Local Gun Show

[browningautorifle]

This weekend is the Chilliwack BC gun show... I helped set up and worked Friday night and Saturday. Things of note...Lots of #4 Lee Enfields, too many to count every different country and type, full woods were there by the dozen. Lots. Lots of bayonets for them. Every price there from $500 up. Every condition...there were probably ten #5 Carbines, several were very nice and prices were about $750. I saw several #5 bayonets too, didn't look at prices. There were very few #1 Mk? rifles, no earlier models like Lee Metfords. One nice early Mk 1 Bren on a anti aircraft setup, a dewat. There was one Stoner 63 dewat complete... Several Isapore FNs, the dewats were $750 and the active rifles were $450... There were a couple M1 rifles but they aren't even close to collector status, not even the M1D that was there. All are priced high and the D is over $2500 for a parts gun. There were several Stens Dewats, one shabby representation of a Mk3 and a number of Mk2s. All were in the $650-$750 range. There was a dewat Ingram SMG for $1500 and an Uzi with a wood butt dewat for $2500.

Talked to Seaforth72 (Colin) for a while and at breakfast...he's still there and will likely have tales for you all later. There was lots of ammo of all description and the prices are about double of last year. Bricks of .22 are $45 on upward. Foreign primers are averaging $45 per thousand.

It's a very diverse show, you can buy baked goods, fudge, handsaws, motorcycle parts, antiques, footwear, clothing and of course guns and related stuff...450-500 tables I think this year. It was raining VERY hard all morning and we were about overwhelmed by the crowds until after 1PM...it opened at 9 AM and closed at 5 PM. Tomorrow is a shorter day 9 AM to 3PM. Lots of men, women and kids of all ages attended and lots of stuff left.

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[#1oilman]

I do the Calgary show with some friends back here in Ontario every year and seriously considered doing the Chilliwack show last year but had commitments at work, didn't realize it had more than guns though. Looking forward to Calgary at Easter, If you are there Jim drop by my tables and say hello, we are usually at the front across from the AACCA show table I have done displays there for the last ten years. Great show!! Should be close to 1000 tables this year.

[browningautorifle]

I've done many Galgary shows but not for about 5 years. I was going with a businessman and working his tables, that became untenable... I did meet one forum member while there though... I've had an offer to start going again or work the show with a local guy here, may do it next year. I did meet a couple guys from Ontario and right around my area too...just happened to start talking to them. Last year was 1000 tables I understand. Puyallup Wa is usually 3000 or more, three major barns...blows ours away.

[#1oilman]

You were quite possibly talking to one of the four of us that travel together as I only know of two others from Ontario and we are generally all together.Best show in Canada I have attended. At home here we set up at 7 am and pack up at noon, hardly worth the trouble. I enjoy doing displays at the Calgary show and have won 10 awards in the last 9 years, the crowd there really seem interested in historical displays.

[browningautorifle]

two others from Ontario

I spoke to two men together, one as about my age and had his son along and the other I think was older. Tables were way over by the main door almost, but just in the other tables...I'm trying to remember what the one I chatted with so long was interested in. He had a table full of everything...and wore a cowboy hat...

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Puyallup Wa is usually 3000 or more, three major barns...blows ours away.

Not recently. I go to the Washington Arms Collector shows in Puyallup. One building and a lot of vacant space the last four shows I have attended.

[browningautorifle]

Not recently.

I was speaking for sometime past...too bad, it was the yardstick by which shows were measured.

[enfield303t]

Went to Chilliwack a few years ago, hated the venue, lighting was abysmal at best and too many of the 'old boys" with their overpriced guns that have been dragged to countless shows previous to this one. It a horse barn, riding ring and unfortunate that is the venue they are stuck with.

Not all is bad as there are usually dealers there with powder and projectiles at affordable prices and it is a great place to meet old friends if you don't mind travelling to do that. A good friend of mine went, said he had arranged to buy some powder from one of the vendors and did have a good chat with a few guys he knew. It is about 3-4 hours drive and as we are having the winter from Hell there was a snow storm warning for both highways I had to choose from, good reason to go to the local range which we did today.

All the good deals were scooped up by the dealers during set up so us plebs so often waste their time. This happens at EVERY show now so I go to one to support the club that puts it on, other than that save my money. I personally know a dealer who goes to every show with a "wad" of cash that would choke a T Rex. He buys all the good deals he is interested in Friday night during set up.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I was speaking for sometime past...too bad, it was the yardstick by which shows were measured.

Speaking of the past. The best show I have ever been to, and I went twice a year for six years, was the Great Western in Pomona California during the 80's. Seven buildings plus outside of all buildings. Advertized as 7 1/2 miles of tables. Set up was Thursday morning and it ran through Sunday, four days. I'd set up our table, cover it, and go looking for items from other venders. When it opened we'd switch off running the table while the other still scanned the floors. Great buys and plenty of items. Then California kicked it to Nevada, and it died a few years later. That where I use the saying, the good old days.

[browningautorifle]

Went to Chilliwack a few years ago, hated the venue, lighting was abysmal at best and too many of the 'old boys" with their overpriced guns that have been dragged to countless shows previous to this one. It a horse barn, riding ring and unfortunate that is the venue they are stuck with.

All the good deals were scooped up by the dealers during set up

All still the case. That's why I make a point of getting a ribbon. Still, I didn't even buy a primer at this show. Nothing. Yes, the OB's are brutal, maybe moreso there than others. Take a small flashlight to check out details, there are other shows I attend that are FAR worse for lighting, the Halloween show in Vic is in a Cattle barn that has it's own share of problems.

Thing I noticed at this one was the people I was used to seeing at some of these shows...some had suddenly gotten OLD! Like Moses old...and still had the same stuff.

The storm was a factor, glad I don't need to traverse it.