Las Vegas vs Reno Gun Shows
 

I just got back from the Las Vegas Antique Gun Show. The Lefever Collectors have had a display there for well over 20 years. This year the turnout was more than disappointing as the number of double guns was tiny and the traffic at our display extremely slow. There were almost as many tables selling everything from jewelry, military memorabilia, and other non-antique guns and equipment. The hotel has raised its rates for rooms and food that it makes your head spin. We are considering attending a Reno Show instead. However, their website suggests that they have a lot of black guns, camo, jerky, and rubber tomahawks. Does anybody have comments on the Reno Show?

This why I haven't been to a gun show of any type for many years. Too many side shows and black guns for me but I know others would disagree.

Hey Bob,

I'm sorry I missed you guys, I spoke with Terry on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the Reno show and cannot help you.

Stan

Bob, I have no experience with the Reno show but if it is numbers that you seek the Tulsa show has no equal. Not an answer to your question but something you may want to consider. 11 acres under one roof and it has always been packed in my experiences there. Good luck.

I would say Tulsa or Louisville would be ones to look at if you want to go elsewhere. But if you want to stay way out west, I dont have any suggestions.

What are the opinions about which is the best one east of the Mississippi, for double guns?

Does anyone go to the Ohio Gun Collectors these days?

It has been a while but I always enjoyed "The Big Reno" show. Probably the most notable thing I accomplished there was putting our friend "Long Range" onto an interesting NID No. 4E Super-10. Did get a 20-gauge Pigeon Grade Superposed there.

Stan while not promoted as a gun show per se the Southern has no equal when it comes to double guns IMO. The Louisville show used to be really good taking up 2 sections of the hall and was attended by dealers such as Puglisi and Barnette and other well known names. Those days are gone. The show is down to 1 hall and a good deal of that is unoccupied. Still a good sized show but just not what it used to be. Having said that I know dealers that say it is their favorite and best selling show of them all. Just depends on what you are after or peddling I suppose.
The OGCA is still a well recognized show and generally has good attendance. I have been a member for years and used to attend regularly, now just occasionally. In terms of American double guns it has been a hit and miss show for me, mostly miss, but still a good show. Back in the day it WAS the place to be.
If you are laser focused on double guns go to the Southern. Just my proverbial two cents. Get your home equity line of credit established before you leave town :)

I stop going to the Las Vegas show 4 years ago after not missing it for almost 20 years as poor attendance plus variety and quality of guns deteriorated I'll be in Greeley, Colorado in May as I've received multiple positive reports concerning this show. Colorado and Tulsa may be the "shows" west of the Mississippi.

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

I might add that the nice GH 16 that Scott is displaying on another thread came out of the OGCA show.

The beginnings and the extensions of my great John Oberlies rifle collection happened at the OGCA shows. I would like to rejoin the organization and attend more shows if I hear good things about them. I need a travelling companion from Maryland to continue my attendance.

OGCA show
 

Back in the 70's and into the 80's when the OGCA was in Columbus at Vets memorial it was the best gun show in the country. Today I would say its a better than average show. It has went from close to 2000 tables to 500-600. Most of the best gun dealers and gun people that had tables and attended this show have died off and most of the crowd now doesn't show much interest in the older firearms. Also-Most of the dealers set up on Friday so they can trade before the members get a chance at the good stuff.