Same here, amigo. I went on Friday afternoon figuring that Saturday would be more crowded. Then again, this promoter doesn't do the advertising that the last one did, and it is a long holiday weekend.
The show was better than I expected. There were more mil surp selections and ammo distributors than the last one. It was just a tad smaller than the Dixie Gun and Knife Classic. A few vendors were familiar to me from previous shows.
As I was telling Chris, the wife did solve her dilemma about what to get for my birthday present. I suggested a new M44. I found one that I really liked. I payed a bit more for it than I like to, but it was in fantastic shape. I looks to have been perhaps rearsennaled and then never reissued. There were only two tiny blemishes on the receiver. The rifling was crisp and clean.
It is a 1946 Izzy with a dark blonde laminated stock and all matching numbers.
I have another M44, but I was a bit disappointed with it as far as stock condition. It was a bit more beat up than the dealer categorized, but I got a great price on it. After I cleaned all the grease off it, it didn't look as good as it did when I first got it. This one is absolutely gorgeous and is possibly the best looking M44 I ever saw.
There was one dealer at the show from Pennsylvania that was selling grease laden M44 rifles about $30 cheaper. The catch? He said that he can't sell in NC, but he can to a C&R holder. I didn't bring my C&R license to the show. I would never have thought that I would need it at a show, since the whole idea is to touch and buy without needing a license other than permit. I do carry my CCW, which doubles as a pistol permit here.
Anyway, decent show, but always a hot venue. Such poor air conditioning in that building.
