[Oyeboten]

Well, I gave in and went!

Had a great time, as always.

Just Wow!!!

All the fine and splendid old Guns any boy or girl could want to get to see in person, close up, and, right 'there' and for sale, too.


I really only went to-day to make a fast look-see for some Parts I thought a guy was going to have, but, he did not bring them.

So, as consolation, I walked through about 2/3rds of the Show for the next two and a half hours, and, then the Show closed for the day.

Saw some mighty nice New Services which in my opinion, for this day-and-age, were not badly priced.

Any halfway tolerable old Colt .45 Auto though, far as I saw, was 'through the roof'.

Saw a very nice, vivid early Blue SAVAGE .32 for $255.00 and I was tempted ( but I already have a couple of them, so)...prolly about 1913 production or so.

Saw several original ( or at least they seemed 'Original' to me ) Colt Dragoons, and, those were stunning to get to stand so close to! Same with Colt model 1860s in high condition and vivid aetherial, almost transparent, original Blue...thrilling!!

Ditto with the Remington Cap & Ball New Model 44s...seemed like quite a few of those were available, and in very high condition.

I did not notice any Remington Cartridge Revolvers though, but, they can hide in plain sight when one is walking by sometimes.

I love seeing what the actual original finishes were on the old Cap & Ball Revolvers - always it seems, they were just gorgeous and at least a little different than the successive generations and or reproduction ones.

Saw a few Colt model 1905 .45s, and several '02 Militaries, in very nice shape...no Sporting Models far as my sweeping glances went though.


Saw quite a few Merwin Hulberts, some in very VERY high original condition, everything so crisp and fresh, it is startling.

Some of those were only in the mid "6"s ( thousands ) and, I guess, for now, maybe that is not a bad price, if one wants one which is so darned near brand spanking 'new', it takes your Breath away.


Anyway, endless!!!

I may go back to-morrow just to oggle and sigh and admire some more a while.

All my ( humble and not much anyway of ) dough is tied up for the time being in Business things, so, the couple a-hundred bucks I had to bring, would not do much, but, might be able to do 'something' interesting anyway, ( a pair of Stocks or a spare Magazine or two or who knows? ) so, we'll see what shakes tamale.

Of course, there are endless fine old Rifles there also, and I will say some of them caught my Eye as well.

Saw a .30-40 Springfield Krag which was about 85 percent original finish, super nice un-messed with Stock and Sling, priced at $1000.00, and, I did pause some standing there, wishing I had a grand to spare for that one...it was so nice! I did not notice which issue it was though.

 

[Oyeboten]

Went back again to-day, bringing a friend who is new to old Guns, but, he has some shooting experience ( and good safety habits ).

He'd mentioned to me a while back, that he would appreciate my advice on getting him self some sort of 30-30 Rifle.

He was about to get a new one, when I chimed in, saying "Get an OLD one, it will be so much higher quality, will look so much nicer, will have charm, and Romance and will appreciate in value, and...blahhh blahhh blahhh..."

Where-upon, he replied "Hmmm! Good idea!"

So, at the Show, we surveyed every Model '94 30-30 we could find, and, he came home with a dandy, made in 1897, in about 60 percent condition Blue wise, never abused, nice crisp Screws, lovely straight grain Walnut Stock, everything "Nice"...and, him beaming Ear to Ear.

Even got two vintage full boxes of Shells while there.

As for myself, I did not end up getting anything, but I had a lot of fun looking, so..."good enuf"..

I almost got an early S & W 'Heavy Duty' .38 Special in about 60 percent ot so Blue-wise, super nice Action, very low use ( Carried a fair amount, shot not much ) which the Seller was willing to let go of for $500.00 even.

But, I just could not justify it at this time, so, I felt the HUGE 'tug' and just had to pass...darn it...I sure liked that old S & W too.

If you missed the Show, you missed one heck of a wonderful gathering of old Arms of all sorts, Colts especially!

 

[perrazi]

it looked like every saa or 1911 ever built was at this show. seemed like everyone had some of either on their tables.

 

[Oyeboten]

Oh no...something terrible is happening to me now.

I am wanting to get an early Winchester .30 WCF Rifle ( like my friend got...)

I tried so hard to avoid the damned things, all these years, too.

Darn it...

Lol...

 

[Oyeboten]

it looked like every saa or 1911 ever built was at this show. seemed like everyone had some of either on their tables.

You got that right!

SAAs, especially!

Oddly enough, I saw more high condition H & R "American" Revolvers at this Show, than I have ever seen at any Show before.

Maybe I just started noticing them?? Got 'attuned'? Or..?

Kind of funny though...

