Went to a local gun show today

[country gent]

Son and I went to a local clubs gun show today, its a small show and I know a few of the people there so its always good even f just to catch up. My little Geo tracker chair did excellent in the club house.
I did well picked up a set of rem 44-40 3 die steel die set ( $15.00) and a lymann check weight set ($10.00) My son picked up a cv .50 cal inline ($125.00) and a ruger bolt rifle in 300 black out ($325.00) with scope. The seller claimed this rifle was won in a raffle and never fired. Both are good clean rifles and in very good shape.
Since I was "motorized" I got to carry everything LOL. The small stuff went in the carry pouch under the seat and was forgotten the rifles rested on the foot rest between my feet and leaned against the seat Actually worked pretty good. Seen a few friends and talked to others Was a good day.
Several interesting items were there that caught my eye. There was a nice highwall in 22-250 with what I would call a medium heavy barrel rifle was around 10Lbs. Original Win high wall most of the case hardening still showed clearly blueing was in good shape unertal blocks on it but no scope. Another was a High wall in 22 long rifle in very good shape and a lymann 15X target spot on top. Wood needed cleaned up but metal was very clean. These were both around the $3000.00 mark though.
In reloading equipment a lot of moulds lee lyman ohaus and nei but nothing I needed. A powder Scales caught my eye that was very unique, A herters analytical ballistic laboratory scales. All cast iron construction and heavy probably 10-15 lbs. it was wider than most scales. No knife edghes and vee berings. the beam had a fine wire thru it wirth a small spring on one side providing tension. Normall beam Like the old redding and other scales though. and oil dampened. On the pointer end there was a small lever that stopped dampened the beam from swinging and it really did work well. Set a small weight in it and pulled lever down to catch the beam let it go and inside 3 seconds the beam was still and correct with out the oil. The asking price for this scales was $75.00. There was an Ohaus powder measure new old stock still in the box with instructions and very clean a nice looking measure. Hopper looked to hold 1 1/2 lbs powder and was clean clear no cracks of discoloration. Was an old Lymann pot missing cord and some of the valve parts, Gentleman aid it worked and he would make a good deal on it. Several herters presses the big heavy c presses had rams for universal shell holders. One was $45.00 the other was $100.00. Several rock chuckers on tables along with a few lee presses and equipment. There was a unique turret press flush mount with a big heavy square bases ide handle and linkage inside the base, 6 hole turret. I didn't see a price on this one.
All in all it was a nice day with my son and we had a great day. Saw some friends and made some new aquaintences.

[Bzcraig]

Great day!

[JeffG]

Nice day

[Shopdog]

Nice write up,was right there with you.

[wddodge]

Was this by any chance at Gibsonburg??? Their sporting club has a gunshow that is usually very interesting.

Denny

[country gent]

Yes it was, I shoot their BPCR shilouettes matches also. They have a nice little show with good bargins still available.

[Shawlerbrook]

Sounds like a good way to spend a day with your son. I still like still hunting through a nice little gun show.

[jeepyj]

By the sounds of it you had a day to remember. Great to be able to spend it with your son. Nice write up.

[401pm]

I love small shows usually see stuff that you always see .

[smokeywolf]

Hard to beat father-son time like that.

If the money tree was a lot bigger and I wasn't looking at putting 2 kids through college in the very near future, I'd love to have a fancy Model '85 (Creedmoor configuration) in 45-90.

I'm somewhat knowledgeable about the Winchester repeaters, but not so much with the Model '85. Not sayin' it was never done, but I don't recall hearing of a 'high wall' chambered for rim-fire ammo. From what little I've read, low walls were chambered for rim-fire and pistol cartridges and high walls were chambered for larger and/or higher velocity cartridges.
If I'm wrong here, please educate me.

[wddodge]

Yes it was, I shoot their BPCR shilouettes matches also. They have a nice little show with good bargins still available.

I was there with a couple of friends this morning. The gentleman that had 6-7 tables of casting stuff got a few of my $$. Didn't catch his name but we had a good conversation for awhile. I can't recall the last time I saw a selection of good used equipment like he had.

