Gun show rant

[Phil Yearout]

Went to the Chisholm Trail show today, which is the largest and ostensibly the best area show. The first thing I saw was a guy manning a booth wearing a t-shirt that said:

G_ F_ck Y_ _rs_lf
Want to buy a vowel?

This guy was at least as old as I am. Now, I suppose I would have thought that was really funny, about 51 years ago, when I was a sophomore in high school. But really? I will say, though, that there were a couple of guys about high school sophomore age taking his picture with their cell phones. He seemed really pleased.

The next thing I saw was a guy probably in his late 20's wearing a t-shirt that said:

F*CK OBAMA

Only with an actual "U" in place of the asterisk. Now, I don't care what your politics are, should you really be allowed to wear a shirt saying that about our president? You might think it, and that's your right, but to wear it on a shirt? Really?

Maybe I really am just getting old, but I was offended by both, and just a little ashamed to be associating with folks who would go out in public like that.

Oh, by the way: the show was a bust. Saw a couple decent Ithaca SBT's but not a single decent Parker or Fox. Came home with the money I left with, except for the $10 to get in.

[Brian Dudley]

The big one in my area are the "F Cuomo" shirts with the AR-15s making up the F and K.

Just plain classy in my opinion.

[Mills Morrison]

Ours down here is "bring your money and bring your honey, 'cause we got jewelry too" That sounds pretty high class now.

[John Campbell]

When I'm REALLY bored, I go to a local "black rifle show" just to get out of the house.

Last one I attended had a sign on the door: "No Offensive T-Shirts or Hats."

At the gate window, I asked what they considered "offensive." They pretty much outlined Mr. Yearout's apparel review. Smugly, I walked in with my slogan-free shirt. And braved the atmosphere inside, filled with free radicals and sophomoric breakfast burritos...

[wayne goerres]

What I cant figure out is why we have remote control helicopters at are gun shows.

[scott kittredge]

What I cant figure out is why we have remote control helicopters at are gun shows.

Targets ?

[Russ Jackson]

As far as I am concerned , Our local shows have really gone in the tank In my opinion !! The Pittsburgh Gun Collectors show recently has moved to an awful place which is extremely hard to get to as far as the traffic is concerned and has horrible parking and the Old Monroeville show has turned mostly into a " Black Gun " and Yard Sale Item Show with some Home Made Fudge thrown in , well maybe home made ,I have never bought any of it ,just don't really know where it comes from ! Wish it would go back to the days when the Guys just sort of got together to hang out and talk about our guns and have the possibility of picking up a decent gun walking through the door or maybe a new one ,one of the dealers has picked up along the way , no one seems to really be enjoying themselves these days !I think part of the problem is ,the Older Gentlemen which Truly were Gentlemen have gotten Old and Passed on or just not able to do the show circuit any more ,I know there were two such fellows which come to mind for me ,I would always take my latest Parker and show it to the one fellow as he was a Parker addict and we sure had some good conversations but he is wheel chair bound at this point and the other has passed away , time marches on !

[Richard Flanders]

There are two gunshows here this weekend, one the usual 2x/yr show at the university, the other the subsidiary of an outdoor show and mostly black guns. I went to the university show today and must say I have never seen an offensive Tshirt there in many years of going. I'd be offended by shirts like Phil describes also. Pretty low class in my book. The show was surprisingly well stocked with useful gunpowders for the first time in several years, but all too expensive, the cheapest being $25/#. I came home with a box of standard velocity T-22 that will work safely in my vintage Marlin mod 1892 levergun and a mint box of vintage Super X paper 28ga shells in #6 shot that was a surprise and welcome find. There was a $600 Trojan there in decent condition, but, as usual, not many other guns of interest.

[charlie cleveland]

i too went to a gun show today never seen any offensive t shirts but would have been if i seen any as discribed by others..only seen a hammer lever gun with a busted stock a parker brothers they wanted 550 for it.but it did have nice barrels..seen a rough lc smith for 650..bought a 1943 berretta 9 mm or 380. seen a 1905 made 1892 winchester in 32-20 was the best one i ever seen in unfooled with condition 1950 the price if it had been a carbine i think it would have come home with me...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

Best thing to do is save your time and money and come to one of the double gun events. You will need every cent you save too. I have yet to come back without a new (used) gun

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Mills, You are right on! I use to go to two or three shows a year and just set up a display of Parkers, and I traveled a lot to do it, the last one being in July in Concord N.C.I had a four table display, What a disappointment, I was sandwiched between the survival stuff and camo, Now do not get me wrong everything has its place but it was supposed to be a gun collector show. I will still do OGCA display show and a couple others, but am just getting too old to haul all the stuff around, my hat is off to all that do the shows to promote the Parker Gun, but as mentioned here earlier time marches on Gary

[Bill Murphy]

Russ, is the Monroeville show the Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association show? If not, where is the PGCA show held? I loved that show when it was held at Monroeville.