 

[coltsixguns]

I bought an early-in "honored guess" pass so I walked the aisles on Thursday and Friday for most of the day and ended up buying one antique SAA and used the UPS store in the hotel lobby to ship it home Saturday morning (ouch at what they charge in those UPS stores). Flew out early Saturday afternoon and maybe the SAA will join me by the end of the week.

Lots of pretty nice guns but also a whole bunch of refinished and screwed with guns with big price tags on them. The funniest thing I saw was on the table of one of these authenticators. He had a pre 1900 single action with a post 1911 barrel in it along with a "letter" from himself on the gun giving it a clean bill of health. LOL

 

[twaits]

Anyone ever take any pictures at this show? I keep hearing about how wonderful it is but have never seen a single picture of it.

 

[Kid Sopris]

Anyone ever take any pictures at this show? I keep hearing about how wonderful it is but have never seen a single picture of it.

Wally, (God Bless his Soul), was not a big supporter of Folks taking pictures without special permission. I'm sure that the Staff is operating the same way.

 

[DuWhat]

I took a few pictures and was never asked to stop. I also saw other people taking pictures. Here's a few for you Eric. A couple of cased Colt's and a Colt Gatling gun in 45-70.

 

[twaits]

Thanks DuWhat. I wonder what their problem with picture taking is? It's pretty hard to stop these days now that everyone has a camera on their phone.

 

[coltsixguns]

I took a few pictures but only of the morning sun rising and some of the hotels/casinos! Had a buddy who had a little interest in an engraved saa I saw but the owner never was around his table and I felt a little funny taking pictures of his gun and texting them to another person so I didn't.

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks DuWhat. I wonder what their problem with picture taking is? It's pretty hard to stop these days now that everyone has a camera on their phone.

Probably they do not want images showing definite known Dealers, standing behind Tables which feature a few 'iffy' and expensive Guns with 'iffy' so called 'Letters' of 'authenticity'.

Lol...


I did see a few re-finished and or 'Mixmaster' Colts of various kinds, and it never occurred to me to bother pausing to consider them as anything other than something which of course happens in Life.

The ones I noticed which were 'not right' for Originality, had cheaper prices which seemed to take this into account...but, I was not being an "Eagle Eye" by any means...I was just moseying along in my usual Show euphoria, and kind of sort of trying to be on a look out for New Services and or any sort of old Snubbies.

I did see a Bogus, Parkerized 'S & W' Victory Model 2 inch, which had a way WAY later than WWII Barrel on it, and, the Seller was representing it to be a rare, RARE WWI Issue one.

I pointed out to the Seller that yes, the Barrel was a perfect color/finish Match for the rest of the Revolver, but the Barrel was from a long ways after WWII.

Seller just looked at me with those Eyes which are like what one sees on a thawing out Fish on the kitchen counter...so, I did not elect to belabor my point, and, I walked on.

 

[DuWhat]

Was my first time to go and it did seem as though a lot of the stuff for sale was overpriced. Some by quit a bit. The pictures I took I asked premission first and was always told to go ahead. Bought a cartridge conversion Colt 1851 Navy and I posted it in the precussion section. Was also looking for a Sharps. Were lots of them there but I was unable to find one that I thought was priced reasonable and I wasn't looking for a 'deal', just a good example at a realistic price. Did see some guns that I had only read about and never seen in person and for me that was worth going.

 

[ketch33]

For those of you who went, did anyone see any lettered Copper Queen SAA's? I'm looking for one. Maybe need to take this show in next year. Where was it in Las Vegas?

 

[Kid Sopris]

Hotel Riviera...

 

[coltsixguns]

I remember seeing a pretty nice Phelps Dodge mining company shipped 38-40 but don't remember seeing a copper queen.

It looks like the Riveria will be the home base for the next forseeable future.

 

[Mike Faires]

I remember seeing a pretty nice Phelps Dodge mining company shipped 38-40 but don't remember seeing a copper queen.

It looks like the Riveria will be the home base for the next forseeable future.

Let me know if yu have the dates for next year and where to get the pass for Thursday. BTW for now I intend to drive so if any one needs something transported back to Texas or the surrounding area just ask.

 

[coltsixguns]

Let me know if yu have the dates for next year and where to get the pass for Thursday. BTW for now I intend to drive so if any one needs something transported back to Texas or the surrounding area just ask.

Here is a link to their website but it looks like most of the stuff that was listed on it before the show is gone. I see a "contact us" link.

What I did was to create a user account and register with them and then give them my CC number in a form to pay for the $90 all days early pass. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same weekend next year as this year.

Antique Arms Shows -- 52 Years -- What an Arms Show Should Be?

 

[Toyman]

I was there Thursday and Friday. I bought a New Service Target in 45 Colt with the box. Walked with and talked to Colt Guy. I saw several nice New Services. This show brings a nice selection of older guns and Las Vegas is always fun.