Big let down...... Will miss Chantilly

[painter777]

Seen that the Nations gun Show Chantilly will start July 27.. a 3 day show.
Got all excited about it knowing the Wife and I are heading out to visit the Daughter and celebrate the Grandson's 3rd birthday. Couldn't be better timing as trust me I need a Mental break. We'll be spending a week in Alexandria.
Also knew the Wife had plans booked for a lone trip out there later so it could just be the 'girls'.

I now realize I should pay more attention when she's telling me something instead of just nodding and saying uh huh, yep, uh huh.
I've got the dates backward. She'll be out there for the 'girls trip' while the gun show is going on.
WE....... won't be out there until mid August.

Now I don't want to know anything about the show I'll miss....
But...... Then again I still want to know.....
Oh that 1 walk in RMC Springtube, or better yet walking past the guy pulling it from the car trunk out in the parking lot..

USBOBGI,
If your reading this, please tell me, Have I finally cracked ? Over the edge ?

Anyone know of any Militaria type gun shops that I could visit during a day trip near Alexandria ?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[USGI]

If your reading this, please tell me, Have I finally cracked ? Over the edge ?

Didn't read this until just now, but I'd say you're a bit closer than I am. - Bob

[m1a1fan]

For the most part, the show is just like any other show only larger. Another club member and I have been meeting there off and on for about a year or so. Once there were actually three of us. I've been there 3 times so far. There are usually lots of carbines there, but have yet to see anything original. Full disclosure, we usually go through once or twice looking at what is for sale and then settle into a table near the food vendors to inspect what we brought and of course, swap stories. Good times. PM me if you end up going. I'm sure the other guys would like another mini meet up. I don't live in that area so not sure if there are any military shops nearby. The best part is there's a hotel right next to the Expo Center.

[painter777]

30 miles from my Daughters condo to the Expo center.... 30 miles .
I'll be 2 weeks+ too late for the show.
On big shows I usually hussle up and down all the aisles to look for the guys dealing what I'm interested in.
Mental note their location, then swiftly head back thru to the dealers I flagged.
If a really Boo Koo large show I may rush 1/2 of it, then circle back for the goods.
I've missed out on some goodies with this method but have also got to some nice ones ahead of guys who've stopped part way thru and shooting the breeze with dealers they know.
I think of the crazed women back in the day going after the Cabbage patch dolls or Arnold in the Xmas movie going after that special toy. A true Frenzy pace. I do carry a over the shoulder US field bag to throw in smalls I buy on my first trip around, when knowing I won't be back by this section, so better grab it now.

I can usually find a dealer (near the entry/exit) that will let me store my purchased from whomever goods with him (but I always offer to run over and bring him his favorite vendors lunch). This keeps me from having to lug everything around with me or having to take loads all the way out to where I've had to park... then get back in.

Then I go back thru to the guys with the misc boxes of parts, tid bits and just little odds and ends... like your junk drawer at home. I've found some great stuff like flip sight bases, just flip leafs, band screws... etc like this.
I don't mind at all digging in to their junk boxes, tool boxes, crates etc. Some of them laugh at me while I pilfer thru the junk/misc containers.
If there are 3 or 4 of us we all make our game plan at breakfast, so we know who's looking for what. If observed while roaming we contact each other as needed. When worn out and feeling like we've seen all we can, we too gather by the vendors with our spoils. Often getting offers from passers by.
I usually sleep well after a 'big show' from being drained... Unless I missed a keeper.
Biggest upset was coming to the 6 or 7th set up and being offered a RMC roughly 1,7mil~
IIRC that was so greasy and grimey, I decided to keep looking, thinking I can stop back by.
Farther away I got the more I thought about it so I was heading back. Couldn't have been 20 minutes I came across 2 guys... 1 guy who had bought it, which again looked to be all as issued RMC was in the process of flipping it to the other guy. As I stood by listening in the 2nd guy bought it for $2400. It was originally offered to me from the dealer for $1150.
WTMR/Welby would have been ashamed of me and I wouldn't have blamed him.
That has to be over 15 years ago now. I know I'll never forget it.

