I have just gotten brave enough to venture to some gun show. I have been to at least a half dozen shows lately. I don’t mind a 4-5 hour drive for a decent show. But all I have seen are flea markets advertised as gun shows. I live in central Ky. I do know that Ron Dickson’s show is coming up. Do y’all have any suggestions as to other quality gun shows to attend. I don’t even mind a longer drive and stay the night.
Shortgrub said
But all I have seen are flea markets advertised as gun shows.
Yeah, but where else is can you stock up on jerky & camo gear in the same place? At least, I think, the high price of gold has thinned out the jewelry sellers.
But I’ve always heard Louisville is one of the best in the country. The Ohio GCA show is a little further, if you can find a CGCA member to sponsor you, if that’s the way it still works. My problem with it or any other, however, is that there’s no place I willing to go voluntarily if I’m forced to accept the nonsense of wearing a stupid mask. Yes, I wear one to go in a grocery store, but that I don’t consider voluntary, if I’m to avoid starvation.
TR said
Why not the biggest, Tulsa, April 10-11. 4200 tables and worth the drive. If you go buy a pass and get in on Friday, set up day. T/R
Biggest but also one of the junkiest, which more or less forces you to make an instant decision if amidst all the clutter you spot something of interest–you probably won’t have time to make a return visit. I know that several yrs ago, some of the dealers in high grade collector-quality guns asked the promoter to separate them from the all the dealers in modern guns & associated junk & were told to forget it.
Been to Tulsa. That is the reason I do not go to Tulsa. Too many people for my taste, don’t like the shoulder to shoulder crowds and it just make ya walk longer to see the stuff ya came for while dodging folks. Getting too old for that. I have been to the OGC shows. It’s close. That’s the type of shows I’m looking for. I will be at the Louisville show.
I’ve been to every Tulsa show except one in the last 26 years. Bought most of my guns there, it’s so large the dealers can’t dominate. The show is Friday, set-up, no crowd then. Selling there retail is tough, to many choices for buyers. Anyone can get a table and lay out their collection, a lot of truly rare guns come in that way. Not much for walk in stuff, but with two doors what comes in makes it around. For me it’s a 12 hour drive and I usually come home broke!
Louisville is good but dominated by dealers and Ron sits in front. If your at a table not much chance at walk in stuff. T/R
clarence said
Biggest but also one of the junkiest, which more or less forces you to make an instant decision if amidst all the clutter you spot something of interest–you probably won’t have time to make a return visit. I know that several yrs ago, some of the dealers in high grade collector-quality guns asked the promoter to separate them from the all the dealers in modern guns & associated junk & were told to forget it.
At Tulsa the lower level and the first couple rows of the upstairs gets you 90% of the good stuff. There are a few scattered around upstairs farther West but once you know where their tables are you can check them out. The Show is Friday during setup.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Like TR, Ive been going to Tulsa for a long time and its the only show that I make during the year unless I chance a trip up to Cody. With Tulsa being as big as it is and the volume of folks, you learn real fast that if you see something you want you better buy it then because it wont be there when you come back by. Have always heard the Denver show is good, hope to make it there one day.
We have too many show promoters and shows each month in the San Antonio to make any of them meaningful. We gave up our tables about 10 years ago because of the influx of the candle, beef jerky, jewelry and flea market peddlers. Plus the location, too many vehicle break-ins and theft. Had my truck stolen once, that was enough to end it all for me.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
clarence said
One problem I wouldn’t have to worry about–what I drive, nobody would steal!
So, you drive one of these – Edsel – Bing images ?? Or is it one of these – yugo car for sale – Bing images
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
So, you drive one of these – Edsel – Bing images ??
I wish! I remember looking at them new in a dealer’s showroom! (They didn’t seem to care that I got there on my Cushman Eagle.)
clarence said
One problem I wouldn’t have to worry about–what I drive, nobody would steal!
The truck being a 1999 F250 4×4 7.3 diesel, with plenty of south Texas pen stripes, fading hood and cab paint, several dents, and high miles, I think the only things they were interested in were the contents of my tool box. They police found the truck the next morning parked next to the railroad tracks on the back side of a salvage yard on the south side of San Antonio. Apparently they couldnt find anyone to move the truck to, they usually find their way into Mexico. Only the tools were gone with the exception of the four items I would have hated to have lost–my double bit cedar axe, Imacasa #808 machette, my custom 5′ pry bar, and heavy chain. I guess the heavy work tools didnt appeal to them. Still have the old truck and by weeks end it will surpass the 500K mile mark.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Chris,
That old 7.3L International is the second best diesel engine ever installed in a pick-up truck. I have a Gen-3 5.9L Cummins in mine, with 337K miles on it. Only have another 663K to go before it will need any work done to her!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
clarence said
One problem I wouldn’t have to worry about–what I drive, nobody would steal!
You haven’t been to San Antonio lately. Last I heard their PD gives classes to auto theft investigators and sends out bulletins regularly about trends in auto theft. Some of the gang bangers in San Antonio also taught their techniques to gangs in my area as I saw the same techniques in use a few weeks after reading a bulletin about them.
Chris, I suspect they would have come back for your truck later if the PD hadn’t recovered it. They often park stolen vehicles while they negotiate with buyers or arrange transport to chop shops, etc. Actually, my info is a bit old. I got out of the LE biz 15 years ago but I still worked with auto theft investigators up until about five years ago.
Mike
Bert H. said
Chris,
That old 7.3L International is the second best diesel engine ever installed in a pick-up truck. I have a Gen-3 5.9L Cummins in mine, with 337K miles on it. Only have another 663K to go before it will need any work done to her!
I dont know about all that. Ive only owned 3 trucks since 1989 and all three were 7.3 diesels, and between the three Im close to logging 1.5 million miles. I anticipate the next truck I buy will be a 1999-2002 with a 7.3 in it. Dont want any of this new emissions and def crap.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
November 7, 2015
1892takedown said
Bert H. said
Chris,
That old 7.3L International is the second best diesel engine ever installed in a pick-up truck. I have a Gen-3 5.9L Cummins in mine, with 337K miles on it. Only have another 663K to go before it will need any work done to her!I dont know about all that. Ive only owned 3 trucks since 1989 and all three were 7.3 diesels, and between the three Im close to logging 1.5 million miles. I anticipate the next truck I buy will be a 1999-2002 with a 7.3 in it. Dont want any of this new emissions and def crap.
You have a very desirable truck, Chris. As you probably know the7.3 engine takes about 300K to get broken in good and the only weak links in the drive train are probably related to the front drive axle but since you probably use it regularly you may have slipped by with hub replacements or maybe not even that. Bert is right about the 7.3 and the 5.9 but we may disagree about the rankings. Both put food on my table and kept a roof over my head until the 6.0 and the 6.4 came along and helped many diesel mechanics make a comfortable living and made the tuners and their suppliers rich.
Don’t worry about those South Texas pin stripes, my pretty red 2016 pickup picked up its first set early in its life (shortly after the 2016 Cody show) and it still looks great with the last payment due before the 2021 Cody show.
Mike
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