Anyone going to the Bloomington Gun Show on Sunday?

[gophergunner]

The she-bear's having a wimminfolk git-together tomorrow, so I'm escaping.  Good day to go to the gun show.  Anyone else going to the show in Bloomington?  Maybe get together for a cup of coffee and swap some lies at the show?  Give me a holler.  Maybe we'll cross paths at the show.  I'll be the one in the olive drab coat and orange hat.  I guess that probably describes 90% of the attendees.....

[HD]

Nope, I'm not going....have a good time though!

[LPS]

Does sound like fun.  Too far away for me though.

[gophergunner]

It's either get the heck out of here or be subjected to a house full of nattering old hens talking about wimmin stuff.  I don't even want to think about that.......

[HD]

Welp, you can always blabber on here with the old hens.....Glenn? Reb? 

[Bobberineyes]

Welp, you can always blabber on here with the old hens.....Glenn? Reb? 

  omg!! Almost spit up on the monitor on that one!!

[glenn57]

 

[Rebel SS]

Ahh, go choke yer chickens!!!  *BAGAAWK*   

[gophergunner]

'Had a good time at the gun show today in Bloomington.  I hadn't been to a show in a while and was disappointed to not see some of the dealers there thammt I always liked to stop and visit with. Of course, I had to wade my way past several different raffles for different entities, and one candy and jerkey "dealer."  I'll never agree with this crap.  If it's a gun show, it should guns and shooting related stuff ONLY.  Pretty good mix of stuff-not all AR's, although there was one dealer there who literally had an entire row of  tables with his AR's, parts, and accessories.  'Saw a lot of neat WWII vintage military stuff.  I never  tire  from looking at these guns.  'Had my eyes on a couple really clean Polish Radom 9mm's.  Many Lugers, Walthers, Nambu's and even a table full of Jap Arisaka's.  There were a few Savage 99's, and I watched intently as a dealer worked on a potential customer with a cobbled together 99.  It was a .250-3000, with beat up miss matched wood.  Looked awful tired. I love to eavesdrop on the negotiations.  I even feigned interest in the gun, asking several questions, just to see if the other guy would bite on it.  Had a good time.  'Picked up a 10 rnd. mag for my AR, just in case I ever decide to hunt with it.  I don't like the 30 rounders for hunting.  Just get in the way. 

[Rebel SS]

Love the shows. Prob is we just don't have them here like we used to, since the perfect people here raised so much hell at the last few. WWII guns are my favorite too....sure would like to own a nice Garand. Or Walther. Or Luger. Maybe even a potato masher.

[gophergunner]

I've always had a sof spot for those Polish Radom's.  Especially the ones with Nazi proofs.  Similar to a Browning Hi-Power, built very well,and just a joy to shoot.

[Rebel SS]

I'd love just to see a really used in the war Tokarev SVT-40....with the scope. Bet you've watched Enemy at the Gates a few times.... I have.  Fascinated by the women snipers used by Russia. Ever read the book White Feather, about Hathcock? It's great.

[gophergunner]

There were two Russian sniper rifles there with scopes but I didn't look at them that close, although I believe they were both Mosin Nagants. Ever shoot a Nagant?  One hell of a battle rifle.  They'll never win any beauty contests, but if you want something you can use for a paddle, a shovel, a crow-bar, and oh yeah, a dependable  infantry rifle,  this one's for you.  I bought one of them back when Fleet Farm had'em for $90.00.  You could buy ammo realy cheap for them. Had some fun tinkering with it and sent it down the road.  They kick like a Missouri mule.

[Leech~~]

There were two Russian sniper rifles there with scopes but I didn't look at them that close, although I believe they were both Mosin Nagants. Ever shoot a Nagant?  One hell of a battle rifle.  They'll never win any beauty contests, but if you want something you can use for a paddle, a shovel, a crow-bar, and oh yeah, a dependable  infantry rifle,  this one's for you.  I bought one of them back when Fleet Farm had'em for $90.00.  You could buy ammo realy cheap for them. Had some fun tinkering with it and sent it down the road.  They kick like a Missouri mule.

Geez how old are you?  I'm so old I remember when the old Holiday Village stores use to sell racks of them, Mausers and Enfields right out on the floor for like $65 bucks in the weeks before Deer Hunting every year. You will never see any thing like that happen again now a days. 

