St. Albans, WV Gun Show report
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 12:59 pm
We went and set up and barely made ends meet. Promoter made many promises and then scheduled on the Sportsman show weekend next store in Charleston arena. About a couple of miles away and a much bigger draw than his poorly advertised gun show. Traffic was light for us all weekend as we were the basic next booth over from the bathrooms. Nothing else was in our aisle and we actually spread out on a table that wasn't ours to try and make the aisle worth coming down.
We had a couple of other collectors with milsurps in the middle aisle coming in the place and they had a Westinghouse M91 for $450. a Romanian M44 for $300, an M27 which the price escapes me on, and a couple of 91/30's in the $265 range. A couple of other tables had refurbs in the $300 range and there were the usual AR's and Ak's around too. One Cetme at $680 with about 8 mags and brand new looking to me and it was long gone by the end of the three day show. Many dealers packed up and left Saturday as there was little traffic and it was surely because of the Sportsman show being the place anyone was going. They made a mistake leaving as Sunday was the only day we saw a little traffic and also the only day we sold anything too.
The Promoter promised a show set up which was better than we got and no non-gun related stuff. He lied and we got shuffled way in the back and others who were first timers were up front. Asked to talk to him and he never came back so I guess we will like as not never go back and set up there again as a result. He had bragged to many my shows the biggest in the state but the way he works I doubt it will be long in existence. Time will tell I guess. The people we dealt with that worked at the show were nice as pie and easy to deal with but the basic organization is totally lacking especially the scheduling. We saw a few people we knew from other shows and enjoyed talking with them but they were not impressed either. His next show is also scheduled against Morgantown I believe and you know where we will be heading.
Shame as its not a bad facility only lacking parking maybe for big crowds but then when word spreads I doubt he will have that problem. It's 115 miles door to door and there is good food and lodging in the area but he has to do a better more organized set up and show to get people coming in and coming back too. I still am selling ammo till what I have is gone which once people decided to bite the bullet and pay $170 a spam can for 7.92x54r is about the best you can find. Some milsurps were at least there for those who wanted them but not much else that lasted long. Bill![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
We had a couple of other collectors with milsurps in the middle aisle coming in the place and they had a Westinghouse M91 for $450. a Romanian M44 for $300, an M27 which the price escapes me on, and a couple of 91/30's in the $265 range. A couple of other tables had refurbs in the $300 range and there were the usual AR's and Ak's around too. One Cetme at $680 with about 8 mags and brand new looking to me and it was long gone by the end of the three day show. Many dealers packed up and left Saturday as there was little traffic and it was surely because of the Sportsman show being the place anyone was going. They made a mistake leaving as Sunday was the only day we saw a little traffic and also the only day we sold anything too.
The Promoter promised a show set up which was better than we got and no non-gun related stuff. He lied and we got shuffled way in the back and others who were first timers were up front. Asked to talk to him and he never came back so I guess we will like as not never go back and set up there again as a result. He had bragged to many my shows the biggest in the state but the way he works I doubt it will be long in existence. Time will tell I guess. The people we dealt with that worked at the show were nice as pie and easy to deal with but the basic organization is totally lacking especially the scheduling. We saw a few people we knew from other shows and enjoyed talking with them but they were not impressed either. His next show is also scheduled against Morgantown I believe and you know where we will be heading.
Shame as its not a bad facility only lacking parking maybe for big crowds but then when word spreads I doubt he will have that problem. It's 115 miles door to door and there is good food and lodging in the area but he has to do a better more organized set up and show to get people coming in and coming back too. I still am selling ammo till what I have is gone which once people decided to bite the bullet and pay $170 a spam can for 7.92x54r is about the best you can find. Some milsurps were at least there for those who wanted them but not much else that lasted long. Bill
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)