Next weekend is the annual Labor Day Flea Market and Gun Show in Hillsville, Va. I have been to the Flea Market but never to the Gun Show. Has anybody here ever been and how does the Gun Show compare to others? Its about a 2 hour drive for me and was wondering if it was worth it.
Hillsville, Va Gun Show
- Thread starter waynesan
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As you know, the flea market is huge, but I thought the gun show part was fairly small and sparse as gun shows go. It took me about 10 minutes to view every table there. This was a few years ago, so it might be larger now. Anyone else know?
As an aside - and probably only Virginians will know what I'm talking about - Lady Luck is a fraud! She was there and I asked her to kiss my lottery ticket for good luck. She did just that, but it was still a loser. A fraud, I tell you!
As an aside - and probably only Virginians will know what I'm talking about - Lady Luck is a fraud! She was there and I asked her to kiss my lottery ticket for good luck. She did just that, but it was still a loser. A fraud, I tell you!
LAH
Member
I've been twice. The show is really a small show. It's did have plenty of loading supplies both times.
Cacique500
Member
As others have said...REALLY REALLY small - and jam packed, hard to move around in.
I have heard that there's supposed to be a street behind the VFW area that has a lot of guns for sale...a guy I know goes every year and talks about it...and always comes home with something pretty cool he got for a steal.
Last year when I went I picked up some Israeli M193 (.223) for *dirt cheap* - the rest of the prices seemed above average. Don't go there planning on buying ammo either - what few tables had ammo had unbelievably high prices.
If you go to Hillsville make darn sure you buy one of the little shopping cart thingies...if you don't know what I'm talking about you'll see them as soon as you get there. I resisted all day and wound up carrying a whole bunch of crap until it got too heavy...then I got a cart! Made life much easier.
I have heard that there's supposed to be a street behind the VFW area that has a lot of guns for sale...a guy I know goes every year and talks about it...and always comes home with something pretty cool he got for a steal.
Last year when I went I picked up some Israeli M193 (.223) for *dirt cheap* - the rest of the prices seemed above average. Don't go there planning on buying ammo either - what few tables had ammo had unbelievably high prices.
If you go to Hillsville make darn sure you buy one of the little shopping cart thingies...if you don't know what I'm talking about you'll see them as soon as you get there. I resisted all day and wound up carrying a whole bunch of crap until it got too heavy...then I got a cart!
Made life much easier.
Good tip on the cart. They didn't name it Hillsville for nothing!
atblis
Member
Don't waste your time.
Lots of people (way too many in fact)
High prices (Lots of people so I guess the dealers figure on more suckers)
Not really that many guns.
Lots of people (way too many in fact)
High prices (Lots of people so I guess the dealers figure on more suckers)
Not really that many guns.
mtnbkr
Member
Hey Mal, you going this year? I'm going to be in Roanoke that weekend and might hit the Hillsville spectacle if I have time.
Chris
Chris
No, Chris, I'm going to spend LDW at the cabin in Highland Co. A few years ago, a group of us left our peaceful existence there and headed for Hillsville.
If you're going for the gun show, as has been said several times, it's not worth it. Trader Jerry was there when I went, but even he didn't have his full complement of wares to sell. Take Bealeton and split it in quarters, one quarter is roughly equivalent to the Hillsville show.
If you're going for the flea market aspect, then it's worth the trip.
If you're going for the gun show, as has been said several times, it's not worth it. Trader Jerry was there when I went, but even he didn't have his full complement of wares to sell. Take Bealeton and split it in quarters, one quarter is roughly equivalent to the Hillsville show.
If you're going for the flea market aspect, then it's worth the trip.
mtnbkr
Member
I'm going for the flea market (I'm low on fleas).
Chris
Chris
Take a cart and/or a backpack. And look at a street level map of Hillsville; there's a western route around town on a few side roads that will save you about 1/2 hour if you need to drive from end of town to the other (we had to in order to pick up a heavy scale I bought and we had parked on the other end of town). Main street is open, but very slow.
LAH
Member
No, Chris, I'm going to spend LDW at the cabin in Highland Co.
Mal H.........Your cabin is in a beautiful county.
Mal H.........Your cabin is in a beautiful county.
Hobie
Member
Mal,
You need to kiss Lady Luck, you just had it backwards.
My understanding is that the internet auctions have diminished the Hillsville show for several years. What once was is no longer. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to go but heard glowing reports until a couple of years ago. Old timers were much disappointed.
You need to kiss Lady Luck, you just had it backwards.
My understanding is that the internet auctions have diminished the Hillsville show for several years. What once was is no longer. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to go but heard glowing reports until a couple of years ago. Old timers were much disappointed.
41 Redhawk
Member
I made the mistake of driving through there that weekend once. It was not pleasant. (I didn't know they had a gun show there at the time) Two small kids in nasty traffic did not make for a good vacation trip.
LAH
Member
Hey Terry.............Bet you don't do that again.
ulflyer
Member
Hillsville Gun Show
I went once about 6 years ago; outside traders had pretty high prices. Inside too small to matter.
I went once about 6 years ago; outside traders had pretty high prices. Inside too small to matter.
41 Redhawk
Member
Yeah, it was shortly after we moved down there. We were heading back for vacation. Never heard of the flea market there. I went other ways labor day weekend after that experience. Route 58 is no fun anyways and then stick a traffic jam in there to boot...well you get the idea!
'Course, Susan wants to stop for the flea market!
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