Learned a lot at the gun show today

[Thumbcocker]

Just wanted to share some of the valuable things I learned at the gunshow today.

1.) The entire military production capacity of Germany and Japan during World War II was devoted to making "rare varients" of their standard infantry arms.

2.) The Greman armys chronic shortage of sidearms is apparently explainable by most of their production winding up in the midwest.

3.) Every Smith and Wesson revolver made between 1969 and 2005 is a rare collectible. (i.e. $1100 for a 24-3 with box and papers)

4.) Most of the Smith and Wesson .44 special production is in the hands of collectors of "rare" models.

5.) What are gas checks anyway?

6.) Tactical precision boxer shorts are the next big thing.

7.) Those of us who shoot and make boolits are getting old.

[frankenfab]

[Longrange]

I must be an ancient collector then.

[jaguarxk120]

If it's black, plastic/cordura/balistic nylon/rubberized/folding stock then it's tackyitail

[fryboy]

i learned that they can bacon ( and it's actually edible and not to bad - for bacon anyways messy as heck but ....)and call it tactical bacon .....ok ok so i didnt just recently learn it but i did learn it at a gunshow lolz

[akajun]

I learned that every gun I own is only worth about $100. But the good news is my Rockola Carbine is worth about $200.

[jaguarxk120]

The $100 is that trade in value, or is it resale tag?

Many of the dealers will offer only pennys on the dollar to buy/trade in, but when it comes to reselling that rare limited edition they want big bucks for it.

[LewR]

Back when, "Depends" is what your girlfriend said to you... Now its what I think I just wet from laughing at your gun show discoveries.

[buckbeans]

Did well today in Tucson
Positive Things
No charge for parking

entry Fee only six buck and good for two days

If they can't figure out what it was for, they gave it to you for free. Including a three pound lump of beeswax, a complete set of lee trimming holders for 15 calibers, a lee 311 and 314 bullet sizing die,

15 buckbucks for a bushnell spotting scope

remington large pistol and large rifle primers down to 22 dollars a 1000..
two nickel smiths 44 special hand ejectors at 650 each starting price.. I know.... I already have the boys lined up to kick me in the in the butt for not grabbing them.

pristine dan wesson barrel and shroud for a 45 colt for a hundred.... could have gone lower but have been looking for one for a long time and had to go...

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Is that its becoming a waste of time to go to one. Increased admission and its going up. Gone are the deals, the finds, and the practice of dealing square. To be found aplenty are runaway prices for anything serious, prices on new firearms that are equal to, or more than what can be found in a store, crafts, jewelry and exotic birdhouses, silly clothing with which to play swat or ninja and offers of $20. for the crown jewels of England or an even trade for a Chinese copy of a Red Ryder BB gun. If you are still a believer then by all means continue to enjoy. LLS

[buckbeans]

this is the first gun show I have been to in six month and the crowds and prices were impossible...
I did put those crown jewels back thinking they were a little high

[Lead Fred]

6.) Tactical precision boxer shorts are the next big thing.

The only time underwear should be precision is her has been relieved of them.

[nicholst55]

The $100 is that trade in value, or is it resale tag?

Many of the dealers will offer only pennys on the dollar to buy/trade in, but when it comes to reselling that rare limited edition they want big bucks for it.

Reminds me of the sign I saw hanging in an antiques store:

We Buy Old Junk and Sell Valuable Antiques.

[RayinNH]

Sounds like a lot of the shows around here. Boolit molds when they can be found are beat or cast a round ball.Used reloading equipment at near retail prices. Every third table filled with chinese knives or "tactical flashlights". That stuff filled in with an occasional table of "rare guns" and other overpriced goods. Seven bucks to boot to get in...Ray

[mtgrs737]

We are pretty lucky here in Kansas, mose guns are "reasonable" for those who buy their ammo it is the only place to get it. Retail stores except for the limited offerings at China Mart are made of pure gold or so they must think.

[higgins]

I recently learned at a show that the two beater No.4 Lee Enfields a guy had on his table were formerly sniper rifles. It seems that what I had always assumed was a gas relief port on the left side of the receiver ring was really where the scope screwed on. And these two were only about $50 more than a nice No.4 should cost (that would also have the scope mount screw hole)!

[3006guns]

The last show I went to, the guy had a Japanese bayonet sitting on the table with a price that literally made me choke (well over $100). I asked him about it and was told that it was a rare 'sniper' variation...


Really? I informed him that I had a 5 gallon bucket full in my closet........would he care to buy them? Cold stare..........

Same guy had a late type 99, literally thrashed..........$450.00 for a gun you could have gotten for $50 not too many years ago.

If there's one thing I've learned after attending many gun shows over the years, it's that the current crowd of dealers is actually quite ignorant and very greedy. It cracks me up when I hear them whining towards the end of the show that "nobody's got any money". No, but they've got common sense.

[dk17hmr]

There is a gun show in town this weekend, I went yesterday and picked up some much needed powder for $20 a pound.....I ussally buy from the same guy everytime the show is in town, I guess he remembers me because he asked how such and such powder worked out for me in my AR.

I traded a NEF 450 Marlin for a Savage 204 Ruger a couple months ago, I still see tha 450 at the gunshow with a price tag of $400.....more than the Savage's price tag when we made the trade.

[Springfield]

Well, on the average cast boolit guys are getting older, but also a LOT wiser. That's why we cast instead of wasting our time buying tactical underwear!

[Suo Gan]

Based on the local gun show that runs every other month here, gun folks must also collect antique flower frogs, miscellaneous shabby shiq furniture, towels, and Kirby Vacuum Cleaners...Did find 100 new Norma 7.62x54R cases for $15 though. Kind of like life I guess.