[Rebel SS]

There were two Russian sniper rifles there with scopes but I didn't look at them that close, although I believe they were both Mosin Nagants. Ever shoot a Nagant?  One hell of a battle rifle.  They'll never win any beauty contests, but if you want something you can use for a paddle, a shovel, a crow-bar, and oh yeah, a dependable  infantry rifle,  this one's for you.  I bought one of them back when Fleet Farm had'em for $90.00.  You could buy ammo realy cheap for them. Had some fun tinkering with it and sent it down the road.  They kick like a Missouri mule.

Geez how old are you?  I'm so old I remember when the old Holiday Village stores use to sell racks of them, Mausers and Enfields right out on the floor for like $65 bucks in the weeks before Deer Hunting every year. You will never see any thing like that happen again now a days. 

I remember that...it's where ya went for yer first shotgun, shells, and all yer hunting stuff! Racks of guns, just like Ace Hardware used to have...and Coast to Coast. 
After I wake up and get going, I might even post a pic of my first scoped .22 I got when I was 9 yo.....and still have. A beaut of a Marlin....my sniper rifle. 

[Rebel SS]

Guys, here's a few pics of my skwirrel sniper.  Marlin model 81, with the micro-groove barrel. (that dates it after 50's) Shoots S-L-LR. That's a Bushnell variable 3x7 scope on it.  No serial number on gun, which means it was pre-1968, due to the GCA of 1968, which requires all guns have a serial # stamped on them.  That works out right, because I got when I was was 9 or 10. It has a beautiful walnut stock and gold trigger. Like new yet, no pits or hint of rust anywhere. I took really good care of it and always cleaned it after every trip and oiled everything, including the stock. Seems to have paid off. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[HD]

Nice gun Reb!

I must be old too, cause I got a Coast to Coast pump shot gun and a Sears & Roebuck bolt action shot gun.
Both bought from those stores when they could sell guns. They're made by Mossberg, but stamped with the hardware's store name.

[Rebel SS]

I got my first Winnie SS 12 ga at Kame-a-part. Think it was $35. Coast to Coast and Kame-a-part sold tons of Mossbergs. Cheap and pretty reliable. They were the standard pump gun in cop cars until they went with the 870's.

[HD]

The Coast to Coast is my one and only turkey gun, it's been camo painted with a extended choke.
Jr. always asks me "How come you use that ratty old gun to shoot Turkeys, when you have much nicer guns?"

All I ever tell him is "It gets the job done...."

But it was the first pump I ever payed for, out of my paper route money. It may be ratty, but lots of sentimental memories. 

[Rebel SS]

And they always had the cheapest .22 shells around.....

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rebel SS]

After doing some research on my gun, can't find a letter designation (A thru F) anywhere on it, (I also pulled it out of the stock) which makes it hard to date. BUT, I did just notice that is has the 2 drilled and tapped holes on left side, for the side mount peep sight.....
Best guess after lotsa reading is it IS about a 1963 and worth around $300 in it's condition.
It ain't going anywhere, though!

[LPS]

Nice looking gun...

[Rebel SS]

Found a 1960 ad for my gun.....! Was able to enlarge it to read it. Does list the 2 tapped side holes in the ad. Price new: $36.95....only $4 down! 
You can click on ad to enlarge it for sh*** and giggles.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[gophergunner]

Cool stuff guys.  I had a Coast to Coast branded 500 pass through my hands a couple years ago.  I picked it up for a buddy of mine who'd lost all his gear in a Thanksgiving Day house fire.  My squirrel gun is an old Glenfield bolt gun with an equally old United Golden Grizzly 4x X 40 scope on it.  I also have an old Ward's Western Field .22 single shot bolt action that I killed a  lot of small game with.  Neat old stuff.  Love hearing your stories guys.  Keep 'em coming!

[Steve-o]

I've always had a soft spot for those Polish Radom's.  Especially the ones with Nazi proofs.  Similar to a Browning Hi-Power, built very well,and just a joy to shoot.

Thanks for highlighting these.  Very cool.  I love me my Hi-Power, but I never knew these 35 Vis existed.

[gophergunner]

I've always had a soft spot for those Polish Radom's.  Especially the ones with Nazi proofs.  Similar to a Browning Hi-Power, built very well,and just a joy to shoot.

Thanks for highlighting these.  Very cool.  I love me my Hi-Power, but I never knew these 35 Vis existed.

I don't have a Browning Hi-Power, but I do have an FEG clone.  Darned nice gun, very accurate, and fun to shoot.

[Rebel SS]

Just a snippet...

https://kttc.com/news/iowa-news-from-the-associated-press/2019/01/06/gun-makers-move-to-eastern-iowa-brings-big-contract/

[LPS]

Very interesting.  And good for them.