The Big Reno Gun Show
 

The Big Reno Gun Show, as it's titled by its producers, was a great show in the past. But, in August of 2023 it had this kind of thing going on, which I emailed the owner about. I think the ownership listened, somewhat, and last year it was better. But, as we all know the Internet is replacing a lot of the in person gun shows because you can look at anything you want from the comfort of your home. Obviously, the show owners are struggling to sell enough tables at these events to make them viable. Things change, unfortunately. I guess it depends on what your goals are in setting up at these shows. If I were going to pick guns shows out west, I would look closely at Cross Roads of the West guns shows. They are owned by Browning Arms Collector board member Bob Templeton. And they do attempt to have "guns" at their shows.
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The Big Reno Show
 

And the most offensive of them all. But, they would make good targets :)
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For a more verbose dissertation on this phenomenon, see my post of 10-12-24 on the same topic(s). Search the word "fudge" and you will go right to the thread. Sad to say not much has changed!

Gun shows are mostly dead in my opinion. The market today is specialty dealers, catalog auctions, the internet "for sale" sites and internet auctions. One source that has not changed is developing relationships with other like minded collectors and let them know your interests. That's why it so important to participate in collector organizations and make the effort to attend collector events and rub elbows with other collectors. Some of my best guns have come by private sale. If I could only attend one shopping event per year it would be the Southern.

The problem with Tulsa is that it is very close to the Southern.

Maryland antique arms collector show. This is still a pretty decent show for antique arms .

I've never been to one of the "big" shows, but I hate the demise of the small local shows. Typically I didn't go with the idea of buying a gun (though a few times I did get surprised!) but I nearly always came home with something: shells, leather goods, some parts, a patch or a pin or some other odd tidbit for my souvenir wall. It was cheap entertainment. Most of those around here have closed, and the last few local shows I've been to have had the same unrelated stuff y'all have already mentioned, plus some trashed out/used up stuff and some decent but overpriced stuff I've seen before... many times.

As a Reno resident, it saddens me to say this but don't waste your time with the "Big Reno Gun Show". This show was a top notch event in its day years ago but it has declined to the point of embarrassment. Black guns and not good ones, cheap foreign garbage, and a bunch of unrelated nick nacks. I go just because it is in my back yard. Last years show I think I found three maybe four SxS. There was a fair amount of Colt and Winchester's there but nothing like the good old days.

Ohio Gun Collectors put on shows "meetings" every other month. You must be a member or a guest of a member to attend. You are only allowed to display guns or gun accessories. Not a big show,around 500 tables. Excellent quality and a very knowledgeable crowd. I try to make them all. Those specialty dealers mentioned above are all there buying inventory. It is well worth the trip just to see how shows used to be. I will be glad to get guest passes for anyone who wants to check it out.

John - Doubt you would remember, but we met at your shop in Franklin, and then again at OGCA probably 8-9 years ago. I began attending when the show was in Columbus, and followed them to Wilmington and Cleveland. Good show, but several of our guys who shared the car ride down from Detroit have passed, which took some of the fun out f the show. I always enjoyed it, but haven't bought anything in several years, so I've stopped attending