recommendations for upcoming gun show

citytransplant

citytransplant

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Apr 12, 2008
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There is a gun show in town next weekend here in Central New York and I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to sell some of my New York State made knives as I'm told knives are commonly sold here in addition to guns. I've sold over 1,000 knives, boxes, and sheaths on the popular auction site since I caught the bug when Camillus Cutlery Co. went under however I've never been to a knife show, flea market, or similar face to face type marketplace. I don't presently own any display cases however I have a couple of friends who are "hucksters," and may be willing to let me borrow a few small display cases, if you folks recommend this. My understanding is that vendors at the show can rent, at minimum, an 8' table. I don't plan on going any bigger than that.

Having never been to a knife show, I don't know the ideal way to display my goods. Where do I begin? I could bring everything from my fixed blades (primarily Schrade and Camillus 7" overall length sharpfinger and guthook type blades), as well as smaller Camillus and Schrade folders, everything from a Red Cross (spoon and fork) knife to a marlin spike to small 2 or 3 blade folders a la Schrade 108 Old Timers.

Do you recommend I keep everything behind glass, so as not to make it easy for those who may have sticky fingers? Also, most of the time at home I don a pair of cotton gloves when I handle my knives, to keep my oily grubby fingerprints off the blades. Is it customary or expected that folks who want to handle knives at shows wear cotton gloves (that I will have readily available) or is that insulting?

Please excuse my ignorance. Any tips or insight is greatly appreciated. Finally, this show comes around 2 x per year so it's not imperative that I sell anything at this particular time. If you recommend I attend as a spectator, simply to gather ideas and scope out the competition, I'd consider that option as well.

Thanks in advance!
 
Cases are fine, so long as they are sized small enough to fit on your 8' table. Anything requiring folks to bend down, like in a showroom case,
won't work well in the crowded aisles. Gloves would be an insult to common folk, but it's all in how you present it, I suppose. A sign posted, "Glady show you any knife here, with gloves" MIGHT be a workable solution.

IF you plan to work it alone, I wouldn't leave too many knives just for the pick-up(though many, many dealers do in my area). IF so, LARGE knives to the front with the small knives closer to you.

IF you want to bring out any NY custom makers' work, it would pay to have a sheet or two from their website
printed-off showing the maker's presence, and perhaps some of his/her other work. Sheet protectors, of course.

Bring some good towels in case of a spill, and your favorite protective coating to periodically wipe over the carbon blades that have been fondled.
 
In 30 years, I've never seen a knife seller at a gun show wearing gloves.

Put anything worth more than $30 and concealable in a display case that opens from your side of the table.

Also, everything that VictorLouis said. :)
 
I've bought a few knives at gun shows, and have seen everything from knives just set out on tables to elaborate display cases complete with LED lights. Most sellers I've seen tend to set knives on top of the original box, tie a price tag to the handle or through a lanyard hole, and keep the "good stuff" in display cases. Some sellers organize their tables by brand, others by knife type/style. I've run into a couple of sellers with a lot of Camillus and Schrade stuff here, but the latest trend over the past few years is the Pakistani Damascus garbage. On the other hand, there are usually some high-end dealers with everything from ZT and CRK up to true custom stuff.
 
It's always better to attend a show before becoming an exhibitor but not absolutely necessary. It just makes that first show a little easier.

If you are only getting one 8' table at the show you won't have that much to say grace over anyway. By the time the show's over you'll wish you had rented more space, but that's normal.

Keep it simple the first time. Don't ask anyone to wear gloves, have all of your merchandise either behind glass or where you can easily keep an eye on it at all times. People will try to steal your goods. Bring only basic, easy to handle product....things you think will sell the best. Bring a cooler of food, plenty of cold water, plenty of towels, etc.

The show promoter (the guy from whom you rent your space) can be helpful to you too. He should be able to answer any questions or give basic advice for you. Just tell him you're a first timer and may need to rely on him for advice during the show. If he isn't agreeable to this or doesn't act particularly interested in helping you during your first show, don't book space at his show. A professional show promoter will bend over backwards to help you through such things. Be sure to ask about exhibitor parking and how long a trek you will have to the truck for stock, what security he provides, both overnight and during the show, and similar issues

Make the first show a learning experience. Don't expect a thing in the way of sales or customers. Just see how the first one goes...you'll be busy enough just learning. Don't go in with "goals," just do it, survive it, learn all you can from others there.

When it's over decide it you want to do it again. If so, start expanding and trying new ideas from there. You can't "plan" or "improve" things until you have one or two shows under your belt.
 
Most gun show tables are booked by venders months in advance. Just a heads up.
 
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