Denny

[country gent]

The 22 rimfire was a custom built rifle judging by the barrel dia, metal work wood grade fit and finish. The table wddodge mentions was the one with the old lyman pot mentioned. He is a friendly nice gentleman and we talked some also. I was looking for a 210-220 round nosed 44 cal mould for a 44-40 I'm planning on. Found the dies set but no mould sizing dies or cases.
Denny did you see the turret press I mentioned it was in the north west corner of the club house. Nice gentleman with the 22-250 High wall. I wish I had looked at it closer now.

[richhodg66]

Glad you had a good day. I still like small town gun shows.

[Green Frog]

Hard to beat father-son time like that.

If the money tree was a lot bigger and I wasn't looking at putting 2 kids through college in the very near future, I'd love to have a fancy Model '85 (Creedmoor configuration) in 45-90.

I'm somewhat knowledgeable about the Winchester repeaters, but not so much with the Model '85. Not sayin' it was never done, but I don't recall hearing of a 'high wall' chambered for rim-fire ammo. From what little I've read, low walls were chambered for rim-fire and pistol cartridges and high walls were chambered for larger and/or higher velocity cartridges.
If I'm wrong here, please educate me.

Winchester used the high wall receiver for about any caliber if a #3 or larger barrel was ordered. I've owned a high wall factory chambered in 22 Long (not even LR!) and at my schuetzen match this past weekend a friend showed up with a "deluxe sporter" high wall with DSTs and #3 barrel chambered in 22 Short! Don't forget that back then there were also commonly available rim fire cartridges in 25, 30, 32, 38, & even 44. :shock:

Froggie

[wddodge]

Denny did you see the turret press I mentioned it was in the north west corner of the club house. Nice gentleman with the 22-250 High wall. I wish I had looked at it closer now.

Nope, I missed that one. I did notice some of the rifles you mentioned. Really nice looking. I looked at several but nothing reached out and grabbed me. What catches my eye more that casting equipment are smallbore target rifles. I see the G82 Kimbers around but not much else.

Denny

[texassako]

There was a unique turret press flush mount with a big heavy square bases ide handle and linkage inside the base, 6 hole turret. I didn't see a price on this one.

Sounds like a Texan Loadmaster, pic of mine. Wish I could go to show like that, sounds like fun.

206444

[country gent]

texassako, the one I saw had a square/rectangular post everything ran on in the back and the turret was mounted to it

[smokeywolf]

Thanks for that education Froggie. Always eager to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others. Plus, I have a soft spot for all things Winchester.

I do have a pretty rough looking low wall that someone re-chambered for 218 Bee.

Did know that some of the early pistol and rifle cartridges were rim-fire. My father actually converted an original Henry to 44-40 center-fire.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP...
A herters analytical ballistic laboratory scales. All cast iron construction and heavy probably 10-15 lbs. it was wider than most scales. No knife edghes and vee berings. the beam had a fine wire thru it wirth a small spring on one side providing tension. Normall beam Like the old redding and other scales though. and oil dampened. On the pointer end there was a small lever that stopped dampened the beam from swinging and it really did work well. Set a small weight in it and pulled lever down to catch the beam let it go and inside 3 seconds the beam was still and correct with out the oil.

That's sounds very interesting.

Glad you and your son had a good day at the show.

[Pressman]

Denny did you see the turret press I mentioned it was in the north west corner of the club house. Nice gentleman with the 22-250 High wall. I wish I had looked at it closer now.

A square post almost sounds like then Harpster & Williams. That would be a real find.
Ken

[RogerDat]

Sounds like a nice time, think you saw more reloading and casting equipment in that one show than I have seen in the last 6 shows I went to. If it wasn't for one fellow that sells Lee equipment and Jerry of Reloader World with components the casting and reloading offerings would be too few to notice.

