Question on gun show in your area

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I had tables at 'fun' shows for years, and one show after another seemed to have completely different patrons. Just this past year I had to liquidate my entire collection when my wife of 25 years moved out to stay with her girlfriend leaving me with nothing but months of utility bills she was supposed to have paid for.

I had to attend 6 shows selling everything I ever had, and I was happy to get the money at the time just to keep the lights on then. I was selling at very cheap prices but buyers across the board STILL acted the same way. I think most buyers at gun shows don't really have a clue, but a few really do know and I got market prices at the wholesale level or just above and I laughed inside at how 'some' people said I was a crook asking wholesale....

I always enjoyed selling and trading at gun shows just to hear the BS and all. Only made a few bucks back then but had fun with my friends selling around me.

[c1a1]

We have the same problem here in B.C. People lately have been coming to gun shows with a garage sale mentality. Some dealers put a ridiculously high price on their items, and get irate when offered a fair market price. Greed evident on both sides. I go to shows mainly for socializing. There are always good deals around if a person looks hard enough.

[boltaction]

But the auctions, which should be a marker of the 'true' value of things, have been all over the map in the last few months here in Canada. In the last two months, auctions at Haynes and Landsborough have realized some absolutely unbelievable prices for no reason that I can see. In Ward Hayes, a 1914 dated SMLE sold for $2100 (plus commission) a LE #7 trainer (not the Canadian one, the British one with the repeater magazine) went for $2400 and so did a #9 .22 for $2200. A Ross cadet went for $1500, and a very nice matching BSA #4(T) went for 6000, which with commission is $7200 (not necessarily much over market these days). In Landsborough a mismatched .22 Mk IV went for 925 (plus commission). It did have that hybrid side mount Ross target sight, but still.........

At the same time, there were some rare deals, and some which went for market value, but I just come away from these things scratching my head!

Ed

[Vincent]

My sister lives with us. She is mentally handicapped. Most of the time she’s a joy. Her lack of logic, her inability to tell right from wrong was a challenge at first. Over the years I’ve become used to it and hardly notice it now.

When people ask, “Don’t you get frustrated?” I tell them why I don’t. “It could have happened to me.”

I know how lucky I am. It carries over to dealing with fools at gun shows or wherever. I feel very lucky not to be one of them.

The next time you meet a fool at a gun show don’t use logic. It’s hard not to, but it doesn’t work with them. Just think how lucky you are not to be like that person.

You really are lucky.

[browningautorifle]

I was told by a few through time "You know so much about all of this"(guns)...I just say, "Not really, but I need the information I have just to get into a conversation in my circles." Those others we speak of don't have that knowledge. It's sad to me to think of being that unknowing.

[mmppres]

Well Gentlemen the info I gather from all your words of wisdom is amazing. I have been selling like i stated to make some money mostly to keep bill collectors at bay. its working slowly. I know to jump into a business with out any monetary backing is real hard. But many many have done so in the past. The exchange going on here makes me smile an believe that some day it will all work out. Not that i want to be rich that’s no fun, just enough to buy an sell with maybe keeping a few along the way. Reading these post every day makes my day thanks guys