Wellsboro Gun Show today.

[Adam Helmer]

With the abatement of Winter and cabin fever, the gun show season has begun in Northcentral Pennsylvania. The Wellsboro show is this weekend and the larger Morris show is next weekend. It was a good show today, but the PRICES for as-issued military surplus arms made me come home and better appreciate my collection.

I was with my extended family as we looked and bought. Tables were $20 each for vendors and some had several tables. I saw lots of reloading components, for a price and it paid to shop. One vendor had IMR powders for $33-35 per pound. In the next aisle a vendor had IMR powders for $25-28 per pound. We bought there. "Bricks" of .22 caliber long rifle ammo went for $35-$55 per "brick!" Just three years ago I saw the .22 shortage/gouge coming and bought "bricks" of .22 LR for $12-$16 per brick. I am selling off my stash to family "at cost." I told all on the internet who would listen to "circle the .22 LR wagons." I saw grocery store shopping carts of .22 LR "Bricks" behind the vendor tables for $50 each. Whatever?

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s when we were flush with wonderful Mausers, Springfields and Enfields in the $12 to $35 range. Far too many folks "sporterized" mint military surplus arms. Today, the "as-issued" arms went for premium prices 3X or 4X what a similiar nice "sporter" was priced. Again, my voice cried in the wilderness on this issue in decades past. All my arms are "as-issued" supplemented with proper accoutrements. My grandkids will benefit accordingly. Being a historian did, in fact, guide me.

Adam