[Bent Ramrod]

The gun clubs and arms associations hold shows to display and sell guns and related stuff. They’ve almost been driven out of business by the show promoters, whose prime directive is to sell table space. They grab up the buildings and the good weekends, chasing the less well funded clubs away. The Good Stuff is diluted with Beef Jerky, Glassware, Bedsheets and people who ask me, “Are you in any pain, Sir?”

Yes, I am. And don’t make me tell you why.

Of late, we have a guy who wanders around the shows with a sign that says “I’m a Gunsmith. How can I help?” The Gun Show equivalent of the Homeless Guy with the sign that says “Will Work For Food,” I guess. :???:

[Green Frog]

The gun clubs and arms associations hold shows to display and sell guns and related stuff. They’ve almost been driven out of business by the show promoters, whose prime directive is to sell table space. They grab up the buildings and the good weekends, chasing the less well funded clubs away. The Good Stuff is diluted with Beef Jerky, Glassware, Bedsheets and people who ask me, “Are you in any pain, Sir?”

Yes, I am. And don’t make me tell you why.

Of late, we have a guy who wanders around the shows with a sign that says “I’m a Gunsmith. How can I help?” The Gun Show equivalent of the Homeless Guy with the sign that says “Will Work For Food,” I guess. :???:

I find it hard to believe that a gunsmith would have trouble finding enough work to stay as busy as he wants. Maybe if he's just a parts changer who graduated from some 16 week mail order school, but not if he's a real gunsmith. If you don't have enough real shooters there to keep a good gunsmith busy, just do him a favor and send him this way!

Froggie

[Bent Ramrod]

He did not seem to be handing out business cards or anything. Nor did he have a phone number or shop address on his hand-lettered cardboard sign.

I had a flash of somebody bringing over a newly-purchased “needs work” Gun Show find and having him take it outside to the nearest shade tree and pull out his trusty Vise Grips, Harbor Freight screwdrivers and ball peen hammer and go to work. Didn’t see it happen, but that was the mental image I had.

[country gent]

I could see prospective buyers asking him to "check out" a used gun for an opinion also. Or on what parts are and such.

[Green Frog]

I hate to sound so negative, but finding a real gunsmith is a very great discovery around here, while finding somebody hanging out a shingle who knows considerably less about gunsmithing than I do is a frequent occurrence around here. :( Recently a "gunsmith" opened up his own shop locally... I asked him about what kind of lathe and mill he had to determine the capacity he would have for pistols vs rifles, for instance. His answer? "I don't have those yet." He is a parts changer, not a gunsmith! On a strictly personal note, I can change parts and make simple repairs on my own guns for my ownself... but I know my own limits and when I take my gun to a professional, I expect him to know more and have more skills than I do; otherwise, why take my gun to him? JMHO, YMMV.

Froggie

[country gent]

Green Frog, If I'm having a rifle built by a unknown gunsmith I ask for references and customers who allow me to see his work, for what a true build up costs its not an unreasonable request. If he balks at this I start getting leary. I also have a list of wants and or features up front I want. This way theres no confusion whats expected. This list may include true and square action, trigger at a certain weight, a special barrel contour, grade and type of wood, finish on metal and wood. Last I request they sighn their name under the wood line on the barrel so they are IDed as the maker of the project. I am currently planning my own personal shop, lathe, mill, surface grinder, Shaper? along with a tig welder mig welder, I have a buffer set up, several pedistol grinders, and some other assorted tools now.

[Bent Ramrod]

A real gunsmith is an underpaid cabinet and tool-and-die maker, working pour le sport or pour l’amour. They aren’t often found working at the local gun store any more, but the “modularity” of most new stuff allows a lot of the guys who are working there to say they are gunsmiths.

There would at least be a reasonably distinct customer base to ask references of if one contemplates getting a whole custom gun made. It’s much more detective work to find someone who can make a mainspring for a Stevens 44 or fit a stock on a Krag. Having tried to do such things myself, I’m kind of doubtful of even the professionally painted “Gunsmithing Performed” sign on the gun store, let alone a hand lettered sign carried around a gun show by some individual.

At least, if I do it wrong myself, there are no arguments on who has to do it over again and get it right this time. And I’ve learned something in the process.