My First Gun Show of the Year

[Dean Romig]

I went down to the next town this morning for a gun shiw put on annually by Newmart Productions. It opened at 9 but I didn’t want to stand in the cold in a long line so I waited and got there at about 10:30. That turned out to be a mistake because I still stood in line for 35 minutes.

I chatted with Newman for a few minutes when I got inside but quickly got to the business at hand and began to peruse the tables. There were fewer vendors of classic old guns and in fact Dick & Craig (Wildwoods Guns of China Maine) were conspicuously absent as were a few other regulars at that show. But the purveyors of black weapons and handguns and knives, and of course the jerky dealers were represented in force.

There were scant few side by sides only being represented by 6 Winchester 24’s in one vendor’s rack - 3 twelves, 2 sixteens and a 20.
Another vendor had a Winchester 21 and a ratty belgian hammer gun. No Parkers, Foxes, but there was one lonely LC.
Tha star of the show IMO was a Lefever 12 gauge E. It was pretty nice and it had that wonderfully executed setter on one side and pointer on the other. A wonderful gun priced at $2750.
All in all it was a bit disappointing but still a decent way to spend a few hours on a Saturday. First picture is on the way in to the end of the line. Second picture is the home stretch after being in line for 20 minutes. Last picture speaks for itself.

I did make 1 purchase though which I will show in another thread sometime tomorrow.





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[Aaron Beck]

Craig is always quite open about the market having moved beyond old sxs. Maybe thats part of his pitch but I dont know, its hard to imagine that line formed because people were looking for old guns which take niche ammunition. Still you cant bag a big one without getting into the woods.

[Dean Romig]

Aaron, in the last several years at shows where Wildwoods Guns are set up I haven’t seen Dick at all. Is he well? Is he still in it or has he retired?

I get it though, I know that most of those folks aren’t there for classic SXS’s and those who are, like myself, more and more these days are usually disappointed.

The Internet has taken this pleasure from those of us who want a hands-on experience.



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[Randy Roberts]

I went to the Louisville show this past weekend on Friday afternoon only. Not sure how the attendance turned out Sat & Sunday or even how many exhibitors did finally show. I do know that when I departed that evening there were a lot of empty tables. I did manage to run into several Parkers. A pair of 410's as in the pic, a VHE 28 gauge (26") that had gone silver, a VHE 28 gauge (30") that I did not actually see as the Owner told me about it, upon hearing the price there was no need for me to stick around while he looked for it. Yikes The gun of the day for me was a GH 16 gauge with 32" damascus barrels, PG, SFE, DT. Sadly it was lacking condition but honestly I could have lived with it had the barrels been in better shape. Didn't like what I saw inside them. Odds are this one will be at the Southern. All in all a better show for me than they have been here in the past years in terms of seeing interesting guns even though I came home empty. That's alright 2022 has already been costly.

[Dean Romig]

Nice!
Did the .410’s come home with you Randy?
What was the price on the hidden 28?





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[Randy Roberts]

No they did not, price was fair just not in my wheel house. The 28 asking price was 37.5K and it did not sound negotiable.

[Steve Hodges]

Dean, that looks like the show that we ran into each other at a few years back. Is it? I recall that year there were a few tables with vintage SxS's, including like you said, Wildwoods. They were not in attendance at the show in Vermont that I went to a few weeks ago either. I had seen them there in the past.

[Aaron Beck]

Dean
Ive never met Dick, though I moved up here in 2016. I believe he is spoken of in past tense with regard to the business, I do not know about him beyond that and I have no specific knowledge one way or other. Hands on is the way to buy a gun you would like to shoot well. I was in a midcoast gun store yesterday and the counter help laughed when I asked if they had any used guns, I didnt even mention sxs.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hodges

Dean, that looks like the show that we ran into each other at a few years back. Is it? I recall that year there were a few tables with vintage SxS's, including like you said, Wildwoods. They were not in attendance at the show in Vermont that I went to a few weeks ago either. I had seen them there in the past.

Heck Steve, I don't remember which show we ran into each other at but it could have been at the Shriner's in Wilmington, MA or maybe the show in Manchester, NH or even Marlboro, MA. I didn't make it to the Marlboro show this year and I don't know if Wildwoods was there either.





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[Bill Murphy]

I don't ever remember seeing a Wildwoods gun that was remotely of interest to me. Maybe they bring better guns to shows than they mention in their ads.