If y'all make it, good luck and enjoy yourselves.
I'll be here baby sitting the dog. Trying to figure out how long to pre-heat the oven for a frozen dinner

[m1a1fan]

No worries, my first meet up with a club member happened but didn't really happen. We were supposed to meet at a show and as usually I was running late. Got there, walked through the first 4 or 5 aisles which are all military stuff. Had been to the show before and there was nothing but plastic stuff, beef jerky, jewelry and the like everywhere else. Called my friend to ask where he was, and he said he waited and had to go. Dissapointed, I figured the day was over but before he hung up he mentioned there was a nice carbine near the back of the show and I should look at it. I balked at first, "how could there be anything nice in the back of the show" but decided to go and see. To my surprise it was a 3.59 S Prime. RSG Oval cut stock, beauty of a cartouche, B S'G' flip, etc... The ME wasn't all that great, but we worked out a deal and my first call was back to my friend thanking him for the tip. Still owe him for that one. That is the last nice carbine I've found at a show and that was years ago. So far, the best part of shows is meeting fellow collectors there. That's the good stuff. Also enjoy handing out at Gus's Garands. He does gunsmith work right at the show. Never know what will come through the door. Still dream of a carbine collector meetup even though I've heard stories of past meets. Someday hopefully.

I like your plan of dividing and conquering. My dad subscribes to your method. Look through everything. He's usually the one who finds the hidden gem of part while I just look for anything with a wooden stock. Sure there is a lesson in there somewhere but it escapes me. Saw what I thought might be an original Rock at a show early on in my collecting days, but wasn't confident it was so I passed. I now now it was, and the next time I saw the dealer it was gone. Still kicking myself but if it were humped, that would have been an expensive lesson. Used to go to shows regularly but it seems for the most part it is the same old stuff. Auctions and estate sales seem much more productive.

I suppose we all aim to acquire carbines to drool over.

[USGI]

Had to give a "Thank You" for both of these last posts. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm not any crazier than the rest of you guys! I've often made a 150 mile round trip on the first day of a two day show, and then think about driving back the second day to see if something might still be there - should have just went ahead and bought it when I had the chance. Or, once passed up a very original looking Winchester Carbine priced at $700, because it had a "rough looking" receiver bevel - didn't know at the time that was normal! The Portland shows used to be so large that I would have trouble finding my way back to where the bargains were that I had made the mental notes of. Sometimes would spend 1/2 the day and only make it 1/2 way across to the other side - go back for the bargains and find that they had covered their tables and left early. I have been lucky at times - once was near a vendor's table when a guy walked up with a pretty decent 6 digit Inland that he was asking $440 for. The vendor looked it over (while I held my breath) and then handed it back to him, so I quickly shelled out the $$$ - I still have that one. Anyway, it sounds like I've tried a lot of the same tactics that you guys have, but mostly when I find something good, it's either just luck, or that no one else ahead of me even recognized it as something worth while. You guys have some handy "gun show" tips, there for sure. It's getting late, and I still need to send Charlie a PM tonight. - Bob

[INLAND44]

I'm getting interested in a Glock 23 and I really wanted to hit that show, but I'll be in Atlanta that weekend visiting the new grandson . For anyone who could go but hasn't yet been, you really need to see it. The thing I like about it is not only is it the biggest and best gun show I've ever seen, it happens in the heart of Northern Virginia, which might as well be called 'liberal, gun-hating cesspool of America'. The 'heart of the beast', you might say. Pretty cool. Its like partying with a bunch of maidens right inside the dragon's cave and getting away with it.

[m1a1fan]

Definitely a great show east coast wise. Much more enjoyable with others. Last time I went, the GCA had a meeting and it was a great learning experience.

Will keep the lengths gone in search of carbines short. NY and back. Multiple trips in tri-state radius. Planes and automobiles, no trains yet. Have a few pictures, will travel. Acquiring carbines is great, but the trip, the leadup, the research and the company present to get them is the fun part.

[mmppres]

I was at the last show in may as my first set being a dealer there was very nice show. I attend a different show every weekend an I really enjoyed that show. Most of you guys know i deal 80% parts an rest is older firearms I did real good there for myself an my consignments. Hope to meet some new friends there stop an say hi. mike

---------- Post added at 08:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 PM ----------

That goes for any show I am at

[LMTmonoman]

Hate to hear about your disappointment Charlie, but your thread has served a good purpose, as it illustrates that many of us still get great excitement from going to shows that have carbines. I'm a newbie, and appreciate looking at numerous carbines at shows to educate myself. It's been invaluable knowledge thus far. Problem is that in Alabama there just isn't that many good shows, really only three a yr. that I've found, and all by the same association.

I'm trying to learn about what the "go to" shows are for GA, MS, and TN atm. I could make a hobby of just going to gunshows on the weekends if enough of them existed