by B.B. Pelletier
Okay, the season of airgun shows is upon us once more. Every year I hear from desperate airgunners in November after the Roanoke show is over. They ask why nobody told them about the airgun shows that were held in the U.S. Well, I am about to do that right now!
What you will find at a show
If you have ever cruised active flea markets or gun shows, an airgun show looks like a condo yard sale in comparison. There aren’t many tables (20-130, depending on the show), and there aren’t enough people to make a good cheering section for a chess tournament. Usually, when a first-timer sees the show, he initially thinks he missed it, and these are the remnants of dealers packing up.
Don’t be too quick to judge!
On one table, you may find 10 Benjamin air pistols from the 1940s – and three are still in the box! Where else are you going to find that, outside of your wildest dreams? Another three tables hold every model of Daisy BB gun from 1887 until 1920. They don’t look like much when they’re not on a two-page spread in a coffee table book, but five of them will buy a new car and ten will buy a Corvette. There are over 60 guns on those three tables.
Take your Ritalin!
I love to watch the guy who speedwalks the show, looking for a BSA Superstar underlever in .22 caliber! He sees the entire show in 25 minutes, loudly pronounces it a huge waste of time and leaves – presumably to go back to his chat forum to rake the show organizer over the coals. Half an hour later, a doctor who has just decided to give up airgunning piles 40 modern guns on a table at the entrance to the show and starts selling them for what he paid for them – FROM 1980 UNTIL FIVE YEARS AGO! Among the boxes (they are all boxed) is a like-new BSA Superstar underlever in .22 that he wants $300 for. This is a true story that I watched unfold last year.
First show: Windsor, CT
On April 14 & 15, the first show of the season will be held at the Elks Club in Windson, CT. Saturday 9-4, Sunday 9-2. This is the first year for this show. Call Kevin Hull for details 860-649-7599.
Little Rock, AR
The Little Rock Airgun Expo is in its 12th year. It will be held at the Saline County Fairgrounds (Exit 116 on I-30) on April 27 and 28. If at all possible, arrive at the opening at 10 a.m. on Friday. Admission is $5. The dealers will have been buying and selling among themselves since the afternoon before, but there will still be bundles of great deals at opening time. On Saturday, dealers will start thinking about the long drive or flight home, and will start to pack up early. Some have come from California, some from New York and some from Florida, so I don’t want to hear any excuses that Little Rock is 150 miles away!
If you want a table, call 501-315-5515 or visit the website at www.airgunexpo.com. Tables are $50 each. Show is open 10-6 on Friday and 10-3 on Saturday. There is an auction on Saturday at noon.
Toy Gun and BB Gun Show: Wooster, OH
I have little information on this one. I believe it runs in April. Contact Ron Wright for details 330-624-3741.
Baldwinsville, NY
On the third Saturday in July, Larry Behling (the author of the Air Machine Gun book) holds the Baldwinsville Show and Shoot in this beautiful old village nearby Syracuse. If you are an antique buff, there is a super 3000-booth outdoor antique show very close by. The airgun show is held in the hall of American Legion Post 113. Call 315-695-7133 or email co2bbjlts@juno.com.
The nice thing about this show is that it draws a lot of Canadians, and they sometimes bring guns not often seen in the U.S. It also pulls from the New England area, so you’ll see some very rare, old antiques…and many of them will have airguns! BB gun guru Wes Powers will have a table that will astound most new collectors. There are many regulars such as Don Raitzer and Richard Schmidt, who will have the common vintage collectables most new collectors and shooters long for. Crosman 600s will abound as will Town & Country guns (if you’re lucky) and other vintage guns such as Rochesters and Apaches. Remember, New York has been home to many airgun manufacturers.
Daisy Get Together: Mason, MI
If you collect BB guns, or want to, you must attend this show. It’s held in Mason, which is in southern Michigan, in late August. This show attracts all the most serious Daisy collectors in the United States. There is no model you cannot buy or upgrade at this show.
There are about 100 tables at this very active and jammed show. Call Bill Duimstra at 616-878-0306 or email him at bduimstra@campbellagency.com.
Frederick Gun Show
When the Damascus Airgun show was cancelled several years ago, it left a void for airgunners in the Mid-Atlantic states. For six years, airgunners had attended Damascus to see new airguns. There were vintage guns there as well, but there were more new airguns than at all other shows combined. That show has been replaced by airgun tables at the Potomac Arms Collectors Association gun show in Frederick, Maryland. In 2006 there were about 20 tables of airguns, but don’t let that number fool you. Quite a few major airguns were there, and some of the walk-ins were surprising, too (butt-flask rifle from the 1700s). They are planning on emphasizing airguns at this year’s show.
Marv Freund puts on this show in conjunction with PACA. Call him at 301-424-7988 or email mrfreund@erols.com. He’s planning to hold it in October this year.
The BIG one: Roanoke, VA
The International Airgun Exposition will hold its 14th show this year in Roanoke, VA, on the first Friday and Saturday in November. This is the largest airgun show in the world, and it attracts visitors from Europe. You may see anything and everything for sale at this show. There were 130 tables in 2006.
