Gunshow report: Hampton, VA, 11/27

[Bob Womack]

I made the trek to the SGK gunshow at Hampton, VA, today, and thought you'd enjoy a report. First off, it was the largest show I've ever attended. There were plenty of Milsurps and modern weapons available, from Moisin Nagants to all sorts of others. I wasn't in the market but if I had I'd would have been in pig heaven. I looked through a case of probably twelve P-38 pistols and as many Lugers of all types, probably the best collection I've seen.

In all there were probably forty M1 Garand rifles at six or seven dealers, everything from six-digit correct-looking rifles with no price marked to reparked, late-50s rifles with sanded stocks. There seemed to be lots of CMP service-grade rifles. I saw prices from $2999 down to $900 with the majority in the lower end of that range. What here weren't were m1905, M1, and M7 bayonets. There were also probably ten to fifteen carbines. There were also lots of service 1911s ranging from WWII to Vietnam.

Gus's Garands (Gus Fisher, Marine gunsmith) was there and I got to visit with Gus and ask the question that has been bugging me: My Garand does everything perfectly except feed a magazine that is stacked left high. Is that abnormal? The answer: Garands won't feed left-high and the government always stacked them right-high.
That's what I get for being a lefty, huh?

Having recently inherited my father's century-old lever gun my eye was especially attuned to the old lever guns. There were plenty of those as well.

Prices seemed to have relaxed after the recent election, all the way down to ammunition, which has of late been unnaturally high.

My son picked up a magazine and holster for his most recent carry weapon and I picked up (and later installed) an ambidextrous safety for my AR at a great price. After all these years I decided to treat myself to one, since I am a lefty.

The other thing we noticed was that the atmosphere was decidedly more relaxed than it was when we last attended a gun show, just before the election. Both attendees and dealers seemed much more chipper.

Bob

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[browningautorifle]

The answer: Garands won't feed left-high and the government always stacked them right-high.

Well, here's one for Gus then...Before I knew better, I loaded my clips with the first round on the left. I did that for years with no feed problems or seventh round ejection of the clip. Once I became aware, I started loading clips with the first on the right. The right hand firer has his thumb on the top round and in a normal angle for loading, and the book stated it should be that way. That was the only reason I changed...

I'd have loved to be there though, haven't seen a show like that in years.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I'd have loved to be there though, haven't seen a show like that in years.

Most every show I attend I see the same vendors with the same items on display for the most part. Looking on the bright side it fosters capitol preservation for when
an unmolested M1C or other unicorn walks in.

[TDH]

Moving from northern Ohio (thirty miles from Camp Perry) where I was used to going to BIG gunshows where multiple buildings are used to a small show where a single building at the fairgrounds is used to middle Tenn. where a BIG show is a single building at the fairgrounds. From going to where it was not unusual to see 50+ Garands and from Krags to M 16's Carbines are common as well as 1917's, 03's , k 98's and pistols. Ammo was high (two years ago) but you could buy cases of it as long as you weren't looking for 22 lr. Mostly I went to the shows there to buy my reloading supplies though I did get to know a lot of the vendors.
Down here different story. Small shows (one building or less) quite a bit of ammo though the prices and selections have a lot to be desired. I haven't been to one since summer but am due to find one within a hundred miles after the first of the year so I'll have a better idea what prices are like now we will have a real president in office again.