There's a gun show tomorrow...

[pnsxyr]

What I can't get over is the guy who buys a knife or gun THEN asks if he got a good deal. My response is usually along the lines of, "Does it matter now? You already bought it."

Unfortunately, sometimes people go into situations with logic that states, "this HAS to be a good deal, even though I don't have a good comparison" and it often winds up not being such a good deal as thought (sometimes in fact a terrible deal). There are sellers at gun shows who do sell knives for ridiculous prices. I once saw a standard 440C Griptilian for about $250...and it was used. But it had a neon pink sticker on it that said something like "wont last long!"

With smartphones, these situations are easier to avoid. And as noted in my last post, I certainly advise at least attempting to pay less than the listed price as shows as such given one can often find some sort of discount beyond face pricing...especially when paying cash.

 

[davek14]

You mention high end knives. The best advice I can give is if you don't know the knives you had better know the vendor. Otherwise wait until you know one, the other, or both.

Regarding knives at gunshows in general, it depends on what you are looking for I suppose. You can find good deals. You can also get ripped off. I find knives at gunshows often. The last few were a Western 902S, a Schrade 108OT, and an Imperial barlow (in a guy's "junk bucket"). Got them all very inexpensively. I still kick myself for not buying an early Wenger Allsport over a relatively small difference in negotiaion. The seller lives close, but I've yet to see him at another show so I have no idea if he still has the knife.

At another gunshow I got a new in box Helle Harding and Helle Viking below any price I could find anywhere else, B&M or internet.

Great scores. My local "regular" gunshow has a guy with bins of knives marked 2$, 4$, and on up to 25$. They are full of confiscated knives. TSA and also other places he says.

I got a lot of nice deals from him. Started my Schrade collection there. About a year ago he started to think he had more value there than he does and everything moved up a bin or two in price. It's not worth the admission to browse there now.

I go to that show about once a year now, just to experience various knives in hand. The prices are generally not worth it.

YMMV

There used to be an NKCA show 100 miles away in Wilmington once a year. I can't find much about their shows at all now.

 

[22-rimfire]

Generally you need to know the knives you're more interested in. Helps to be comfortable with the dealer too. Shows..... follow your instincts. I was looking at older Schrade knives.... I had no idea what pricing was competitive. So, you either don't buy anything and log pricing into your brain for the next show, or follow your instincts and relax.

I find that you tend to get bit on pricing on the cheap stuff more.... I seldom look at Rough Rider knives. How would I know if a knife should be $10 or $15? Added: But the difference in pricing (assuming the knife is really a $10 knife) to a dealer at a show is huge in terms of their profit.

It is much like buying 22 ammo at gunshows today. If you seldom shoot it, you would never know that $50 or $60 for a bulk pack is a bit high. Hence that's why I suggest you go with your instincts and not worry about it.

 

[davek14]

USA Schrades are in a funny place with some people thinking they should go for "collectible" prices and some being realistic. I guess we are getting to the cusp of that change but, goodness, they made gazillions of them.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.