Ditto most of the above advice with another suggestion: Go to as many gun and gun-related shows within convenient driving distances for you, no matter how small or seemingly obscure (e.g., trappers conventions, decoy shows, etc.). You NEVER know what you may find at one of them.
Two of the best examples I know of: At a 100 +/- table local show in the reception room of a Holiday Inn on the PA/NJ border at Milford, the Hartman brothers of Elmira Arms fame contemplated leaving early Sunday AM since the show had been such a bust for dealers buying. Just before lunch time, their agreed-upon packup time, an overalled old geezer showed up with what turned out to be a De Luxe Winchester lever action (either an 1873 or 1876, don't remember) rifle in .45-90 caliber in around 70 % condition. Their table being first one in the door, they hailed him and began their patois. The old guy was gruff and said he wouldn't take a penny less than a thousand dollars for it. The Hartmanns relieved the old guy of his burden and decided to skip the hash house show lunch for a later stop at a fine dining establishment on the way home.
Similarly, I got "roped" into dropping my pre-teen son and his best buddy at a Renaissance Festival happening just outside of Annapolis MD in the mid-1990s, and had a couple of hours to kill before picking them up for our hour-plus ride home. I saw a sign as we took the exit for a gun show at the local fire house in Parole. WTH, I thought, you never know. It was terrible show with a poutpourri of themed dealers selling everything from modern replica tomahawks to WWII flotation devices. About half way through the tables, I came upon a pawn shop dealer who exhibited everything from Nazi helmets to Winchester roller skates to De Lavale milker rubbers (new in the box!). He also had out a screaming c. 1917 12 ga. 30" BHE Parker VR straight grip 12 ga. with TWO foreends, one Splinter and one beavertail. I gave him a hefty deposit on the gun and returned the following day, selling my nice 20 ga. Browning Superposed to another dealer, then bought the gun. It turned out to be a rare early prototype of the VR and second generation Parker single trigger, predating the catalog offering of both by some 4-5 years. I think my net outlay for the Parker was c. $2K. They are out there!
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