I Feel Like I'm Going Through Some Sort of Withdrawel

[browningautorifle]

Good to see you Warpig...

[Aragorn243]

I rolled in a little after 1pm. It was huge. Saw two VZ-24's with lion crests and two P-14's. The VZ's were way overpriced for the condition. One P-14 looked nice but it was because the stock had been sanded to death. The other P-14 I tried to make a deal on but we were just too far apart. Force matched bolt, several stock repairs and he wanted almost top dollar for it "excellent" pricing. I almost pulled the trigger anyway but walked away in the end. Something better will eventually show up. His price was one of the lowest I've seen in a year. No GEW 98 to be found. I saw two KAR 98's including one from "Hitler's" unit according to a special tag. Not looking for one of them right now.

I missed the parachute flares, they are hard to get anymore. Got a box last weekend at Harrisburg which made me happy.

Saw more bayonets than I ever have at a show but didn't need any of them.

I'm thinking I may skip most of the other shows in the future and just go to this one.

Didn't see a single K-31, saw one K-11 and two 1881's.

[WarPig1976]

Saw a few K31s around $450 and if that K11 was like iirc $600 I saw that too. like you say stuff was way over priced or beat up and over priced. Maybe i'll get lucky tomorrow.

[jmoore]

It does seem like not much is turning up. Used to be at least "rubble" to pick through. Now, not much of nuttin' except the same way overpriced and underconditioned gunk that's been sitting for ages. US$1000 Long Branch with replacement furniture, etc. Looks OK from 5 feet, but ???

[Bruce_in_Oz]

These goodies were NOT made for future collector; they were made as tools of “diplomacy by other means”.

How many Mk5 SMLEs survived being sent to South East Asia , never mind the oned dumped at sea? The Viet Minh used them until they were lost in action or their “fraternal cousins” gave them Nagants or Kalashnikovs: then…..?

How many Moisin Nagants, Mausers, MP-40s, PPSH etc vanished into the meat-grinder on the Eastern Front?

How many of those that “survived” ended their days in Africa, South East Asia etc?

How many mint M-14s and “vintage” M-16s have been consigned to “Captain Crunch” or offloaded to sundry “aid recipients” and just rotted away?

You could just about walk across the Atlantic ocean on “dumped” Lee Enfields, Brens and P-14s.

And never mind the aircraft and vehicles…..

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

These goodies were NOT made for future collector; they were made as tools of “diplomacy by other means”.


How many mint M-14s and “vintage” M-16s have been consigned to “Captain Crunch” or offloaded to sundry “aid recipients” and just rotted away?

You could just about walk across the Atlantic ocean on “dumped” Lee Enfields, Brens and P-14s.

And never mind the aircraft and vehicles…..

True.
But now I am as depressed as I was the first time I saw the photos GIs dumping Arisakas by the boat load into Tokyo harbor.

[bob4wd]

I feel your pain, but on the other hand I juzt picked up 4 place-fillers at this weekend's Reno show :
-99 Arisaka, all match including dust cover, 99+% blue, still with grease in the barrel channel, excellent wood. Would rate mint except some minor attempt to deface the mum.
-1941 Carcano, matching, dent-free, no rust, excellent bore
-SMLE, 1918 dated, all matching including magazine (electropenciled), with bayonet and scabbard. VG overall, worn but clean. Relatively rare out here, in fact first one I've seen with WW1 date and English made.
-Another Carcano, short rifle, well worn but good bore, no dents, no rust and matching. Uncommon in 6.5, needed it to complement my Finn.
the last two shows were nada, so sometimes the gods are smiling!

[burb1989]

For me the shows in my area have been hit or miss, mostly miss. I have found some decent deals here and there but when I can't find a rifle I want I try to find some other type of item like a sword, ammo belt, bayonet, or even ammo. Here's what i have been able to find:
Late war Japanese type 3 shin gunto bought from the vet who brought it home.
Paid $500 as a guess on value
Greek return Remington 1903 that the bolt was reassembled incorrectly.
Paid $350 after a not so hard negotiation
Uruguayan daudeteau dovitis Mauser in beautiful condition with a mirror bore.
Gave a friend $200 and some duplicates of items from my Japanese collection

I haven't found any good arisakas (most are either sportered or refinished and overpriced) and any kind of german Mauser is seemingly unheard of in my neck of the woods. The closest I can get to are Turkish mausers trying to be sold at german Mauser prices. Enfieds pop up from time to time but most are overpriced (even sportered ones are priced at full military prices). Don't get me started on nambus lol. I swear I think dealers don't do their research on what they have and price them according to what they think they can get out of it.

[vintage hunter]

I quit going to gun shows 3 or 4 years ago, got to be where it just wasn't worth the trip. Still stop in pawn shops once in a while. Rummaged through the pistol vault at my buddy's shop today and came up with this S&W M1917 that I think is a Brazilian Contract M1937. Nothing really special, well used, crest has been ground off and kinda rusty on the outside but the chambers and bore are in good shape. Came with a few rounds of ammo and 8 or 10 half moon clips for $300. Not too bad for a working shooter grade M1917 I don't think.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Came with a few rounds of ammo and 8 or 10 half moon clips for $300. Not too bad for a working shooter grade M1917 I don't think.

Very nice. My optimism is renewed.