doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Disappointing Local Gun Shows

I have missed more great deals at shows than most can admit. Always hear about the great deal earlier or last week of just across the way. Well my best deals rarely come off a table. I like to watch the people caring guns to trade or sell. Often they have what I want for a very fair price. Few dealers miss pricing a gun on the low end. And if they are priced too high they can just pack the up and take them back home. 50% of the guns are priced at high retail to well above retail, 49% is priced from retail to a decent asking price and 1% is a bargain price. Like most I go for the bargains and see 99% not bargains. Still you never know what you may find and looking is most of the fun some days.

I'll agree with that post!...Geo

Looking at a gun show costs you the admission fee, plus however much you paid to get there. And there are lots of guns to look at (although often not lots of doubles). Physically looking off gunbroker costs you a transfer fee through your local FFL, plus return shipping if you don't like the gun.

Not all shows are created equal. I did a little show at the Sagola township sportsmans club in Channing, MI(home of the UP SxS clasic). There was a wonderful selection of double guns. If I did this right the link below has a sample of the guns at the show.

http://picasaweb.google.com/112292349631437712770/20100222?feat=email#

The Crossroads of the West promoter in his infinite wisdon raised the admission from $12 to $20 at the last show. The City of Phoenix not to be outgouged raised parking from $6 to $10 as well. The bottom line is it now costs someone $30 just to get in the door which IMO is just more than many are willing to pay.
Jim

Channing,MI free parking $5 admission

John Boyd pretty much summed it up for most dealers; it just isn't worth the trouble. Plus you always run the risk of having a gun stolen and the inevitable "rack wear" that occurs during the set-up and loading. Have you ever cased, un-cased, and recased, then un-cased again 75-100 guns for a gun show? I have, and it ain't fun.

Steve Barnett still makes several shows and does the required work. He will gladly show you anything on his table and try to answer your questions.

For every guy with $5000 in his pocket to spend that walks through the doors at a gunshow, there are a thousand drugstore cowboys with $39.28 in theirs that are there to look.

The Birmingham Gun Show in the Jefferson Co. Civic Center used to be a really fine show, but that was 20 years ago. I quit going to it about 15 years ago and still miss it.

The best show we ever had in the Deep South was Wally Beinfeld's Nashville Antique Arms Show at Opryland. It was superb, but didn't last long. I REALLY miss it.
JR

The Beinfeld shows at Nashville were in conjunction with NRA Collector shows and were truly shows to remember. I could tell stories about those shows for hours.

The CADA Show, which was held in the Chicago area when I used to live there and may in fact still be held, was probably my all around favorite gun show. The quality of the exhibits and items for sale were both excellent.
Jim

Beinfeld bought CADA several years ago and has done nothing to stop the atrophy. It used to be a wonderful show but was poorly advertised.