I agree with Bill...BRING CASH! [BTW with whom my wife and I had a nice dinner there last year, along with his son.] There are bargains to be had, but you HAVE TO LOOK HARD! I found 3, 1 from Bill himself (check his table out!), a Custom Kenneth L. Hooper Wy..250 Savage 1903 Springfield $950 which included a D&T job, a very nice signed P.O. Ackley 1903 Springfield in .244 Rem.[6mm Rem.] with beautiful Fleur di Lis checkering and French Walnut Stock with early 60's Redfield 8x scope $525 [a female dealer didn't know what she had and priced it at that] and a NIB Interarms Safari Model Mark X Mauser [Manchester England Mfg.] .270 Win. $435, identical to the .375 and .458 they made in the 80's with all the bells and whistles. FWIW and INHO The Custom guns seem to me, to be higher at these shows in hopes of people, impulse buying. The good thing is, if it was made you are likely to see at least one, if not several there. So if you have been looking for a particular gun for years and have not found it, unless it is BO WHOOP...GO! However when you find it, be prepared to pay for it. The accessory market is a mixed bag, I bought a 1903 NRA SPORTER SHOTGUN BUTTPLATE-ORIGINAL BLACK OXIDE FINISH, with some honest wear but still nice for $50 but then some people wanted $200 for an alloy reproduction. It has been my experience, the smaller dealers will work with you from day 1, because most have come to deplete their limited stock and want to return home, empty handed. The bigger dealers and haute coture gunmakers are pretty well there, with the attitude "TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT" and maybe a 5%-10% discount on a $3,000 gun. You won't get much of a haggling environment in the MAIN ROOM because there are too many people, asking questions and coming in and out of the booths. If you want to bargain, go EARLY WHEN THEY FIRST OPEN and people are sparse, so the owners can focus on your offer. These are some hints I have found to be helpful, in 62 years in the business. [I grew up in a Gun Store] Oh Yes, and if it seems like I am picking on Dealers...I am not! A bit of advice for the buyer, If you make an offer, try to make a FAIR offer or don't make one at all. Tell the dealer you just can't afford the gun now and how much you have to spend, you may be surprised at the deal he OFFERS YOU! Either way a dealer is more likely to take you SERIOUS if your offer is IN THE BALLPARK, THAT IS ASSUMING HIS PRICE IS FAIR! Good Luck and Happy Buying!
