Share your best gun show stories.

The middle of last year, I was attending a gun show not far from home. While standing in line next to an elderly gentleman, waiting for the doors to open, we struck up a conversation. He had two S&W revolvers with him, and he said he wanted to sell them. I ask him if I might look at them when we got inside. He consented, and we sat down at a table, and I examined each of the revolvers. One was a Model 19-4, 2.5", blue steel; the other was a Model 686, 4" barrel. Both had the original stocks.

After examining them, I ask him if I could make him an offer. He said yes, and I wrote my offer on a blank index card. I folded the card, and ask him to initial the outside of the card. I then ask him to take his revolvers to any tables he liked, but to meet me in a half hour with his offers.

A half hour later, we met at the same table, and I ask him to tell me the best offer for each revolver. He had been offered $250 for the Model 19, and $275 for the Model 686. I gave him the index card with his initials, and told him that was my offer. He opened the card, and saw that my offer was $825 for both revolvers. He accepted my offer on the spot.

Moral? I paid a fair price, and he made a tidy profit. Win-Win.
 
Went to a small gun show in Centralia, Washington. Saw a Colt CCO for a little over $600. This is the Officer's size frame with the Commander slide, and is the Enhanced 1911 version. The gun itself was worth that much. The gunsmithing that had been done to it was probably worth that much. NP3 on the slide, fine checkering on the front strap, a very nice melting of the edges, great trigger job and even more.

So either the gun or the 'smithing was free when I bought it. It is my favorite 1911 and the best carry .45 I will ever see.

That is my favorite gunshow story.

Bart Noir
 
About 15 years ago, while hunting elk, I broke the stock on the 1948 Model 70 .30-06 my granddad gave me. I replaced it with an aftermarket stock, but have been looking for a replacement original ever since.

Last summer, at a small gunshow, I found a perfect match, all original including buttplate, for $100. I know grandpa was smilling from above that day!
 
I've been to a zillion gun shows, but it has been a while since the last one. For a time, back in the 80's, I worked a table at some gun shows as a favor to an old buddy. He had too much stuff to keep an eye on for just him to work the table. So...at some point, along comes this fellow with an old Italian Carcano carbine that he wanted to sell. My buddy had maybe 4 of the same rifle on his table and didn't need another one. The buddy is quite a smooth talker and could sell sand to an Arab. When they got through talking, the customer bought all 4 of my buddy's Carcanos and walked off. I couldn't believe it. An amazing moment in sales.

I'll be off to the Buffalo, TX gun show on March 4th. I need a neck sizing die for my 223, and I'll be looking for a Lee bushing type die. I'm actually looking forward to the gun show. People watching is the best part.
 
It was early 93. I ended up taking his course and used to visit with him once or twice every few months til he couldn't. This Feb makes 13 years if I'm not mistaken.
 
I guess five years ago,at the Chantilly,Va. Expo Center,there was a display of nazi memorabilia being sold by a guy that looked exactly like a 35 year old Adolph Hitler.

No,I mean EXACTLY like Adolph Hitler.

He looked at me,looking at him and it kind of chilled me right to the bone.

He just kept on working on his display items as I walked away wondering who the heck I was just looking at.
 
Ok, that is really creepy. If you are dressing up like the Fuhrer outside of a dramatic production I think you have a few screws loose.
 
I'm not sure I could have resisted screaming out Heil Hitler at the top of my lungs, just to see what his reaction was...
 
Went to the Centralia show two weeks ago

It was...meh. I got a cheap holster and mag pouch that fit my CZ-Kadet ok (and will fit the CZ-75B when I get one). Savings not worth the gas, and it's probably not any better than a "first" holster.

The Puyallup show always has a ton of AR-15 parts and accessories. Maybe when I get one of those I'll build it up to make a Mall Ninja proud.

I did pick up some decent Amscor .30 carbine ammo for a good price. Shoots good. The guy that sold it was talking about his big score in front of me a little while later, didn't recognize me. Eh, he did all right, I did all right.
 
BNReal wrote:
No,I mean EXACTLY like Adolph Hitler.

He looked at me,looking at him and it kind of chilled me right to the bone.
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Ahhh, . . . the powers of old memories,.......

30 years or so ago, . . . carrying my 3 year old son, . . . with a buddy and his son, . . . we are at a Tractor Show in Columbus, Ohio, . . . and we are looking for the International Harvester (Farmall) display.

We spotted a large red tractor in the distance, . . . and rounding the corner where the display was, . . . came face to face with Nikita Kruschev's twin.

BNReal, . . . I know your experience, . . . I was a Plt Sgt in the Nat Guard then (light infantry), . . . and the little fat man with the bald head in his best Russian red sports jacket was selling Belarus tractors, . . . from the old USSR.

We had your moment, . . . and it would surely have been more comforting that day if I had been carrying my 1911 instead of my 3 yr old son.

I had one of those Oooooorah moments later on when I heard the USSR and Belarus both went belly up,....:D

May God bless,
Dwight
 
B.N they have pictures up of that display on the expo's website. Haven't been to the Chantilly show yet despite it being only about 30 min away or so. Bought my car in Chantilly as a matter of fact. A Moore.
 
Some Gun Shows, show too much !!!

Ok, that is really creepy.
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Along these lines how is this for creepy;

1) A guy walking around with a "garland" of skinned coyote snouts, around his neck. Not only that, but his spouse was actually walking beside him. The garland had about 20-30 snouts in it. ..... :(

2) Found an interesting vintage knife on a dealer's table and after examining it, asked about it. The dealer informed me that the slabs on the handle was made out a french prisoner's shin-bone. Couldn't lay that one back down, fast enough. .... :eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
I'm not sure I could have resisted screaming out Heil Hitler at the top of my lungs, just to see what his reaction was...
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Probably just a wink and a nice casual flip upwards of the hand.

Don't worry bauer, he was just a clone...think the V-rockets were the only secret project?
 
Wow, BN, I frequent the Chantilly show a couple of times a year and hadn't seen that guy. I don't think highly of the Nazi memorabilia guys since I think it's a complete deal breaker for first-time visitors. Gunnutz = Nazis kind of thing. That and the incessant crackling of the faux tazers are noisome.

Did meet Dick Heller there - nicest guy you could imagine. When I bumped into him a second time at a later show, he remembered my name and chatted me up for a good while.

The darned Chantilly shows have gotten so crowded. The last, on the weekend of 17-19 February, was just insane.

Bob James
 
This was at least five years ago.

The Chantilly show is the best I've ever been too but that guy was a trip.

Anyway,when he looked up,it was a shock to say the least.

Seeing someone so perfect a copy of someone in real life that you read about doing all that evil and saw all kinds of movies about in person was stunning.

Mr.James,a Wal mart is taking up half of the parking area next to the Expo center building being used for the gun shows.

It will be crowded all the time over there now.

Unpassable actually I would think as the main roads in are narrow and jammed with people buying food from the numerous food places over there too.

And Dwight55,I would'nt know how to act if I was looking into the face of the ex Premiere of the USSR.

Definitely would put me back a step I think.

Kind of like handling someones shin bone in a handle on a knife,like Pahoo did by accident.

Mighty Achilles,you might want to check that gunshow out,it was awesome five years ago and has simply grown every year.

I work close to there and my coworkers go to it all the time when it shows up.

They say the same thing that Mr. James said though-busted up jammed with people.

MTT TL-the guy did'nt look crazy,he looked normal,Adolph Hitler normal.

And Ben,the last guy on earth I'd expect to see anywhere is Der Fuhrer.

Anyway,thanks for the replies-on with the thread -sorry I got it off track.
 
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