Gettysburg Gun Show Sept 15-16

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  • Jimbob2.0

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 20, 2008
    16,600
    They really need to offer a pulled chicken bbq sandwich. I don't care much for pork unless it's bacon.

    However... in the absence of bbq chicken, a 1/2 lb brisket platter will do. :thumbsup:

    Ive only been there twice, need to go back.
     

    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,151
    Sun City West, AZ
    I thought it was a good show...lots of great, desirable guns...more so than usual. I bought a Colt Detective Special...most wouldn't know how special...it was a specific model ordered by the government during WWII...issued to Military Intelligence, Army CID and the OSS. By the serial number it was most likely MI or CID but I won't know for sure until I can get an archives letter from Colt.

    The tipoff as to its origins? Instead of having a round butt it was a square butt (gov't specification) and it had the prick punch underneath the barrel for military acceptance. It's in pretty fine condition and was priced as a standard Dick Special...I knew it for what it is. It's been transferred to a MD dealer and I have to go do the paperwork and wait to take possession. I saw another piece I'm thinking about...a Colt 3-5-7...Colt's top model prior to the Python. It was in very pristine condition and priced slightly below market value...have to give it some thought.

    All in all...a good gun show which is normal for Gettysburg.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    It has been awhile since I’ve been to any shows. My first in, 3 years?

    I walked away with a gun. Which I had sworn I wouldn’t do. Also one in 38SP, which I swore I wouldn’t do. I’ve been holding out to by a GP100 or 686 so I can shoot 357 and 38SP. I ran across this beauty though at a price almost too good to believe.

    It has been reblued and the timing is off very slightly from what the guy told me. I can see what he was talking about, but it seems to lockup tight and when the trigger pulls the cylinder pawl definitely is lining it up right. Just has a bit of hammer hesitation/Hangup in SA sometimes. Doesn’t seem to be an issue in DA. Might need a new hand maybe.

    I stripped it down and the internals were dirty, but fine looking.

    I am really excited as 5” barrels are my thing for revolvers. They always look right sized to me, where 6” looks a bit long and 4” a bit short (2” and 8” just look wrong to me).

    Dated 1929 according to Colt’s SN lookup. WNJP marked on the base (W____ New Jersey Police I assume). All serial numbers match. $240 cash (C&Rs are awesome), so even if it does need a bit of work to get the timing right, it still seems like a deal (even refinished).

    Oh, yeah, 5” Official Police .38sp.

    I did see a ton of stuff that seemed badly overpriced. A fair number of deals and I am a little sad I walked away from a Krag. It was sporterized, but an estate piece and the dealer had it listed for $325 and was very obviously willing to cut a deal well under that. But I just can’t. If I am going to add one to my safe, I want it as close to original as possible. A lot of Mosins for $375+ (or +++), run of the mill garands and carbines for $1200-1400 (and there wasn’t anything remarkable about a few I looked over.) Ammo where the dealer has obviously never heard of the internet, etc. (like a 2x price markup).

    Same dealer I got the Official Police from had three S&W model 10s that looked like they were 1950s or 60s make. Sadly, and I can understand why, the dealer wouldn’t take a C&R on them. French reimports with an odd, but really comfy grip on them. Seemed really nice with moderate bluing wear for $275 each. If you were a PA resident, would be nice pickups. But not for Marylandistan after transfer fees, hassle and background check fee.

    Oh, I did find the Cz82 mags I was looking for. For $30 a pop. No thanks, it’ll take 2hrs if my time, but I know where I can get them for $20 each. Since I want 4 or 5...
     

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    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    Ha! I am an idiot. I just measured the barrel length and it is 5.8” (well, a hair under 5 7/8”). Apparently I do like 6” of fun sometimes.

    Wait, what?!?
     

    ComeGet

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 1, 2015
    5,911
    I enjoyed it and it was worth the drive. I got there around 9:30 and the parking lot was already full and had to do the auxiliary park. The floor was pretty crowded by the time I left, around 11. Otherwise, I don't have a lot to add to what others have said but to me it was a pretty good mix of MSRs, wood rifles and accessories. There were a lot of interesting antique-y guns that I enjoyed seeing. Also, a group of guys in WWII gear looking like they just stepped out of a Bill Mauldin drawing.

    I also found a Marlin 1894C (now, evidently designated "CS"), which I've been looking for for a while now, and at a pretty decent price. Even though everyone knows what a new Marlin looks like, I'll post a pic in the lever porn thread here in a bit.

    I also got some of those mags that I can't buy in my home state. They were a little more expensive than Vienna Arsenal where I've gotten them in the past, but considering time, gas and that I was right there, they were reasonable.

