Bob; As Bubba Clinton would say,"I feel your pain,Bob". Yeah,goes on all the time,Friday nights around here,but at least they are dealers. Major reason why,at least with some dealers,is that one of their clients,who may not be attending the show(or maybe is!!) has asked them to look for a certain gun,and they have a ready sale for it to the client.
What P'O's me even more,is the "picking" that goes on BEFORE a general estate auction. It is one thing for the survivors to keep out guns,antiques etc.,but over the last decade or so,some of the top auction houses here in N. New England,will "cherry pick" the best guns,militaria,advertising, art work etc.,then have a speciality auction with only guns,toys etc once or twice a year! Naturally,"collectors" of those items show up or absentee bid,which jacks the prices up(and of course helps the survivors(but often the auctioneer will "buy the items" before the general auction.
Sorry for the "rant",but I can recall going to some "estate auctions" a "few" years ago,and being the only "gun person",railroad buff,metal toy truck collector, in the hall,and getting some great buys!
Just another indication of how life sucks as I get older,and recall the "good old days".
Bud /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif