I was at a gunshow today and picked up an AR15 upper just to look at it. The old timer behind the table said , and I quote " Yeah thats just like a Colt only its a Double Star. Okay 
Didn’t someone once say you can’t fix stupid. Anyways that comment kind of made my day so I thought I would share it.
the culture of the gun show is fascinating. its worth someone with good intentions doing at artsy documentary about
It’s just like a Ferrari only it’s a Fiero.
Somebody has to quote the movie Jarhead now…
Was at a gunshow a few weeks ago and heard an old timer talking to another, in a rather pleased tone, how he had saved somebody from making a big mistake buying a SIG 556 due to its 1/7 twist and how “you can’t shoot anything lighter than 62 gr through that”.
If you are in a mellow mood and can handle hearing a HUGE amount of ignorance spewed go walk around a gunshow. It will make you shake your head.
Hey now, I got my first speeding ticket in a Fiero. 
They were cool at the time though. 
funny part about a gun show is how everything you go to pick up is “special forces issue” even though it looks like the country it came out of couldnt even make toilet paper right
I went to a gunshow for the first time in a long while yesterday. I wasn’t planning on going but a friend invited me. This was a “collectors show” which meant about half of the guns were for sale and the other half were for show. There were some really nice gun collections and one guy had a really neat collection of Hobo knives.
Speaking of “the same as,” there was a guy selling Chinese Aimpoint knockoffs. They even had Aimpoint stamped on them. :rolleyes:
On a positive note, I did get a good deal on some dies- brand new RCBS 25-06 for $15 and small base 308 for $25. It was nice to see that they were limiting this to a guns only crowd. There were no beef jerky, indian jewelry, or $3 knife tables.
Speaking of Aimpoints @ gunshows. I got ripped off three years ago on a aimpoint m2 knock off. Most realistic one I had ever seen plus this was before I got really big into red dot sights and I didn’t really know what I was looking at. It even came with a a.r.m.s cantilevered scope mount knockoff. I didn’t pay him money. I traded him straight up for a surefire light worth about $300. Three years ago and I’m still pissed off about that. Never saw the guy again @ any of the other gun shows but every year I take that aimpoint with me just in case I run into him.
Which show was there and where?
I go to our local show simply for the “Gunshow Antics” When I actually need stuff I order it or get it from our local dealers. I’m always in line before the show opens, so that if there is anything special I can snatch it up. I go back on the second day to find deals, guys figure that if they did’nt sell the first day, they might not sell it on the second. See, I live in a tiny state, and our show is a once a year thing. the good part is there are over 200 tables and if it slings lead you will see it there. But then there are also a few tables with Beef jerky and Emu jerky. The Hot Dogs they serve at the concession table are delicious, and the Buns are steamed. Last year was the first year I brought my 8 year old Son to the show. His favorite food now is “Gunshow Hotdogs” They also serve Pizza, but it’s Cafeteria grade. I also taught my son how it’s important we visit one of the four Mens rooms before heading back to the tables, to insure we have cleaned out hands well enough to handle other folks firearms. For six years I hosted three of the tables, before the war, that was my job. I know what it is like to be on both sides of the table. Goodtimes are had by all, and there are no pat downs or metal detectors, so if you wanted to CCW, go right ahead. Around here, there are no backwards hats or beltless trousers at our Gunshow. That’s a bonus.
I highly recommend the February, Barre, Vermont Gunshow.
It would change Everybodys mind about Gunshows, if they went to this one. Anybody wanna’ help me bring a reality T.V. Show to life??? If they could make as many episodes of that crap called “Lock N’ Load” On Showtime. You could make SIXTY out of two days of film. If You have the funds,I have the Gunshow for you.
My favorite memories of gunshows are before FOPA 86 when it was only private sellers/collectors because FFLs could only sell at the licensed premise. You saw some truly interesting things and lots of trading going on.
I was in Junior High and I’d bring of list of the doubles/traders I had in the car and a good idea of the stuff I was looking for. That was back when a 12 year old could buy or trade for a rifle. Only time anyone ever told me to go get my Dad was when I was buying a handgun.
And sure there was some misrepresentation going on, I later had to re research everything I had been told about various purchases as I simply accepted the sellers word. Thankfully most of it proved to be reliable. And a lot of those guys were pretty good to me actually, of course when a 12 year old presents himself to you and knows what he is looking for and knows a few things about it, most collectors appreciate that and give him some consideration.
Now I cringe when I hear the things being said by sellers at gunshows. Thankfully I grew up in a better time, they would line up to take advantage of a 12 year old collector today.
Utah Gun Collectors Association
http://www.ugca.org/
That really sucks, thanks for the warning.
I wonder how much of the stuff sold at the shows are actually Chinese fakes…
Ok, that is what I thought but I could not remember the name. I used to get their solicitations to buy a table back when I was doing shows.
Interesting they would schedule it for the same weekend a Crossroads gunshow is on.
I went to one of our local small town shows Saturday. Yes, there was cinnamon popcorn, beef jerky, indian jewelry, and Dish Network there. For once, no cheap knives.
No uniforms other than US, either.
All the years I went, the rule I was taught and passed on to my kids, Look, don’t touch, and always ask.
I wade through the crowd to the BlackrifleLLC section and some guy is telling us to pick up the rifles! CMMG $599 specials, their must be 30-45 of them, and he’s all about Go Ahead Guys - then turns his back to talk to somebody at the other corner.
So, we all were. Got our $8 of touchy feely right there, tried a A1 grip, A2 grip, and a Tango Down side by side, had my boy do the same. We searched the whole place, not one TD grip on a table, black or FG. Dry hole.
Never heard “pick up the rifles and try them” before and may never again. But I will remember the show just for that.
When my friend first asked me to go I thought he meant Crossroads as well. The last time I went to this one was about three years ago and the attendance was much higher this time around.
Indeed it is. Went to one in Richmond on Saturday, to nab ammo and enjoy the freakshow. If one is like me and enjoys people watching at the airport, the only way to get a more entertaining environment is to hit the Wal-Mart Supercenter in someplace like Martinsburg, WV @ 0230.
Darwins hot tub.
Gunshow in my area runs 700 tables. Alot of local and out of state dealers . The chinese knock offs are prevalant. There are no deals . In fact prices are inflated. Ammo prices are down right rediculous. I get better deals on the internet and can trust what I am buying is as advertised from vendors.
The last show I was at, I saw 3 sellers with Eotech copies (marked as per the Eotech website for frauds), 2-3 guys selling “custom” uppers with the best of the middle of the road parts and asking prices that were higher than my noveske upper cost, and a guy selling some injection molded stuff that he touted as “made in the USA”, but no country of origin on any item or on any of the packaging, as well as no brand.
then of course the beef jerky people, the knife row, knock off shamwows, and some guy with a potato peeler and spices he was selling.