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Cured!!!!

Yesterday's experience at Market Hall helped me prove to myself once and for all that there's nothing at area gun shows I need, can't live without or, more importantly, can't find elsewhere without having to deal with a whole bunch of knuckleheads both in front of and behind the vendor tables. Although I did see a few things that might be loosely considered "bargains," I left with my mad money still in my pocket...and I originally planned to spend it all, too, on an AR, support gear, and ammo.

Pretty disappointing experience...although there were a few things I saw that could loosely be considered "bargains," prices weren't anything to write home about, and vendors ranged from less than helpful to downright rude. I prefer to support local dealers and other businessmen and women as much as possible, but there comes a point at which the economics of continuing to do so enters into the decision making process. Throw some attitude on top of the higher prices, and you have deal-breakers.

The thing, though, that made the decision for me was the continued presence of Nazi "stuff."

Yep, I'm cured...no more gun shows for me.

I've been once to the Market Hall show and was rather disappointed.

I've enjoyed the Fort Worth show several times, but it's been so crowded over the last two years I haven't wanted to venture out. That and the illegal 30.06 posting infuriates me.

I keep hearing that the Mesquite show is worth the drive, but I live near Alliance, so that's a large investment of a Saturday to make it all the way out there on the chance that I'll still be let down.

I agree - friends and the Internet can show me what I need / want, and a local dealer can order almost anything for the best prices at the shows. I spend too much $$ on jerkey and knives when I go, anyway.

Yep. Gun shows have gone the way of the dodo bird.
You can get better deals online nowadays.

I went too. The thing that sticks in my mind is the guy looking at a handgun. He then tells the dealer "I have to call my brother." He goes about telling his brother about the handgun he might be interested in. The conversation was not in English either. Can you smell straw?

wheelgun1958 wrote:I went too. The thing that sticks in my mind is the guy looking at a handgun. He then tells the dealer "I have to call my brother." He goes about telling his brother about the handgun he might be interested in. The conversation was not in English either. Can you smell straw?

If I am browsing, and needed advice or price Check, I would call my Brother and converse with him in Arabic. There is no straw as the gun is for me. Now, with proliferation of Web enabled 3G phones like the i-phone, no need to call, I can check prices myself.

I think the problem with gun shows in general is: that years ago they were mostly
independent collectors and individuals, that loved firearms and liked to swap and trade.
They were not "professional" gun show vendors. The small guy sometimes got a deal
and was willing to give a deal. Things have changed. Many of the vendors travel
from one show to the next and the shows ARE their main business.
There are a few individual's buying tables and making fair deals, but you really have
to look hard to find them.
Another issue is everyone thinks that they should receive full book value for a used
firearm/pistol. No dealer can pay full book and turn around and sell for a profit. Nope.
Doesn't work that way. I've seen guys get upset because they paid X amount for a gun
and then a soft market comes along and their piece is worth 30% or more less than what
they paid for it. (I believe BHO and crew are actually working on a Bail Out program
for folks that bought over their heads and would like the tax payers of America to save
their hind ends) J/K.

I didn't go to this last one, but did get a new LCR under $300 at the same show last fall.

I was at the show on Sat - A buddy was meeting a vendor to buy a XDM 45.
The selection of guns and accessories are hard to beat at any store. And I like to see and touch many kinds of items before I buy. Shopping for optics and lasers for example, you cant beat the selection and you can pick up the options and look through them. Comparison shopping cant be beat.
In the price checks Ive done on the items Ive looked at many things are at least as good as the BEST price online. No shipping costs. The side by side competition drives the gun prices down. Ive never seen prices at any brick and mortar store as low as they are at the show. Even for the vendors that have store fronts.

As far as the nazi comment, Didnt see any Nazi stuff, but I did see all kinds of nutty stuff, which is typical for gun shows, and swap meets. Did you report "the Nazi "stuff."" to the Show promoters by the door ? Would you prefer that someone be appointed to approve all things that are for sale ?

at least they don't charge $5 for parking!

I have to say I know of at least one local FFL who usually has a table at the Fort Worth Gun Show. He has a business in Terrell too. He will treat you right and try to make you a deal you are happy with. I've purchased my guns from him and traded back guns to him for others. Check out Shooter's Shotgun Shack if you decide to go again. No, he's not a personal friend or relative. I'm just a happy customer and don't mind giving him a shout.

I went for one purpose: To pick up a new AR upper from Model 1 Sales. Buying from them at the show and paying cash, you not only save shipping, but they also will absorb the sales tax if you ask. So a 24" stainless bull-barrel upper was $375 OTD, plus $120 for BCG. $495 total. I could not get close to that online.

As for other purchases, I tend to like Spanish pistols. If I get there early I can often find a deal on a older Llama or Star. Any good deals of any kind are usually gone by 11:00 Saturday.
Selling is always disappointing. I carried two nice pistols, priced fairly. Showed them many times, no sale. Listed them on Gun trader and sold 1 since and the 2nd pending.

My wife was out of town, so being left to my own devices I went to the show on Saturday. I am happy I went.

I sold my Taurus PT140SS Mil Pro for a good price, $325.

I bought a Springfield XD40 Sub-compact to replace it for $388, well $420 out the door. This was from AJC Sports Shop out of Clute, TX. Bachman Pawn had the same gun for a $1 more.

No pics of the new gun yet.

You folks may remember me posting about my cousin and his CHL process in the "General TX CHL" forum.

I took him to the gunshow Sunday, so we could poke around and he could get his hands on several different makes and models. Long story short, we walked around the entire gun show, systematically checking every single table out there. On the very last table we checked, I found him a good deal on a Taurus Millenium Pro .40S&W. $238.15 OTD. Slightly used, but hey, it's his first one, ya know.


I paid for part of it, and we each picked up a holster while there. I also bought some gun cleaning supplies, picked up a SWEET Smith & Wesson folding knife; assisted opening, and a window breaker on the back end. Picked up a few unit patches for gifts, and a few Chip McCormick 1911 mags.

The Nazi paraphernalia did bother me, but I just didn't stick around to look at it. Also, there were a couple of vendors that wouldn't give my cousin or myself the time of day. Each one that acted like a horse's rear, I let them know that we were in fact there to buy a pistol, we weren't leaving until we bought a pistol, and we weren't dealing with them at all. I guess that's part of being young (25 for me, 21 for my cousin), some of the older generation don't want to deal.

As far as the nazi comment, Didnt see any Nazi stuff, but I did see all kinds of nutty stuff, which is typical for gun shows, and swap meets. Did you report "the Nazi "stuff."" to the Show promoters by the door ? Would you prefer that someone be appointed to approve all things that are for sale ?

Nope, I didn't report the Nazi stuff...it's always been there and I suppose will always be there as long as someone is even remotely interested or willing to pay the cost of a table to display it. I was not remotely suggesting that someone should be appointed to approve all things that are for sale. That's something certainly not in the spirit of a free and open market economy and hints at a restriction on free speech.

shrug.... I didn't even notice it.

Was it WW2 vintage or current reproductions?