life and you're making this kind of observation? Really?

I've been to gun shows since the late 60s. The nature of the shows has changed over the years. Used to be you could get some cool stuff as it was more of a flee market but for guns. There were even some cool stuff being displayed by collectors. One seriously memorable one I still remember 40 years on, it was a collection of original Sharps rifles all the way from early paper cartridge through black powder cartridge. There had to be at least 30 Sharps rifles on display but no touch.

Fast forward to now, most gun shows are a joke. Too much cheapo chinese junk, jerky, and jewelry for sale and maybe half of the show is gun or gun related.

I think the OP was just trying to understand if this was a normal and expected part of the gunshow experience.

I would say no......but apparently it varies widely by locale.

 

[EIB0879]

I think the OP was just trying to understand if this was a normal and expected part of the gunshow experience.

I would say no......but apparently it varies widely by locale.

Yeah, my experience was an outlier. I have been to.plenty of gun shows over the years that I would have (an did) take my kids to. I like to see some memorabilia but I was mainly interested in firearms.

 

[Tirod]

The first amendment is not absolute. You lose some of it when you join the military. You are not allowed to criticize your superiors. Same thing in the workplace. Starting telling all of your co-workers what an idiot the CEO is and see how long you last. And it is illegal in most every state and town to to openly fly a Nazi flag.

I very much would like to see the research link which aggregated the laws in each state and town stating that no one could fly a Nazi flag. I think you will actually find that spitting on the sidewalk is more heavily controlled under health statutes.

On the other hand, try displaying a flag commerating our past President at a ball game and see what happens. I had no idea people hated Millard Fillmore so much.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I went to a gun show here in Dallas around 25 years ago (not a Market Hall) and it was more memorabilia than firearms. Several guys walking around in SS uniforms. Talked to one of them nonconfrontationally and asked him why SS Nazis. He asked what I had against Germans. I laughed and told him I married one whose father was a Fallschirmjager during WW2, was at Gran Sasso and North Africa, and the eastern front, captured at Brest, then spent four years in a British POW camp.

My grandfather was a first generation German American who fought in Europe. He was fluent in German as that was basically the only language his parents (my great grandparents) spoke. This was actually not that rare among the American servicemen either as there was a huge immigration of Germans into America between 1880-1920. Why did they leave Germany? Surprise surprise, political and religious oppression.

A story was when he was an engineer and they were building a bridge. His unit wanted to set up a camp over in a field nearby. My grandfather had been talking to the locals though and was told that the German Army had been testing mines in that field earlier in the year and there still may be some there.

Dunno, maybe he saved a bunch of his guys that day.

I wonder what those clowns would have though of a German American fighting the Germans barely a generation after having left the country.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There is a mystique, a cachet to Nazi memorabilia that Fascist and Communist memorabilia never had, and Goebbels designed the Hakenkreuzbanner to be very eye catching and provocative, he used red because it was the Socialists and Communists color and he wanted to provoke them. The Soviets called the Germans "fascists" because Stalin was outraged that they had dared to appropriate the sacred word "Socialist".
Haven't been to many gun shows lately, I find them a good source for books.

 

[Steve S.]

These days, it is fashionable to be offended by the things that we are told to be offended by - that way we can fit in and not live in fear of retaliation, we can be liked, we can be agreed with, it fills our void of low self-esteem, it is simply easier to agree than have beliefs AND (and), we can type all of the proper words on a gun blog.
Most people are followers, they do and think as they are told. But guess what, history happened - Nazi’s happened, slavery happened, suppression of women happened, etc….. - it is in the past, just do not repeat the bad stuff of the past. We live in history now - we will look back on these times and we will say “What the hell were we thinking?” - people are followers, they go along to get along and the thing we call history is made.

 

[MedWheeler]

Tacky, yes? Offensive? It never occurred to me to be offended by symbols not directed at me with the intent to offend me until the internet, the media, and certain elements of the government told me to be. However, I have to admit I'm really not the best at following orders all the time.

I would likely have steered clear of that table just to avoid being associated with it and its content.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

However, I have to admit I'm really not the best at following orders all the time.

This is the story of me, writ large.

Come to that, you could put the period after "orders", never mind the "all of the time" part.

Which explains my lack of high rank during my military stint.

 

[MedWheeler]

Hooda Thunkit writes:

Come to that, you could put the period after "orders", never mind the "all of the time" part.

I actually did, then edited it. Not sure why, but I know I follow at least some.

 

[P5 Guy]

If you're that offended, leave

And ask for a refund stating why you are leaving.

I wonder what the outcome would be should a table display the flag of Communist China? The PLO or Iran?

 

[Howland937]

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.

 

[upptick]

There's a big difference between an item or emblem of historical interest and one representing a current movement. Context is everything, in other words. If the Nazi flag is being offered for sale by a collector that's one thing. If it's being promoted by someone seeking to advance a racist ideology, that's a different kettle of fish entirely. And one doesn't have to look far in today's world to see signs and symbols of racist / ethnic pride movements -- if you're sensitive to such things, a Nazi flag shouldn't be your only worry.

 

[Speedo66]

The fact that we as a people have some German artifacts from the wars is perhaps a good thing, it’s evidence that we won.

Should they be displayed at public gatherings where they will offend people, I think not.

Strutting around in Nazi uniforms is not gun show material, it’s evidence of a pathetic juvenile mentality, an attempt to intimidate.

 

[Batty67]

I go to several gun shows in Virginia every years, mostly in the northern part of the State, including probably 20-30 Nation's Gun Show over the years in Chantilly, VA. The same dealers with mostly German/Nazi militaria is always in the same place. Being Jewish, it used to really chafe me, but I've long-since tuned it out. And nobody is prominently displaying huge Nazi flags, so not a big deal.

More broadly, I see the same high-end dealers trying to sell (but are they really?) high-priced firearms and edged weapons, and talking it up with each other and some customers. They might sell a few pieces over a 2.5-day show, maybe. They typically don't budge on prices. So whay are they there...? I suspect to socialize amonst like-minded folks is a big part. The big gun dealers with modern firearms are generally far too busy to schmooze, but they will if slow, and for the most part they are knowledgeable. What interests me are the small-to-medium dealers because you might see some cool stuff that is priced to move. Not often, but I picked up a minty Marlin Camp 45 like 7-8 years ago for a great price. I sold it pretty quickly (not for me), but it WAS an exciting find for me personally.

I always wear a mask at the gunshows in the days of the pandemic.