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I managed to talk the wife into going to the DSC show at Market Hall today and it was a nice experience. I went last year and when asked by her how it was, described it as a high class gun show with international influence.

High class doesn't stop at high dollar in the case of this show. While not unusual to see vintage H&H doubles and shotguns being displayed with values of $100,000+, and hunting trips costing in excess of $50,000, the thing that puts it in the high class category for me was the overall atmosphere and attitude.

Lots of international hunting opportunities for exotic places like New Zealand and Austria (the guy even told me not to worry about bringing a rifle, they would provide one), to the typical African outing and if you happen to end up in Tanzania, you can hunt while the wife shops for jewelry. The poster for hunting in Bosnia struck me a strange because the subject had a double shotgun that wasn't evil looking or black, and wasn't wearing a helmet. The walking scenery was varied and often entertaining!

To start, entry was $15 per person for one day. Yep, I spent funds equivalent to a box of high quality social ammunition just to look at and handle some very nice rifles/shotguns and to mingle with the crowd that I've never seen in the same facility when a lowly GUN-Show was the paying tenant. I'll admit, it was a little strange seeing more than chili-dogs, burgers and nochos in the food courts. Instead, you could choose from a nice variety of sandwiches, salads, chili-dogs, burgers, and other edibles and wash them down with not only soda, water and beer, but hard liquor. Yes, the real thing! I was totally surprised that the day wasn't interrupted by an inrush of police responding to the drunken brawl that should have (but didn't) materialize as a result of this temptation. Obviously, the direct result of this being a High Class event and not just another gun show.

There was also the ever present jewelry vendors. But in this case, the wife actually found some pieces (a lot of them) that she liked. Most, costing more than I've spent on my shooting hobby in the last three years - and that's a tidy sum. Jerky was present and for sale. I tried it but the gun show jerky is better so don't go to the DSC show to buy jerky.

Lots of ammo being displayed - none for sale and most larger than 50 cal. Most had funny names like 505 Gibbs, or 8 guage something. Most, I don't believe I would want to shoot (I'm sort of a little guy and never look forward to going to a doctor to reset joints that have been pounded out of proper alignment by the sudden discharge of gun powder trying to move a large mass through a constricted tube). Did see some very nice hunting blinds though. Not a single one made of nylon requiring fiberglass poles with zippered windows. Again, more than I've spent on shooting + hunting for the last three years.

As I said earlier, the wife and I enjoyed the show.

The more I think about it, the more I think that the DSC show is one of BHO's covert attempts to jump start the economy by getting the average joe who enjoys shooting to turn loose of some of his stash and get the economy going again. Wouldn't take too many to make a dent in the recession and it would be far better than giving it all to banks.

Oh yeah, what's this got to do with CHL, they did have a 30.06 sign at the front door. I'll take the fifth on that one.

Today is the final day. There's a lot to see. It TRULY is a different experience.

For example,
- One custom rifle maker had 4.5 pound bolt actions on display. Calibers at the show were .270 Win and .300 Weatherby Magnum
- One gunsmith had a single action .44 Rem Mag on display. What's so special about that? It only weighed 16 oz. (OUCH). The mfg rep said he had not shot it, nor did he seem to be in a hurry to do so.
- Stock blanks i.e. wood chunks for use as rifle stocks. Very fine quality. Several thousand dollars for a piece about 30" x 10" x 6"
- Doug Turnbull's work on Winchester lever actions is truly fantastic.
- For people watchers, the industry personalities I saw in attendance included Gen. Chuck Yeager and writer Craig Boddington.

Back in the '90s I attended the main SCI convention in Reno . . . looking at all the avid purchases being made, I've little doubt that I was in the lowest quartile of attendees when it comes to annual income. (Still, I DID book a lion hunt for Zambia . . .)

gmckinl wrote:- For people watchers, the industry personalities I saw in attendance included Gen. Chuck Yeager and writer Craig Boddington.

I saw Boddington but didn't have the opportunity to meet with him, however I did have a chance to meet and speak with the late Peter Hathaway Capstick for a while . . . for whatever reason there was a lull in the "action" on the show floor, so he and I just sat down and talked for a while. I found him to be a very personable sort, and I think the hunting world is poorer for his loss.

My wife does the Ladies' Luncheon every year.

I brought my son and we walked the exhibits until close - wife and I would love to go to AK, Yulon, or South Africa some time just to sightsee.

I chatted with some Sheriff's deputies and had a hot dog, too.

I watched the people entering the hall for a few minutes and quite a few were taking the fifth on that ridiculous 30.06 sign. The DSC has the political muscle to get rid of it and make Dallas City Hall obey the law. So now its just a nod and wink and everyone is happy. LOL.

I noticed a lot of vests and jackets but it was cold and windy outside. I will chalk it up as sane response to the weather and not to overt attempt at concealment. While dining in the tent (marked with "Midway", as in shooting supply, with no "Midway" booth), I noticed at least one individual carrying in a gun case from outside. I assumed it was one of the vendor/exhibitors and not someone trying to do a floor trade. My reasoning is that the case may have had a rifle in it but the foam would have had to have been replaced with money to work any deals on most of the stock I saw on the floor.

Lots of very nice stuff to look at and touch. Reminder to self: carry a towel on next visit to clean up drool after examining exhibit samples. It's just the right thing to do!