    So it was a beneficial and enjoyable trip all around.
     

    mawkie

    C&R Whisperer
    Sep 28, 2007
    4,337
    Catonsville
    Anyone check out the hunter’s gunshow down the road? Worthwhile? I only have about 2hrs or so as I have to be back home for a thing for my kids later in the day.

    I went to the Hunter's show first. The room was full of venders, with only one or two non-firearms related venders. There was a lack of customers, I thought that it was worth the extra 10 minute drive, even though I only bought one item. One private seller had a Canadian made Colt AR-15 HBar Sporter for sale, but I don't remember the price. There was an FFL dealer there, that was willing to do long gun transfers to Maryland residents. Over all the prices looked fair and the venders were friendly.
    The show at the complex did seem to have more venders than the last one, I bought some mags for a good price and may go back up on Sunday.[/QUOTE]

    Wish I had heard about this show in time as the location is just minutes from where Bucky's groomer is situated. I left the first show around 12:30 and had 2 hours to kill before picking him up so that second show would have been a perfect diversion. Oh well!
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    I was going to try to go to the smaller one also, but I am glad I didn't go there first (I was going to drive up 45 minutes early to hit the smaller show before the larger one opened). I had just enough time to walk around, talk up the dealer on the Colt I bought and do the FFL paperwork and get out of there so I could be home in time to not get in deep S with my wife.

    One thing I will say, I've seen a .50 cal or three in person, but never with any real context. One of the dealers had a Barrett .50 next to (I think it was a Barrett) .338LM. I've never seen what I could consider a small .338LM. It looked like a child's toy in comparison to the .50

    I want a .50BMG.

    I just don't know where I'd store it or where I'd shoot it. But I want one (or how I'd afford one).
     

    toppkatt

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 22, 2017
    1,185
    Some friends of mine and I went to both shows. The Hunters show first and as above, small with mostly guns and gun related items and few customers there. We bought a few things there (good not great prices, but worth going). Then we went to the larger show in Gettysburg. This was MUCH larger. It had a few non-firearms related tables (Pipers(?) PA pickles, a deli and some jewelry) but mostly guns. There were good deals to be had on powder and reloading supplies and a nice selection of older firearms (I am tired of walking into a show only to see black rifles everywhere and few classic firearms to be seen. I realize in 30 years, if guns shows still exist, all you'll see are AR's). Some these older guns were well maintained some were a little better than parts guns (IMHO). I went looking for an older Ithaca M37 in 20Ga with smaller 'corncob/ ring tail' fore-arm stock. Didn't find one. Found several 12Ga and ended up getting one for about $200 (gonna need to replace or repair the butt stock as it's starting to crack around the receiver area). I think this is a fairly common problem on the Remington M17 and the Ithaca M37's. Because of the design of the action (sticking out the back end of the receiver into the butt stock area) there is little wood left to absorb the shock of recoil and oil has 'punked' the area from running out of the receiver/action when stored butt down.
    TBH My favorite shows are the smaller shows with older individuals (hunters retiring from the fields) selling their older firearms used over decades in the field, giving them an abundance of pleasure from the hunt, the warm sun on their face and the cold rain hitting the hunting jacket or the snow falling while tracking some elusive prey through the woods (good times). Many of them took really good care of the guns and a few field marks from hunting makes them more appealing to me as I don't have to worry about damaging a 'safe queen', they are already 'broken in' :D . Besides I'm there to buy a gun I am going to shoot not stick in a safe. So far I only have one firearm I purchased and haven't shot, but it's only a matter of time I'm sure.
    Give me a Remington Model 8 or 81, an Auto 5 or a Remington Model 17 (Notice anything in the design characteristics? JMB said.) Of course a Savage 99 has been known to sneak into my house when my back was turned LOL.
     
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    KJackson

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Apr 3, 2017
    8,613
    Carroll County
    I may have to start hitting up these smaller shows to find what I am looking for. My project for this winter will be do get an old J. C. Higgins Model 30 up and running. It belonged to my grandfather and he bought it new. I haven't received it yet and all I know about its condition is that the action is seized. I have a feeling that some major spare parts may be needed.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    I may have to start hitting up these smaller shows to find what I am looking for. My project for this winter will be do get an old J. C. Higgins Model 30 up and running. It belonged to my grandfather and he bought it new. I haven't received it yet and all I know about its condition is that the action is seized. I have a feeling that some major spare parts may be needed.

    Good luck. I’ve got an old JC Higgins model 377 .410. Nice little pump gun.
     

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