Would you buy a knife at a gun show?

H

HorseloverFat

Joined
Apr 11, 2014
Messages
451
I bought a Leek at a gun show several years ago. It has been quite awhile since I last attended one. I haven't come across much discussion here regarding knives and gun shows yet. Are gun shows generally considered a reputable means of buying a new knife ( by majority members here) ?
 
Reputable? Ehhh...sort of. A place where good deals can be found? Notsomuch...I am always amazed by the inflated prices. That being said...I did buy an Umnumzaan, two Ti Locks and a Lg Sebenza (all BNIB) for $900 last year so good deals can still be found...
 
I have bought many a knife at a gun show.

Just don't take a knife to a gun fight.
 
For me gun shows tend to have a variety of knives that I cannot find in stores. Generally guys who like guns also like knives (and like flashlights, watches, and other cool man gadgets). I would definitely say they are reputable means of buying a new knife (as long as the price is right). You also get to hold and inspect your product before buying it :)
 
ABSOLUTELY.:) I'd buy knives at gun show just look them over well. Your name is funny as hell by the way. Although you might not have meant it in a sexual way like first popped in my head. I'm perverse.:D
 
Never really found an amazing deal, just average prices by two to three vendors usually and the rest is inflated prices. There are some custom makers that are usually local and small time (many not even on forums) that it is always fun to talk to and see their work which usually comes in at a really good price for a handmade product. Many of the handmade guys I run into sell very similar items as we see here on the exchange. I have bought a decent amount of Benchmades, Spydercos from gunshows and there is one dealer who carries CRK, Microtech, Randall, ZT that I have bought from. He is one of the 2-3 dealers that does not have deals, but just regular prices that you would find at somewhere like BladeHQ or knife center as most CRK knives and similar brands usually share a common pricing system.
 
For me that would depend. Do I know about the knife in question? Does it have good reviews and can be considered a proper knife? Is the inflated price worth having it right then and there, instead of waiting a week for an online dealer to get it to me?
 
I have bought several knives at gun shows over the years and never had a problem. If the knife wasn't a hard to find item, had a high price or the vendor wasn't willing to haggle on price I feel free to keep looking.
 
Just did today infact. There was a lot of quality brands and there was a lot if $7 china made crap and novelty. Some guys were overpriced though. I can't remember retail price, but one guy was selling buck spitfires for $55, i paid $30 from a national retailer
 
Was at a gunshow today and nearly bought a couple of knives. One guy had two Colonial barlows in excellent condition, but he wanted 20 bucks each for them and was unwilling to negotiate. I passed. Another gent had an old Boker Tree Brand Barlow for $25 but it wasn't in a condition I was willing to buy for what he wanted.

At a gunshow I attended not long ago, I bought this Western S901-D for 30 bucks (which is about the maximum I'll usually spend on a knife):

Western%2520S-901D%2520Closed.JPG

Western%2520S-901D%2520Open.JPG
 
I find that most gun shows have either junk or overpriced things from reputable manufacturers. I find I have the most luck finding cheap models of various SAKs. My hope is always that I will find some discontinued models from good brands that someone has traded in and the dealer is willing to let go at a reasonable price because they were taken in trade and they don't entirely know what prices they might get.
 
Bought this Imperial (R.I. USA) barlow for a couple of bucks at a gunshow within the last six months.

Imperial%2520Barlow%2520Clip%2520Open.JPG
 
Like buying anything, it depends. Do your homework and know the value of what you are looking at. I once got a brand new (albeit discontinued) Benchmade w/o the box for $30 at a gun show.
 
mars5l said:
Just did today infact. There was a lot of quality brands and there was a lot if $7 china made crap and novelty. Some guys were overpriced though. I can't remember retail price, but one guy was selling buck spitfires for $55, i paid $30 from a national retailer
Click to expand...

I didn't know the Gunshow was in town this weekend! Probably a good thing though, can always wait for the next one.

I've bought a few knives form Gunshows, but mostly go to browse and handle them.
 
Yes, I've bought several knives at gun shows. I've had the best luck at tables with mostly guns where the knives are incidental. The all-knife table guys usually know what their stuff is worth.
 
Yes, I've bought many at gun shows.
Years ago a lot of Case dealers set up at the Matt Eastman shows, and a man named Scott always had a large selection of moderns. Around the year 2000 I noticed he had a new UG small Sebenza in his case that he took in on trade. I asked him about it and he said know one had even asked to look at it in the few weeks he'd had it. Got it for one heck of a deal.
 
The first Kershaw Blur I bought was at a gun show about two years ago, along with a Benchmade Aphid. Got'em both for $90. Not such a bad deal.
 
Yep, I've bought quite a few knives at gun shows. But in each case I knew the street value going in so I knew whether I was getting a good deal or not. I usually find better deals than brick and mortar stores and sometimes even better than internet prices. It's all about knowing your product.

There are a couple of reputable knife dealers that regularly attend gun shows around here. I always try to do business with them. As a regular customer they know I'm a knife knut and always treat me well.
 
I have made many knife purchases at a gun show. It helps when you get a cool dealer that will barter on price.
However, not every gun show is the same and the dealers vary from show to show. I saw one dealer last year that
would not let anyone handle a knife without showing him they had cash in their pocket. Amazingly his booth was
empty of customers. He had a nice selection but almost seemed not to want to make a sale.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top