The show is held at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Contact Fred Liady at 540-344-1677.
Those are all the regular airguns shows I know about. I welcome information on any other annual airgun show in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Thank you very much for the information! I live near Syracuse New York and never knew that they hold an annual airgun show. Much appreciated! Do you or does anyone else know of any great places to check out in the North Country of New York?
Ref : Yr post ‘Airgun shows for 2007’ dated Tuesday, April 03, 2007
That was informative. This may be a little unlikely, but if you / Tom happen to run into the Beaumont rifle, may I ask you to a post on it ?!
I understand the list was not meant to be exhaustive, but I’m surprised that Little Rock is the westernmost venue. Are there any events scheduled in the western US?
Cattman
B.B. wrote, “Half an hour later, a doctor who has just decided to give up airgunning… Among the boxes (they are all boxed) is a like-new BSA Superstar underlever in .22 that he wants $300 for…”
LOL! Dude, that’s cruel! I’d love to own one of those. Thanks for remembering to post the show list and descriptions.
Cheers,
GH
Couldn’t agree more with Cattman. I am amazed that there isn’t a show somewhere in California for us Westerners. Are you aware of anything out here at all B.B.?
hey BB
As always a little off topic, but do you think you can test the new crosman tac 1 extreme/tac 77 elite sometime soon? They have lots of stuff and look pretty decent but you can never tell from looks alone.
Thanks, Kyle.
Does the Mason show often have guns other than Dasiy? I live about a five hour drive from there!
Id hate to be off subject But BB have you Ever used a Mendoza 622 is it a good hunting air rifle ??
Cody
B.B. Are there any airgun magazines published in the USA?
Hey BB,
Write somthing about the 22 caliber rws 460 when it comes out. It sounds like it will be more powerful than the webley patriot. Does the webley patriot have the same power plant as the gamo hunter extreme? I am askig because gamo ownes webley or at least thats what i have heard. I am not at all a fan of gamo so i wouldent buy anything involved with them. The rws 460 could turn me into a fan of springers. I currently refuse to buy a unless it is a pcp. That wont change me being a pcp person but i do like the pick it up and shoot feature. I have spent thousandson air guns so i betterhave some veriaty.
More from rws 460 guy
thank you, i read all your reports. Nobody could know the sport better than you.
What is the most effective way of mounting a scope on a benjamin 392 in .22. I have enjoyed the open sights for about a year and like them, but want a little more precision, but i will miss the easy of griping while pumping. Thanks.
PS i would try a peep sight but i shoot 60 pellets a day from a 2002ca and want somthing other that a peep
hb
I have an air force condor and find it to be very acurate. Is it as acurate as a walther lg 3000. I know the walther is easier to shoot but when it comes down to the barrel they are the same. After all the air force does have a walther barrel. The walther has better thot consistantcy which would give better groups. Correct me if i am wrong on any of this.
thank you
Ballistic gelatin test results : .177 and .22 airguns
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=266668
RWS 460,
Gamo owns BSA, not Webley. But Gamo allows BSA to make their own airguns. BSA barrels have a very good reputation.
No, the Patriot powerplant is not shared with Gamo. It’s unique, though the Beeman Kodiak is a Patriot by another name.
B.B.
Airgun magazines,
Airgun Hobby magazine is currently published. Not on newsstands. By subscription only.
B.B.
Cody,
Regarding the Mendoza 622, I believe that is a discontinued model. It’s not in Mendoza’s 2007 catalog.
However, I will be reviewing some Mendozas soon, so hang in there.
B.B.
The Mason show is a hardcore BB gun show. Yes there are other brands than Daisy, but they are BB guns, for the most part.
B.B.
Kyle,
I may test the Crosman, but probably not soon.
B.B.
Kodiak,
California has had a couple of small airguns shows, but they didn’t seem to catch on. At the present, I’m not aware of any shows in the golden state.
B.B.
MajorKonig,
A Beaumont! Yes, I’ll jump into my Silver Ghost and moto over to the showroom.
If I get a chance to test one, I’ll take it.
B.B.
BB,
this isnt exactly about airgun shows for 2007, but seeing as there is not a posting for this yet, i figured i’d just ask here. Also, this is about airsoft guns, so i have no idea if you can answer it or not. i hope so! On many of the KWA blowback airsoft handguns that are made to replicate Glocks, they are advertised with a “louvered barrel, just like the real thing”. Now my question is, what exactly is a louvered barrel, and why the heck do they put it on there?! what does it accomplish? thanks.
Louvered barrel is a new one to me. Perhaps they mean fluted or ported and don’t know the correct term?
B.B.
i have a daisy model 25 bb gun .i would like to know if its worth something or not. if not going to give to the kids to play with
Most Daisy 25s are worth something. The plastic-stocked models are worth the least, $40-100, and the blued steel and wood models are worth more, $75 – 400.
B.B.