Military Surplus arms at gun shows!

[Adam Helmer]

Today I went to a local gun show as a compensated consultant advising a very serious (and wealthy) military arms collector. He has a mint condition Gatling Gun in his den adjacent to the bar, that is how serious he is. Well, today was a bust-no real "finds."

I have seen a continuous condition at all the gun shows this century: Most of the guns are filthy and the stocks of the rifles do not have a penny's worth of linseed oil thereon and the leather slings "crack" with the first touch! Today was no exception. There were Swiss M1911 rifles and carbines, Mauser 24/47 rifles, M98s and Kar98ks, Jap 7.7s, Swedish M96 rifles, M38 short rifles and Finnish M91/30 rifles and ALL Bores were DIRTY! I did ask each vendor: "Why did you not scrub and oil these bores?" None gave a sensible reply.

My twin brother once said to me: "Brother, we should once before we die exhibit our gun collections at a gun show to show the world what well-maintained historic military surplus arms and accoutrements look like."

ALL the military surplus arms I examined today were about NRA GOOD condition. My brother was correct: In 2016, the world needs to see military surplus arms garnered by kids working for 75 cents to $1.50 an hour (in the 1950s and 1960s) cutting grass, hauling hay and whatnot to earn enough money to save fine military arms from the "sporterizing butchers."

I was reluctant to handle many of the arms today because they truly looked like "Battlefield Pickups." I saw mostly $50-$90 arms for parts which was far below the ticket prices asked. Next Saturday I will again be compensated to evaluate arms for my employer at Morris. I think all the "Mint" arms now reside in private collections. Gun show arms are, maybe, Good+.

Adam

[Jack]

I suspect the days of super abundant WW2 era surplus firearms are about gone.
Growing up in the 50's and 60's, a trip to the local gun shop would tell you which country had declared a bunch of firearms surplus in the recent past. One month there would be a batch of Lee-Enfields to choose from, a month later it might be Swedes. 98K's were around almost always, and good ones, too.
But,we have to remember, WW2 is now 70 years away, not 10-20 years away, as it was in our youth.

[Gil Martin]

The last few that I attended are as Adam has stated. Surplus arms quality was very bad to dismal and prices were off the chart. One fellow had a Walther P-38 that he swore belonged to Herman Goering and was for sale for $10,000. I asked if he had any documentation to prove that allegation and he did not. I told him that when Goering surrendered he handed over his personal revolver.

The old days of finding real deals at fair prices are long gone. I have always done better at gun shops that i frequent. Take care. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

Thanks for the Nazi memorabilia update. Last Saturday I attended the Morris, PA gun show and fortunately there was ONLY one table of Nazi trash.

The prices for "As Issued" military surplus arms and accoutrements was beyond belief. To wit: I saw an NRA GOOD P-14 Enfield in caliber .303 British for $795.00. An 03-A3 .30-06 was $800.00. There were many Garands on display from $700.00 up to $1,900 for a Very Good Korean era specimen. The prices on WWII bayonets from all the belligerent nations began at $50 and went to $650. Most were FAIR to Good condition. I came home and appreciated by stuff, all the more.

Gil, I saw the British WWII film on History channel about the surrender of Goering. He handed over to his British captors what appeared to be a 4-inch Model 10 Smith & Wesson. revolver. I thought that was odd he had an American revolver when he could have had a pristine Luger to reflect his rank. Whatever.

Adam