[McBuck]

Gun show about 10 years ago.
Vendor has a nice clean 1968 -evident by the AD on the serial number. It was a 336 30/30, but he wanted some kind of crazy price ( at that time )
Me and my buddy are talking and make comment about it being a nice gun but pricey for a 1968.
the vendor looked at us and said, “I bought that gun when I graduated HS in 1963.”
I looked him straight in the face and said ,
“You must have a Time Machine then, cause that gun was made in 1968.”
He lost his cool, while me and my buddy walked away laughing at him trying to explain that to the other folks standing around.
I gave zero craps.

 

[rob42049]

The last gun show I ever went to was during the 0bama years. The vendor next to the exit door had a table full of unfired NOS Nylon 66's in all three colors in their boxes. They were priced in the high $700's. There must have been a dozen of them. 66's were made from 1959 to 1989. I remember the advertising when they came out, the first .22 autoloader with a synthetic stock. And that was the last Gun Show for me. Parking is free at the Fairgrounds, but paying to get in and look at overpriced stuff lost its shine. Prices are actually cheaper online, even with shipping.

 

[DschSarg]

View attachment 919468
A buddy from Texas sent me this pic today. He wasn’t able to go, but a friend of his took this picture and sent it to him, and he sent it to me…

Look at the 336 “100 year anniversary gun”. Mint he says!

And my friend’s buddy said that right after he took the pic another guy walked up, bought it, and was bragging about the deal he just got.

I think I’m going to take all of mine to the Texas panhandle and set up at the next gun show. (No I’m not, but if that is the state of affairs, it sure is tempting.)

Another Math wizard.

 

[panam]

I was just thinking that maybe it is time I go to a another gun show. I guess I will wait awhile. If I want to see thieves I can go to the closest Jail.

 

[apogeeammo]

I went to a couple of gun shows this weekend and the only thing to do these days is just look for the one or two guys who aren't up to speed on the current craziness. I found a ruger 32 H&R mag single six with 2 boxes of ammo for $475 in the first 20 minutes of the first show I went to and scooped it up before another dealer could buy it and mark it up $300-400. I also found some 32-20 dies that are hard to find that came with some brass that is impossible to find for $30.

Other than those two, both shows were a good chance to exercise.

 

[Chef Duane]

The last gun show I ever went to was during the 0bama years. The vendor next to the exit door had a table full of unfired NOS Nylon 66's in all three colors in their boxes. They were priced in the high $700's. There must have been a dozen of them. 66's were made from 1959 to 1989. I remember the advertising when they came out, the first .22 autoloader with a synthetic stock. And that was the last Gun Show for me. Parking is free at the Fairgrounds, but paying to get in and look at overpriced stuff lost its shine. Prices are actually cheaper online, even with shipping.

$700!!?? My dad got one in the mid-60's with S&H Green Stamps. Mohawk Brown. It now belongs to my nephew.

 

[Chef Duane]

Another Math wizard.

We tend to have a lot of those in Texas. Ever ask a Texan what was the largest fish he ever caught? Or better yet, how fast can his truck go?

 

[exSW]

I went to a couple of gun shows this weekend and the only thing to do these days is just look for the one or two guys who aren't up to speed on the current craziness. I found a ruger 32 H&R mag single six with 2 boxes of ammo for $475 in the first 20 minutes of the first show I went to and scooped it up before another dealer could buy it and mark it up $300-400. I also found some 32-20 dies that are hard to find that came with some brass that is impossible to find for $30.

Other than those two, both shows were a good chance to exercise.

I wanna follow you around.

 

[mam444]

The only thing I look for at gun shows nowadays is for reloading components, when I can find a good deal. Because the gun show clowns are always asking way too much for their guns. There used to be a time when a person would go to a gun-show to get a good deal on a rifle or handgun. And most of the time you could. Not anymore though. But a gun-show now is what it is, a "Gun Show". Vendors go and set up in the hopes of selling one of their overpriced, USED, guns to some poor fool. And they seem to always have success in doing that. Otherwise, to me gun-shows are basically tables "showing" guns that will never be sold. And old men with oxygen bottles trying to swindle that last dollar from a fool.

