Chantilly VA Gun Show Sept. 26, 27, 28

[Bill Murphy]

The Side by Side Shoots have become the place to go to replace the gun shows of the past. Winter Vegas and a few other regional shows are still worth attending, but are getting more scarce all the time.

[B. Dudley]

Is Tulsa and Baltimore still good for old guns?

[KCordell]

we've had a table at the Maryland show for years. there plenty of old guns there however, don't expect any deals.

[ForrestArmstrong]

Tulsa, Vegas Beinfield, Louisville, Dallas Market Hall are still good shows, probably some others too. But of course you never know what will turn up at small regional or local shows. For many years I had tables at the Houston Astrohall show. Something everyone looked forward to, you saved your money all year, and always had several things on your list, and the show was so big you could usually find it. Now it is mostly combat stuff, jewelry, beef jerky, etc. Best stuff seems to be at auction.

[Bill Zachow]

This year's Syracuse show was suprisingly good from what I had come to expect. While there were a fair amount of black guns and military surplus items, a large number of classic Winchester rifles were scattered throughout the show. I have recently gone back to one of my earlier collecting interests--Winchester .22 from the late 1800 to 1963. Suprisingly, there were a number of 1890s, 62s, 63s, 67s and 69s there. Not cheap but there and in nice condition. There were more than a few Parkers, also. The best deal of the show was a miss-labeled steel barreled PH that was tagged as a Trojan for $1,100. Just as I spotted it, a dealer picked it up and said he would take it without quibbleing about the price. The gun had a lot of finish and was easily worth $2500 or more. After the deal was done, I asked the seller how he had arrived at his price. He said he used the internet and $1,100 was an average selling price for Trojans. I told him he was probably right for Trojan pricing but his gun was 2 grades above a Trojan. Wish I had got to the table a minute earlier.

[Bill Murphy]

There are many shows that are worth attending if you are within 100 miles of the show. Most of us are counting those shows on fewer fingers. From my house, I include Baltimore, only one time a year and 49 miles, or Allentown, maybe four times a year and 180 miles. Nothing to the South and only mountains and trees to the West until you get to Ohio Gun Collectors. It's the Side by Side shoots or nothing for me.

[Kevin McCormack]

I can only second all of the above comments. Returning from a week of duck shooting in Quebec, I stopped by The Vintagers last Saturday to deliver some cases I had repaired to an individual. Lots of very nice guns, especially SxSs, the usual turnout of loyal people, honest dealers, and LOTS of shooters.

While a smaller event than most of us came to know over the years from Addieville, Sandanona, and Pintail Point, it is still a premier buy-and-sell show of quality SxSs. The new venue, Dover Furnace Shooting Grounds (a Beretta Facility), is a remote location but has plenty of room for everything - people, dogs, guns, RVs and especially vendors. The nearby locations of Poughkeepsie, Peekskill, and Fishkill, about 35 minutes from the place depending on where you stay, offer thousands of hotel rooms, now all pretty much linked by Priceline, Hotwire, and other discount online vendors. I paid $72 for a room for one night in Fishkill which was actually a small suite with kitchen and hide a bed, and the basic amenities (but no proper wine glasses!).

With fewer and fewer high-end guns to sell as an individual, I think The Vintagers, Baltimore, Southern SxS, NE SxS, are the places to invest in a booth or table. More money for sure than our local shows, but at the very least you are not exposed to the scary 'Velcro Commandos' with their full-coverage tattoos, spit bottles, backpacks and rude manners.

[Bill Murphy]

"Rude manners". I thought you said "Nude manners" recalling the fully tattooed young female neighbor of ours at the Chantilly Show who graciously removed pretty much everything to show off her artwork. This event happened before the public was admitted to the show, but was appreciated by the vendor population.

[Dean Romig]

....and Murphy continues to tell us about interesting stuff but again - where are the pictures?

[Double Trouble]

If I'm in a hurry to get through a big show, I'll just scan the rows & look for the older gentlemen in the crowd. More often than not - that's where I'll find something that interests me.

Of course, I'm gettin' to be pretty old myself...

I just love it when nostalgia is embodied in walnut & steel.