I am disappointed w/ gun shows....no 'deals' :)

View · by **12smile** on Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:42 pm

been to many mwca gun shows...convention centers & state fair grounds... and I don't know if I'd go to another anytime soon.... I did buy a couple of unusual knives at gun shows...punch daggers...folding punch daggers. and I got my first gun at a gun show (from the old guy in the blue jump suit) Kel-Tec .380.

Bought a generic nylon holster from the people who have them in white plastic boxes. good price.

But..I just don't expect to ever find a 'good deal' at a gunshow....the guns sold here on this forum seem to sell very quickly and the next time I'm looking for something I'll post a WTB here.

Why do I never find gun show prices interesting.....are they set 20% high so there is room for negotiation?

For instance I NEVER look on ebay for camera gear...it's always ABOVE 'fair market value'

So....................Why the hell should I go to a gun show ? certainly not for a good deal....as Jay Leno say's ...."Am I off-base here?"

View · by **cobb** on Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:10 pm

I never go to gun shows looking for a deal, the deals are few and far between unless it is a small local show at an ice arena or high school, then you might catch one. But I do go as a source of entertainment, kinda like going to a zoo or museum, a way to pass the afternoon looking and maybe learning a few things. I have in the past couple of years bought things such as a needed part, a small used unique and discontinued gun safe that fit my needs, and even a book called "Protect and Defend" that is hollowed out to hide a gun in plain sight on my desk.

So gun deals, probably not, but a place to look at interesting things. 8-)

View · by **12smile** on Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:39 pm

There is a booth I've seen that specializes in mags...they had a 9 round mag for the Kel-Tec .380 before anyone else did....that might be the place to find a 13-rounder for the PF9...

I do see it a a place to handle something I haven't seen before. One reason I check this board daily is to see if anything interesting is for sale...found a ISSC Glock Clone .22 here...and hey...a gun show might be a good place to get a second mag for it....I'm not paying $30 though...$20 tops or I'll do without.

View · by **1911fan** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:15 am

Most if the deals are snapped up by other dealers before the show opens. A lot of those guys are real hawkeyes when it comes to pricing and rareities. If they see something during set up that's a screaming deal it's gone before the opening bell

View · by **BBeckwith** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:50 am

Or go with 45Badger. He almost always sniffs out a deal.

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View · by **Pezhead** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:13 am

It's a good place to run into other board members.

View · by **Seismic Sam** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:43 am

There are still a few but they are rare...

Still kicking myself because two Decembers ago I ran into a guy who doesn't have a shop, and wouldn't meet somplace else, who was selling a Colt Double Eagle in 10mm in its original box and papers for $650. It was 3 P.M. on Sunday, and there was no way I was going to be able to raise the cash in an hour.

View · by **dleong** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:46 am

Good deals on firearms at gunshows are rare. I might go to one to handle a gun that I am interested in acquiring, before purchasing it online for significantly less money.

The occasional "oddball" deal can still be had, though. A couple of years ago, a friend was interested in acquiring his first handgun, and I took him to the MWCA gunshow at the Coliseum. The intent was to only take a look at and handle some handguns, until we came across a vendor who had a brand-new satin nickel CZ 85B stashed way back in his display case and mispriced at $350 (85Bs generally go for slightly north of $500 online). After handling the gun and verifying that it was indeed brand new, I told my friend that if he did not buy it, I would. He walked out of the Coliseum that day with the 85B in tow and a goofy smile on his face.

View · by **Pezhead** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:52 am

One of the board members here has some very good deals at the shows I've seen him at.

View · by **rugersol** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:56 am

Pezhead wrote:It's a good place to run into other board members.

I'd still like to go!

View · by **dleong** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:59 am

rugersol wrote:I'd still like to go!

Wear a disguise, though! :mrgreen:

View · by **rugersol** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:00 am

dleong wrote:
rugersol wrote:I'd still like to go!

Wear a disguise, though!

View · by **Holland&Holland** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:22 am

I beleive the MWCA materials state the adage that gun shows are run by dreamers for dreamers. Everyone looking to buy is coming looking for that once in a life time steal and those looking to sell are looking for the suckers willing to pay more than market.

View · by **timwarner** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:28 am

I bought something at a gun show once.

Figured the 300wm hyper velocity 110gr v-max loads I was working up should probably have new brass.

I think that's about it though.

View · by JJ on Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:52 am

Parts, mags, and books. Often you can find some really good reference/reading materials at the shows. A lot of older books on guns and gunsmithing are out of print, so I have found some steals there.

As for guns, I have only ever ran across one real steal. I traded a jam-o-matic Taurus auto and $100 for a S&W686 CS-1