OT Dulles Gun Show

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:39 pm

This weekend, the 8th - 10th is the big show at Dulles Expo center in Chantilly, Va. Any of you plan on going Saturday? I'll be there when they open. Will be looking to buy some .44 magnum ammo and some reloading supplies. If the price is right, I've checked out the local gun shop for powder and primer prices. So I'll have an idea what is a good buy, or not.

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:16 pm

MikeS,

I'll be there on Saturday as well. I live in NOVA. Be nice to meet another Levergunner to just say "Hi".

Bruce

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:44 am

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:17 am

Love to go, but Dulles/Chantilly is a good five hr drive one way for me.

Noah

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:07 pm

Noah,

Certainly not worth the drive. In years past, the Dulles/Chantilly show took up both buildings, with booths crowded into the space. The last one I went to in November, was only at one of the buildings at the Expo center, and the booths only sparsely filled that. Of course, they used to only do the shows twice a year, but now it's every 2-3 months. I also heard that the last one I went to in November was put on by a different group. I'm hoping this one is by the original group, and will be like the ones in years past. (They also stopped selling beer at the show -- I bet that's the reason they're not as popular!)

Still, a lot of people show up. Although, I suspect not for the lever guns. The prices I've seen asked seem very high. Every Marlin and Winchester is a "collectible." Guns I would think to be priced in the $600-700 range are priced at $1100-1500. Except for ammo, reloading supplies, accessories, and new handguns, not many bargins to be found.

Bruce

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:15 pm

alnitak wrote: . . . Still, a lot of people show up. Although, I suspect not for the lever guns. The prices I've seen asked seem very high. Every Marlin and Winchester is a "collectible." Guns I would think to be priced in the $600-700 range are priced at $1100-1500. Except for ammo, reloading supplies, accessories, and new handguns, not many bargins to be found.

Bruce:

Thanks for the background on it; I appreciate that very much.

Twenty years ago I lived in the Eastern Panhandle of WV and frequented the shops and shows in NOVA. Wheee doggies, but folks were pretty proud of their merchandise, as you noted (and I boldened) in your post above. I stopped going to the show at Hugos and stopping at Clark Bros because the prices were simply incredible at both. I did get a few deals at that old fella's place in Berryville right on the highway. And the things in the shop in Middleburg ran by the former Marine were pretty dear, too.

Cost of property, taxes and general COL is pretty nuts in NOVA. Nice country, though, the farther west you go from the Beltway.

Noah

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:00 pm

Noah,

Thanks for the heads up about the shop in Berryville and Middleburg. Haven't been to either one, but will check them out. It's sad, but in today's world of the Internet, Gunbroker, SASS, Auction Arms, THR, etc. not sure how any of these shops stay in business with having to charge a fair profit price to make ends meet. I've gravitated to buying LN guns from individuals to save a couple hundred.

Take care. I'll let you know if there are any real bargins at the show.
Bruce

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:09 pm

alnitak wrote:Noah,

Thanks for the heads up about the shop in Berryville and Middleburg . . .

Bruce, that was 20+ years ago. I know the Middleburg shop is gone, and as old as the owner was at the Berryville shop, it's likely gone too.

Noah

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:49 pm

The shop in Middleburg, if you are talking about beautiful antique guns, might still be operating out of Mannasas. There are new owners, but I believe still in the family. I will ask a friend still in the area see if he knows.

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:18 pm

There is a gun shop in Manassas that I've been to. It's a little place with the standard sort of inventory...and not many guns in stock. I don't know if that's the same one you have in mind.

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:39 pm

alnitak here is the one in Middleburg it is still in Middleburg, serious money but they use to have some truly beautiful pieces.
They also had a shop in Chantilly in the 80's.

http://www.davidcondon.com/