Quote History Originally Posted By Teddydog:
Yeah, the laws here now suck. But I still find lots of interesting non-gun items at shows, when there are a decent number of tables and vendors (those not selling wax, jewelry, jerky or other shit). And as a C&R FFL holder, I have still found plenty of nice C&Rs to buy. Again, when there are decent vendors.
So my question is still about any experience with this show, if it has been around for a bit. Enough tables with good vendors to be worthwhile?
Rob
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Little late now but I’ll give you a summary because it’s a recurring show and you might be interested in the next one. I’m a regular and have a pretty good lay of the land.
It’s a small show with a very consistent audience, and is one of a group of associated shows that often have significant vendor and attendant overlap. Items are often the same from show to show, so the good deals are usually from whatever is new that shows up.
No jerky or crap like that, it’s a proper gun show. You will see coins, antique tools, or maybe some DVDs but there’ll be a gun or 3 next to those things on the table.
Attendants and vendors are mostly 50+ and that impacts what is sold accordingly. Lots of shotguns, bolt action hunting rifles, black powder, C&R, etc. Lots of ammo and reloading stuff proportionally speaking. Almost everything there is used.
Prices are generally pretty good, and most people are open to negotiation. Cash is king, and very few people accept card. They can be sticklers for the rules and a little bit of safety nazis but not as bad as the big shows. That being said, I’ve seen nonexistent laws self imposed by people there who are worried about the location not allowing them back if there’s a legal screw up.
Far and away the biggest downside is the size, it’s just not that big of a show. Hence the reason it opens at 8 am and closes about 1, that’s plenty of time to do 3-4 go arounds, see everything and head home.
If I had to drive out of the way to go to it I would, but I’m a regular with buddies there and my interests generally align with what is plentiful there. If I was an AR and AK guy and I didn't know anyone there I probably wouldn’t go out of my way.
Today’s show was unusually small compared to normal, several normal venders were absent, and there were fewer attendees as well. The show did get smaller when the ban hit, but not to the degree seen today. If I had to guess a few people were just busy on the same day and I wouldn’t read too heavily into it.
If you collect C&R make the drive next time the show happens. If not, wait until its sister show, the Oregon Arms Collectors has its next show at Kliever memorial armory, or there’s a show at centralia. Both have a large overlap with the battleground show, and are larger, from there you can decide for yourself if you think a show half as large in BG is worth the drive.