Gun and "Knife" show dissapointment

Gun shows used to be alot better. With the internet now there really is no point in even going. The dealers at the shows are way over priced on guns and knives.
 
9point9 said:
With excellent online dealers who have good inventory and fast shipping, opposed to the gun show guys peddling absolute garbage at asinine prices is the death of the current day gun show. I'm sure the same holds true for the knives aspect of the shows as well.
Click to expand...

well I kinda disagree being ,I been to several gun shows (TX) and I purchased several guns XD9,AK47,M94 and some parts and prices were good & fair without the shipping or FFL fees
just knives are crappy :D
 
I go to show on avg of a few a year. I see mostly junk but can find decent blades on occasion--especially older blades people don't know about. I can truly say I have never seen a ESEE or Bussekin in an OKC, OK show but I have at the big Tulsa, OK Wannamacher show that is put on twice a year.
 
Most of the knife and gun shows have low quality knives, that I have been to. There was one a few months back where I found a few higher end knives, but they were at or above MSRP.
 
adaman04 said:
Gun shows are the best place to buy beanie babies, exotic jerkies, glass figures of wizards and wolves, and swords with blades shaped like a lightning bolt though. :D
Click to expand...

woah woah woah.. you DID NOT just insult wizards and wolves did you..
 
That must suck.


I have gotten several great deals at gun shows.

New Beretta 92 for $425. Springfield 1911 Loaded, not used enough to take the bluing off the barrel, $575. New Glocks, $458. Just a few of the guns...

Two months ago I bought an unused original Spyderco Manix c95 for $130.


There is a few people that sell good knives at the gun shows around me...including one guy that sells CRK at normal prices and has probably 50 Randall Mades (those are marked up pretty high).

The deals are to be had, sometimes you just have to look.

At any rate, where else can you go to handle 50 guns in a day and browse at thousands?

I love gun shows.
 
I don't go to any of the local gunshows. Too dangerous to my wallet. There are some good ones locally here in Houston.

At some point I plan to be selling at them.
 
sumoj275 said:
.... at the big Tulsa, OK Wannamacher show that is put on twice a year.
Click to expand...
Yikes, don't remind me about the "Tulsa Shows":o. I once spent my entire gun-cash-stash on one Whiskers Allen folder at a Tulsa Show! Yes, I live in northern Indiana and yes, I drove all the way to Tulsa just for "The Show". I guess buying that folder instead of a gun (or guns) should have been a warning sign that I have knife issues.
 
we have good shows and some bad ones all within a few hour drive.

have only seen esee in tulsa.

there are a few local dealers that are looking to add esee to the line up.

i like gunshows. been going for 20+ years. have met lots of folks and have good connections on some parts and gear now from them.
 
I second Knifelady here in Indiana. She is allways great and carrys all you really need :) Oh and her buddy Brad carrys the kinda knives that fold up to fit in yer pocket :)
 
Andy,

I see you are also here in Michigan. What you experienced is typical. I've been to the biggest gun/knife shows in the state and the knife selection, at least for blades with practical outdoor applications, is pretty much non-existent. The few knife dealers usually focus on niche collections or taiwan specials.

I've bought all of my ESEEs and many of my other knives on the Internet. Howes, in Oscoda has a pretty good selection, at least according to their website. A quick Google search should turn up the appropriate link, or if you live within driving distance, you can swing by there. I got my ESEE 4 from them.

SP
 
texastonydobbs said:
well I kinda disagree being ,I been to several gun shows (TX) and I purchased several guns XD9,AK47,M94 and some parts and prices were good & fair without the shipping or FFL fees
just knives are crappy :D
Click to expand...

Texas shows might still have some life in 'em, but put a fork in the PA ones because they are done.

There are deals to be had but it most likely on some esoteric part or firearm that has 0 demand.

The shows here seem like a garage sale of crap the dealers couldn't sell in their brick and mortar so they dust off the "space takers" in inventory and price it cheap to get rid of it.

If they have something that is in demand they price it so the " gotta have it now at any cost" guy will walk home with it.

It's not just the online dealers putting them to shame either. I have local shops that stock more quality and better prices so the shows are just no longer relevant here. These dealers used to have tables at the shows back in the day but they don't bother anymore. They just put it on gunbroker if they need to move it with much less time and effort.
 
There are 2 decent Gun & Knife shows in the Dallas/Ft Worth area - the Dallas Arms Collectors shows, and the Original Ft. Worth Gun Show. Good folks there, and if you have cash and know anything about negotiating, you can get some good deals on decent equipment. I'd rate the knife selections only about a C+, but you can usually handle some of the knives you may be interested in and weed out some of the crap. It's were I first held a RC-3Mil and an Umnumzaan. Then I went home and ordered them online.
 
Im up in Northern Michigan (Cadillac) and I have had the same poor experiences. A bunch of crap that no one wants that is overpriced. Not even worth the 5$ entrance fee.
 
james_colgan said:
Im up in Northern Michigan (Cadillac). . .
Click to expand...
Jeff McKnight lives near you in Baldwin (or the Baldwin area) and he usually has a very nice selection of Barkies at good prices when I see him at shows. If you're interested, you can contact him at mcknightcutlery@gmail.com .
He was planning to be at the Gr. Rapids show this weekend the last time I heard from him.
 
Last edited:
shotgunner11 said:
Damn doubletappin' android phone....
Click to expand...

Doubletappin' android phone owners ... :D

Years ago, I went to a gun & knife show with Ken C. upstate NY. Junk and good stuff. What surprised me was the big table right by the door, a great selection of knives. "If I were a rich man ... " Kurt Meerdink had a table inside the show.

I think the idea that the internet had hurt these shows is probably right. The internet has had that effect on knife stores on the street.
 
tango alfa sierra said:
Jeff McKnight lives near you in Baldwin (or the Baldwin area) and he usually has a very nice selection of Barkies at good prices when I see him at shows. If you're interested, you can contact him at mcknightcutlery@gmail.com .
He was planning to be at the Gr. Rapids show this weekend the last time I heard from him.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I called him and met him at the last show in Cadillac. I told him I wanted to order a Bark River Bravo II and a PSK in a certain color but never heard from him. Ended up getting them from TKC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top