[Russ Jackson]

Bill , No it's not , The PGCA has moved to Shoppes at Northway ,8000 McKnight Road , Pittsburgh Pa. 15237 ! Still is usually a nice show but tough driving area and limited parking and as mentioned ,we have lost a few of our Older Vendors which were always the Guys that seemed to have the nicest Guns and always were the Folks that seemed to really enjoy being there ! The Monroeville show is held at the Convention center and has no relationship to the PGCA from my understandings ! I used the PGCA entire address in the chance some one would want to use their GPS to take a drive out and give it a go , the next scheduled show is listed on November 7 and 8th. ! Double check dates closer to the show by Googling up the PGCA Gun Show schedule ! Russ

[Rick Losey]

what nerve using our initials :draw:

[Mike.Smith]

We have several Gun Shows in the Raleigh area, with the Dixie Classic by far being the best one (which still isn't saying much considering the guns I'm looking for). The C&E gun show that always follows it by a weekend or two is nothing but surplus, beef jerky, cheap jewelry and black guns. I go every time though, because it's only a few minutes from the house, and I like seeing some of the Vendors who have become friends. As everyone else has said, these are mostly older gentlemen who still have, or appreciate older doubles. I go for the conversation, and the off chance that someone walks through with a screamer at a decent price. Most of the time though, I can tell you before getting to a table which double guns are there, and the ridiculous price. It's the same guns that have been on their tables for three years without selling.

As for the T-shirts, they are around. Who's seen the one with the picture of an AR-15 that says "It's because I'm Black isn't it"

At least I was finding powder for a while, but nothing much over the last three shows, unless you want to pay $35 for 14oz of SR-7625.

Mike

[Bruce Day]

The spring and fall Wannamacher Tulsa gun shows, the spring Louisville show, the Spring Southern SxS , and the Las Vegas show are, in my opinion, good gun shows for double gun enthusiasts. They are the only ones I go or have gone to.

Maybe there is an east coast or west coast show other than the Las Vegas one, but I have no experience with those.

A person always stands a minor chance of picking up a collector Parker or other such gun at a local show, but those shows are not known for quality of guns, vendors or miscellaneous items for sale. To me they are a waste of time, but each to their own.

[George Lander]

I'm looking forward to the Fall SxS event at Backwoods Sporting Clays near Georgetown, SC. It has become a little better each year and is in a beautiful place. It's a little hard to get to but worth the drive IMHO.

Best Regards, George

[Mills Morrison]

Hope to meet you this year, George.

[George Lander]

Me as well, Mills. I'll have my Parker name badge on my shooting jacket.

Best Regards, George

[Phil Yearout]

Best thing to do is save your time and money and come to one of the double gun events. You will need every cent you save too. I have yet to come back without a new (used) gun

That's all well and good, but with all due respect I'm not really a collector and I'm not going just to buy. To be frank, in my part of the world you're not going to find a "double gun event"; many more people are interested in an A5 or a nice 870 or 1100 than in a decent double gun. I'm a realist and I get it; I'd just like to see a little more variety and a little less - sorry; this is going to sound elitist I guess - of society's dregs in attendence.

To be honest, what I've been looking for at the last few shows is a decent Stevens Favorite in .22 LR, not necessarily a collector but a nice shooter that hasn't been rusted and corroded beyond recognition. But if I find one at all the guy in the F*uck Y*u shirt has it priced as though it was a priceless antique once owned by Annie Oakley.

[Kenny Graft]

The Ohio gun collectors have a real gun show with rules about what can be displayed on tables or on your shirt. Venders must be there for the whole show, no early quits. The next show is at the IX center in Cleveland Oct-18,19 You can find quality collectibles at this show for a more normal going rate. SXS ohio

[Tom McCoy]

Sounds like there may be an opportunity for a Capitalist to make some money by providing a wanted product???

We have nothing but junk shows here in Atlanta. Cheap black guns and other junk, not even any old military stuff. If you do see an old gun, it would be cheaper to buy an Invincible.

Tom
Atlanta

[John Campbell]

I am compelled to point out that attendance at the OGCA show is restricted to members only. It is NOT open to the general public. (with tasteless T-shirts)*


*Proving once again that P. T. Barnum was right: "No one ever lost a dime underestimating the poor taste of the American public."

[wayne goerres]

Mr McCoy is correct. Ga. gun show are not worth the admission. The one in Columbus is even worse than the one in Atlanta. Have not seen a decent gun show in at least 10 years.

[Robert Delk]

About 15 years ago 4 of us got together and had our own gun show after we had bought a big collection together. We rented the local legion hall and had a great time and sold a bunch of guns,although nothing really high end.Lots of fun.

[Dave Tercek]

Things change. Ten or fifteen years ago, in order buy, sell, trade, or just mingle with some other like minded people, it was necessary to travel and go to shows. Today (three or four times a day) we just turn on our computer and see as many nice guns as we would see in years of going to shows.
It not only allows us to buy and sell, but participate in, or eves drop on a constant conversation about guns and all related. I do miss the shows but wouldn't want to give up the access we have hear either.
There are still some good shows out there. If we can we should do our best to support them. Though technically not a gun show I have great time at the Vintagers every year. Everything a shotgun nut could ask for is there, including some very nice shirts, but participation still seems to be waning.
Dave

[John Dallas]

At OGCA, members can sponsor guests into the show, altho technically, the guests are not allowed to buy guns. That being said, I have never seen a deal turned down because of a guest badge