I believe thats true. I live in the south and our shows are small. I would think its hard to ger intrest in nicer single shots with a limited number of people to see them.Originally Posted by uscra112
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I believe thats true. I live in the south and our shows are small. I would think its hard to ger intrest in nicer single shots with a limited number of people to see them.
I agree, but disagree too. There are still a number of gun shows that have a large number of great guns available, but it depends on the show, and whether you want to travel to find what you want.
Shows like CGCA Denver show that has about 800 tables, and all great stuff. Or Tulsa Wannemaker's show that has about 3500 tables, and a lot of great stuff. The Baltimore show I've never been to, but heard is great. And the Ohio Gun collectors show is another I've never been to but friends tell me there's great stuff too. We also have a local monthly Oregon Arms Collectors show here where I've been a member for decades, and find a great gun occasionally. We're restarting our shows May 23rd, after well over a year of being shut down by the stupid plague.
I drive 1350 miles each way to go to Denver show each year, and stay the whole 4 days. Even with the cost of gas and motel rooms, it's still worth it as there's more great guns to buy than my budget can afford. But I always come home with 2-5 neat single shot rifles each year. That show has moved to Colorado Springs for this year, and from May to this September now. Looking forward to seeing it after missing last year for the first time.
Maybe true. Before I retired there was never time to travel to any of those shows. After I retired the expense became the issue. *sigh* The last show I can remember being worth my time was the "antique & classic" show in Novi, MI. Easy since I then lived within 30 miles of Novi.
One thing I learned living in MI was that the best shows were located in/near cities that had significant auto plants. Toledo, Flint, Birch Run, Muncie, Novi, Lima OH, Fort Wayne IN, et.al. Attribute it to all those toolmakers whose hobby was guns.
Last edited by uscra112; 05-15-2021 at 01:46 PM.
Cognitive Dissident
When I was working I got no paid holidays, or days off. But shows like Denver and Reno (back then) were both well worth missing a few days work just because of the guns available. And the prices at the shows were also so much better than almost anything found online where everyone is over-bidding guns. So even with expenses I found many bargains. Plus I considered the trip a vacation, as I enjoyed seeing all the quality firearms, and accessories. Plus visiting with some great people I've come to know as friends.
Never been to a gun show near a automotive manufacturer, so no idea what they look like. Our local annual OAC show and later Old West annual shows brought sellers and buyers from all over the USA in the 1980's and 90's. I talked to sellers who came here and had huge price tags on the guns they brought to sell. They all told me they brought 6-15 extra empty cases to buy guns here and haul them home because our prices were so much cheaper than the Midwest and East prices.
Those big 500-1400 table shows all ended back in the late 1990's when Oregon tightened up laws on sales at gun shows. It went from those huge shows with lots of old single shots and leverguns, to maybe 100-200 table shows, and a lot of FFL dealers set up at the shows to sell. All the private sellers almost disappeared after the state's laws got restrictive.
Now our small monthly 50-60 table show is the best around, as it's well regulated and the membership and officers wont allow any non gun crap. And most guns there are older guns for the majority. Our annual 2 day show is 205 tables, and still gets sellers from all over the West attending because of the quality of firearms there.
Having just left Colorado 2+ years ago, I am afraid Im sunk. Went to my second show near Baltimore this morning, and honestly have seen many better shows put on at the local Legion hall.....Im looking for a nice Stevens, Ballard etc...but none there or even close. I don't like having the internet as my only source.
I have to say that outside of Denver, Las Vegas, and perhaps a few more shows I’m not acquainted with, the antique trade is just about finished. Few shows are produced any more by collectors’ organizations that are interested in old guns. The overwhelming majority of the shows are now produced by promoters who want to sell tables, tickets and parking fees.
And I have to sympathize with the sellers. They know the market. Somebody starting out with a job and a family can get an affordable AR type gun for $800; maybe as low as $400, if they assemble the parts themselves. I doubt I could get one of my wood-and-steel classics rebarreled for $400. A clunker for rebarreling, if found, would be twice that much, and most people just want to go shooting, not do a restoration project. And I have to say, those plastic and aluminum bullet-spitters are indeed technological marvels. Just not my thing, is all.
Santa Barbara used to have a lot of great old stuff, and Novi was supported by a lot of collectors as well. Any other show is pretty much like panning for gold—you go for the enjoyment and experience, and once in a while you find something interesting. The best promoter gun shows for somebody who is looking for something old and cool are places like Tulsa, which is so huge that the odds of finding something interesting are reasonable. But going to any gun show with the thought of finding something specific not currently made is pure fantasy. Even the auction sites might not have exactly what you want at any given time.
It’s distressing how many shows seem to move around. IME this is never good. The relocated shows are shadows of their former selves, and frequently die after a couple runs. Pomona, Sacramento, Lancaster, San Diego, and the Big Reno Show (not so big and now in Sparks) are either in transplant shock or defunct. I hope the Colorado Springs Show is the exception to the rule.
