MILSURPs at Kamloops Annual Gun Show

Agree with that. Have made the Kamloops show last 5 years or so and crowds were much larger than this year. Chilliwack was flush with good items that I'd not seen before. After awhile you see guns you recognize from other shows,vendors and even previous years. It just goes round and round. Most of us gunshow veterans are looking for that one little jewel, negotiate the best price if possible then do the "happy dance" home. Meeting other collectors, vendors and sharing information and leads is more important to me than price. There was nothing at this show I needed at any price unfortunately. My only purchase was a brand new, numbers matching bore-light. Another year I walked away with nothing other than a belly ache from those rotten BBQ sausages out front.
Cheers
Geoff
 
Some of those vendors with the super over priced common guns are not serious about selling. I think a lot of them get a table so they can peruse the other guys stuff for deals before the general public gets a look. At least in my area there are a few guys who do that year after year.
 
Mike Webb said:
Some of those vendors with the super over priced common guns are not serious about selling. I think a lot of them get a table so they can peruse the other guys stuff for deals before the general public gets a look. At least in my area there are a few guys who do that year after year.
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Not in Kamloops, the security in there is trying to usher you out the door as soon as you load up the tables. they do allow you to come in an hour or so early in the morning but even then, everyone is running around and you can't deal.
 
Hi All!

I went to the show for the first time, my 7 year old son and me had a great time looking around. We'll go again next year, we had fun. The most priceless moment was when I bought my son his first 22 lr at the show, it's a Savage Rascal and he was so happy, a smile from ear to ear. He wanted to carry the box him self. I got myself a spare mag for the TT33. Good people, good time, all in all great experience!

Happy Shooting!
Der Hauptgefreite
 
Bearhunter - I have to counter your comment... I am sorry if you had a bad experience with the security.... Vendors were allowed in for set up Friday from noon-9pm, then saturday at 7am (show opened at 9) and I am not sure about sunday vendor hours.
 
destructo_d said:
Bearhunter - I have to counter your comment... I am sorry if you had a bad experience with the security.... Vendors were allowed in for set up Friday from noon-9pm, then saturday at 7am (show opened at 9) and I am not sure about sunday vendor hours.
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I understand there are restrictions being imposed that make no sense. You fellows didn't take into account that many vendors don't get off work until 5pm or later and still have to drive a couple of hours to get to the show and then set up.

Most shows, couldn't care less when you leave or if you get in late. Kamloops is the only show that does this.

You are polite and caring, maybe you could take this issue up with your organizers????

I no longer get tables to that show because of this and now, many others have made similar comments. Some of those folks take up to six tables most take two. I know your shows are usually completely booked so it isn't really an issue.
 
This was my first time at the Kamloops show (I recently moved to Kamloops from Chilliwack). I thought it was jam packed on Saturday morning, but relatively quiet on Sunday. Not much in the way of milsurps to get excited about, but plenty to look at in general. One thing I'd like to point out is that the crowds still come out to these shows despite the slow economy and the progressive libitard's best efforts to demonize us firearms lovers. It felt great being amongst so many like minded people despite the lack of gems. For me supporting these shows is more than bargain hunting, it's a show of solidarity against those that want to take our right to responsibly own and enjoy firearms away from us. The fight will never be over.
 
tplumtree said:
This was my first time at the Kamloops show (I recently moved to Kamloops from Chilliwack). I thought it was jam packed on Saturday morning, but relatively quiet on Sunday. Not much in the way of milsurps to get excited about, but plenty to look at in general. One thing I'd like to point out is that the crowds still come out to these shows despite the slow economy and the progressive libitard's best efforts to demonize us firearms lovers. It felt great being amongst so many like minded people despite the lack of gems. For me supporting these shows is more than bargain hunting, it's a show of solidarity against those that want to take our right to responsibly own and enjoy firearms away from us. The fight will never be over.
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The Kamloops people put on a great show. My comment was a personal bias for two reasons. One, the show is so big, that I can't get around it after I set up. The two hours we're allowed in the morning, is usually spent finishing up my own set up. My problem.

Anyway, I now use the Kamloops show as a buying show. I managed to spend everything I brought, so there must have been at least a few gems there. How is that 1903 coming along?????

You're right about the crowd being big, but it isn't as big as it was last year or the year before. The economy is the only reason for this. There was lots of different stuff there. Something for everyone. H4831 sold an 1895, 405 Winchester and made a tidy profit. The fellow he sold it to, got it cheap IMHO. Good deal both ways though. They were both happy.

I have no complaints about the show and personally reccomended it to several people this year and will continue to do so. It is worth the 2 hour drive and a full day of walking about and talking to the great vendors and other people there.

I won't trust my stomach to the food there though.
 
Hey Bearhunter, I bought a sweet Winchester P14 sporter at the show - a great restoration project for sure. Now to find a stock...
The 1903 is STILL at the gunsmith awaiting installation of that lovely new barrel. Will send pics when she's done!
 
I was hoping to locate another M1903 at the show. There were none, save for the one described in my first post, and a stripped Rock Island receiver with the s/n obliterated and another s/n added to the lower portion of the receiver. It had also been d&t for a commercial receiver sight. Had the s/n not been defaced to the point of ugliness as well as preventing any possibility of IDing the manufacture date, I might have bought it for a restoration project.

I did console myself by re-barreling a Remington 03A3 receiver and completing a restoration on it this week using all original Remington parts. A lot of the parts came from a "donor" Santa- Fe commercial 03A3 rifle which had been built using mostly Remington parts. Folks should be careful of any of the Santa Fe or National Ordnance marked 03A3s as these were assembled on commercially cast receivers with uncertain heat treatment, questionable dimensions, and a reputation for shattering when fired. I had bought the Santa-Fe rifle as a parts source and never had any intention of shooting it. It had been fired a few times, but the barrel gauged as new with a mirror bright bore. It showed excessive headspace and some setback of the bolt lug seats in the receiver when I got it. The receiver is now a paperweight.
 
I had one of those Santa Fe Springfield clones come apart on me. I bought it new in Ed Karrer's Gunatorium, which was located just outside of Millhaven. They guaranteed to have at least a thousand firearms on hand at any given moment in those days. Ed was a fine old gentleman and true to his word.

Like the rest of the world, I suspect things have changed there though. I would make the trip to visit with Ed, because he always had time to chat to someone that was as enthusiastic about firearms as I was. He also wanted me to come work for him. Milsurp everything was a big deal in those days and finding people that could put them back into presentable condition, for sale in the store was not easy. Especially with the Viet Nam war in full swing and a booming economy. I would work about 10 days per year for him, to get him caught up on the empty spots in his racks. His barn/warehouse was full to the rafters with crates/pallets/bags of everything imagineable that was milsurp. The IMA warehouse they show on TV, is small in comparison. It was amazing the stuff that went through his place.

Anyway, the Santa Fe receivers deserve their reputations. Mine went Kaboom with factory Dominion ammo. It was new when I purchased it.

It was well taken care of and didn't have more than 30 rounds down the tube. I called Ed and he told me there were several of them doing the same thing. He replaced everything he sold and took it up with the folks in California that were putting the rifles together. He lost lots of money on that one, Santa Fe went bankrupt from the court actions against them.
 
Hey Guys does that include the parkerhale midlands that take the springfield bolts? I know parkerhale also marketed a santa fe 98 action rifle but the midlands are different.....
 
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