 

[Steve_In]

I like going to the shows. I meet some great people there. I know a few show at our local ran 1 day show that consists of a lot of old guys selling off their stuff that may not matter to them.

What I do miss is the boxes of parts and pieces of gun related things. I remarked to a friend that I would be happy to see old parts at about 1/4 of the amount of AR parts some where.

 

[95 Lever]

I went to a gun show in Deadwood this weekend, I was really hoping to find either Wild Bills or Jack McCalls revolver, was disappointed no one claimed to have them!
Lol, in reality it was a new show put on by a local gun club. Admission was only six bucks, and in a nice event center at one of the hotels.
I picked up several case holders for my favorite Wilson case trimmer, vendor had them in a box with "make offer" on it. Sure glad I asked him what he wanted for them because it was much less than what I was willing to give!
The show opened mid day on Friday which was unusual, a vendor I know was telling me some decent deals went down then.
In general prices were what you would expect lately, considerably more than what the same things were, even a couple years ago.

 

[Texas Shooter]

We tend to have a lot of those in Texas. Ever ask a Texan what was the largest fish he ever caught? Or better yet, how fast can his truck go?

Hey!!!!! I resemble that remark!! 😠

T.S.

 

[Trip 444's]

We have several areas that have shows here. Yes, the over pricing is there(No where near what the OP saw), but if you look good enough you can find some items you can buy at reasonable prices. Gun Parts, vintage items etc. If you find the small dealer who is there to sell as a hobby or his own personal items, tend to be realistic in pricing.

Sought after guns, ammo, reloading supplies are at a premium where you need to shop for the best deal, but there are "opportunities" for some good buys now and then if you keep your eyes open.

 

[North Idaho Shooter]

+1 on the price gouging at the shows these days. I went to one not long ago (couple of weeks back), and couldn't believe the prices. Tables had primers marked at $15.00/100. Local stores are down to $100/1000 or less. Saw one gun, a Volunteer Arms Commando-45 (a knock off of the Thompson). They're not bad guns (I have one), but this was ridiculous! Someone had done either a paint or wrap job on it in a hideous bright green, with weird symbols scattered throughout the finish. Not sure if it was a cult gun, or what, but they were asking $1900.00!!!

This was a show about 75 miles from home, and I hadn't been to that show in more than a decade, but thought I would go, as I remembered they used to have a great selection of "cowboy" type guns, and the prices were better than the shows closer to the larger cities in the area. Guess things have changed. Hardly any single action revolvers or lever action rifles, and the few that were there were so overpriced it was laughable.

Pretty sure I won't be going back to that one any time soon.

 

[nyfirefighter357]

Consider yourself lucky, the big shows here are charging around 12 bucks, that was a few years ago...

I haven't been to a show here in 20 years they where $20 then

 

[Redthies]

There is a show at the club nearest me in Washington this weekend. This thread prompted me to check. I’ll have to go and see how bad it is up here!

 

[Chef Duane]

Hey!!!!! I resemble that remark!! 😠

T.S.

Hey, don't be offended. I have to live life telling people I'm from California!! Been in Texas now since '94 and am MUCH happier telling folks I'm from Texas rather that Cali-freekin-fornia!!!

 

[Texas Shooter]

One of my favorite road signs down here. LOL

 

[spm1us]

If you’re offended/insulted by your local gun show then by all means do not go on Gunbroker and look at the ads!!! Unless of course you have your local fire and rescue on speed dial!!! 😉👍

 

[rjtmac]

In TEXAS right now in the correct areas _ $$$ MONEY DOESN'T MATTER $$$ ... just depends on how close the show is to the black gold flowing down here right now ...

When the petroleum industry is in full blown "get it on" the greenbacks are like little note pads - just peel 'em off and spend 'em ...

I have set up at shows in the Permian Basin and been offered stupid money for some of the rifles on the tables ...

At the shows I go to there are the gougers but also there are a lot of deals to be made if your willing to look, be patient and do some friendly but serious haggling ...