To get back to the OP’s topic, if you really want to get into formal Schuetzen shooting, a WTB ad on the ASSRA Forum might get you something better suited than a sporting Low Wall with a light barrel. It might even have a new barrel and sights on it already, and any worry about “collectibility” would be moot.
Have a mostly complete low wall with barrel and wood in 25-20 single shot. Unfortunately the bore is toast and been seriously thinking of getting a liner installed in 32-20. Have to order some parts from Montana Vintage Arms. Have brass, bullets, bullet mold and dies. Either that or get one of my 22rf martini's lined. Already have a centerfire trigger group so that problem is solved. Frank
I use to go to gun show as often as I could. Moved back to Idaho and visited a gun show and could not believe the prices that they are asking. Saw an 1897 Marlin that they were asking $3,500 for. Last year I picked up one for $200 in trade that need a little help. On another table there was another 1897 , asking $3,200. If I could get those type of prices I could sell of what I have and be debt free.
Fishing for the rich Californians and Seattilites. By now you've noticed they're everywhere.
Cognitive Dissident
Locally, gun shows are a social event, for me. There's a local, semi-annual auction that usually has a few interesting pieces. Beyond the local stuff I won't travel to shows anymore. I have been to Tulsa a couple times and were I interested in something particular I "might" make the drive as it's only 5-6 hours.
Jim Goergen has a pile of Schuetzen rifles on Guns International and, there's several others who list them. Most are 8.15 X 46R....which isn't a bad thing.
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When you're talking factory schuetzen rifles it doesn't matter what the brand is for the most part; they're all big bucks. And any built into schuetzen rifles by well known names in the late 1800's and early 1900's will get even greater price tags.
If I was going to start out today, and wanted to keep cost down I'd personally consider building up a gun. A solid receiver can range in price from as low as a couple hundred dollars, to a little over $1,000. But if you start this way you'll end up with exactly what you wanted, and not something close, or not quite good enough.
I've built up some over the years, but always had to have a good gunsmith barrel and chamber them. But that cost is not bad at around $150-$175 these days. So if you can find an action and barrel cheap enough you can send them to a gunsmith and have a barreled action reasonable enough to start with. Then get semi inletted stock sets, and fit them. Then if you want to you can have it color cased and blued to finish it off right.
My last few builds have all ended up around $1,000 going this route, and I personally think any of them could sell for that or more if I wanted to part with them. And buying one equal to them already built would cost almost double what I have in them.
I've told a lot of guys to meet me in Denver if they want to buy a nice single shot already completed. Of those who accepted and made the drive or flight, not one has been disappointed attending, and most found what they wanted. The last friend who met me there went home with a pretty decent 1885 High Wall in .45-70 for $1,000. It had been a .38-55 originally, and was rebored and rifled in .45-70, but still a great buy at the price, with a brand new bore.
I am going to make one more attempt here in the East, it is the York Penn show I think at the end of June. One of the vendors said that because of its location attracts sellers/vendors from NY, Del, N J and often Ohio, and Kentucky. I have sent an email to Gail at CPa to assess what their backlog is currently should nothing show up. I also just posted a "testing the water" for trade or sale on this web site.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...53#post5189453
Since he's in Doylestown, Pa., maybe Gary Quinlan will be there? Gary has always got a good supply of fine single shots, and worth going to just see what he has for sale, and talk with him about what's at his shop too.
And don't forget about TJ's barrel liners. Has a rather impressive list. Original twist for the 32-20 was 1x20. With one of TJ's liners you can go all the way to 1x10 twist in 30 caliber. I mentioned gettng one of my BSA 22rf's done up in a proper 32-20 and have a complete centerfire lockwork setup so can swap out the rimfire for the centerfire. Frank
So, I bought a 1885 Hi Wall in 32-40....now trying to assemble all that goes with it in this drought of molds/bullets/brass/etc..This is the first time in the revolutions taken place over the last 20 years that I have plenty of powder, and can't get the metalic items.....You guys are terrific, and yes I'll keep up my pursuit....I want to learn "breech seating" seems to be the most accurate method among the SS shooters
In a pinch you can make .32-40 from .32 Win. Spl. or even .30-30, but both might be a little short. But at least you can get going with either. And both run into .32-40 dies will easily form in one stroke through the dies.
There was a fella on the ASSRA forum just offering .32-40 new Win. brass, so might check there to see if he has any left? Not exactly cheap at $2 a case, but if you don't have any maybe it's worth it?
https://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/Y...num=1620008986
Thanks for the tip, I have fire formed brass before with success, but I'd rather not. I saw his post, but also bought some from Grafs and Sons which should be here soon.
I meant to tell you that this rifle and other items have been purchased via live on-line auctions..I've notice the prices are in some case 40+ percent lower. My favorite Rifle is coming up in a few days a Remington Hepburn in 38-55
Hope you win it! I too am a big fan of the Rem. Hepburn rifles. Have them in .45-70, .40-70SS, and .32-40 B&M, which is the common .32-40 Ballard and Marlin. I like all three, but I shoot the .45-70 and the .32-40 the most.
Watch out for the buyer's premiums in those live-on-line auctions!
Cognitive Dissident
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