Today reader RidgeRunner, tells us about his time at the tenth annual North Carolina airgun show. If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, RidgeRunner
Tenth annual North Carolina airgun show
by RidgeRunner
This report covers:
- It’s all over now
- The theme
- I tried, believe me
- Some of what I saw
- What I looked for
- What I did bring back
The view as you walk in the door.
It’s all over now
The tenth annual North Carolina airgun show is now in the books. You should have been there. A good time was had by all. Well, at least my grandson and I had a pretty good time. In fact, I enjoyed myself so much I forgot to take more pictures. The show was Friday and Saturday, November first and second. My grandson and I showed up Saturday morning and wandered around most of the day.
The theme
BB usually talks about a theme for what airguns you would likely see at this show. I would have said there were two major themes. One theme was BB guns. There were lots and lots of BB guns. There was even one dude selling gee gobs of Daisy BB guns that he had customized with custom stocks. If you wanted a BB gun, he was the dude to talk to.
The other theme made me drool and wish I had a big wad of cash. There were bunches and bunches of “old gals” all over the place. Of course Larry Hannusch and Don Raitzer were there, but I had failed to bring a big enough wad to get the one I wanted from Larry.
I talked to one dude who walked in looking for someone to tell him about an old Haenel he carried in. He said it was made around the ‘thirties. It looked like it had come out of the BSA factory around the mid to late ‘teens.
I tried, believe me
There was one dude there who had four tables of BB guns. Amongst them was a Quackenbush No. 1 in great shape for only $450. I tried all day to get him to go for the trade of my Armada for it, but he said he had to have cash. I did not bring the Quackenbush home.
Some of what I saw
While wandering around I ran into Paul, who just happened to have several tables with very old Dianas and Haenels on it. Of course none of his air rifles were for sale. They were just for lookin’ at.
I also met this gentleman who happened to have a couple of tables of air pistols, some of which were for sale. Not the ones I wanted though. I was forced to wipe up a considerable amount of drool while looking at this collection.
I tried, but it was not going to happen.
What I looked for
There actually were a couple of young’uns I was looking for. One of them was a Notos. Yes, I did indeed look for one, but did not see one anywhere. Apparently, everyone who buys one, hangs onto it.
Another air rifle I was looking for and did not see hide nor hair of was the new Crosman 3622. I wanted to add that low pressure air rifle to my collection. I saw both versions of the 362, but not 3622. I guess they are just too new to be at airgun shows yet.
Yes, I did look over what Baker Airguns brought, but they want to make such a large profit, all they brought were FX, Brocock-BRK and Daystate. They will also give you almost nothing for your trade, much like Airguns of Arizona.
I looked at Larry’s tables and he had an outside lock that I think was made in the seventeenth century that I wanted so bad. It was a timed lock with a tap loader and a butt reservoir. Of course, Larry was not interested in anything I had for trading and wanted on amount for that air rifle that would have banished me from RRHFWA if I had bought it.
What I did bring back
My grandson and I did have a good time and managed to find new homes for all the young’uns. I even managed to bring home more than I had taken, monetarily wise anyway. I will have to admit that some of them were young’uns though.
I traded my Webley and my Armada for a new/old .20 AirForce Condor. I traded the Gamo Swarm Bone Collector for a Falke Model 50. I traded my Predom Lucznik for a wood gripped Benjamin Franklin 130.
My grandson traded my Diana Z-Mount, which I personally detest, for a slightly used Diana P5 air pistol. He also bought a Gamo Urban and then turned around and traded it for an Umarex Gauntlet.
Here is some of what we brought back.
There is a very good chance I will be talking about these airguns throughout the year. There are also a few more here at RidgeRunner’s Home For Wayward Airguns that I have not told you folks about yet. If BB will continue to let me, I will bore you some more, pun intended.
P.S. That is my grandson to the right in the first photo. I might even tell you about his Gauntlet.
RidgeRunner,
Bore away. I doubt if that Condor will stay stock for long though.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
That Condor already has an UTG 3-12 scope on it and I have not even shot it yet.
Sounds like you’re raising the grandson right! As for 3622s, probably the best bet is to wait for Pyramyd to have another 20% off sale. Only guy I know that’s gotten rid of one is Travis from Oh Shoot channel, he didn’t like his, prefers the Beeman.
As the Beeman’s, with the exception of a very few still made in Germany, are made by Uncle Xi’s buddies, that is not likely going to happen here.
I also like the fill pressure and simplicity.
Don’t blame you, in fact that’s why I told Travis in the comments to try one! At less the 3622 is assembled here, even if it has Chinese parts.
OP,
Yeah, I am aware of the parts being made by Uncle Xi’s buddies. I have come to realize that over the years I do prefer the AirForce line, but have also enjoyed the low pressure levels of the Discovery, the Maximus and now the 3622. I am at present waiting for a low pressure, top shelf PCP to come to market. I also know that Mrs. RR will have a fit when that does happen.
New from AirForce “The Fit”!;)
I am looking more and more at the AirForce Outlet Store. The prices on blems and the discontinued stuff are pretty good.
OP,
I have no idea what “The Fit” is, but I would have no fear in buying a blem from AirForce. Even the blems have their lifetime warranty.
Ohio Plinker, I agree. You can also keep your eye on Pyramyd’s refurbished section for a good deal, even on the newer models that get returned. Sometimes airguns are returned for no good reason at all, but if the box was opened, they cannot be sold as new. With the holidays coming, there will be sales and reduced thresholds for free shipping. Happy hunting.
RidgeRunner, thanks for the report on the Airgun Show. Will there be a part 2 where you tell us what airguns you got a chance to shoot?
I was surprised that you let the Webley go. I seem to recall you recently telling Yogi how fun it is to shoot, even though it is not the most accurate air rifle in your arsenal. Also surprised you let the Predom go. Perhaps a Walther will find its way to RRHFWA.
But it sounds like your grandson is going to be a success story, essentially flipping one airgun to get another. Great deal for him! He should look up the story of the guy who started with a paper clip and after a series of trades, ended up owning a house!
RG,
What Yogi and I were talking about was my Webley Service Mark II that Mrs. RR had bought off BB. You can search for it here.
As for the Predom, I just happened to have it at the show and was not really intending to trade it, but the dealer became so excited when I mentioned I had one, I just had to let it go. I did get the wood handled Benjamin Franklin 130 for it.
Blake is learning wheeling and dealing. He is the one who traded my Diana Z-Mount for the Diana p-five. Not bad for a fifteen-year-old.
Agreed, not bad at all. He’s one to watch. He has a lot of potential.
Indeed.
RG,
There will not likely be a part 2 to this, but I do intend to talk about these airguns some.
I look forward to that!
RG,
So do I.
BB,
That is a Diana p-five, not a Diana LP5.
RR,
No, it’s not a p-five. It is a P5. When I saw that you didn’t capitalize the P I thought you were being careless. You were — just not the way I imagined.
I’ve corrected it.
BB
BB,
Well, on the box and on the pistol it says p-five. Once again, PA is wrong.
RR,
I looked at the photo of the pistol and see that you are right and Pyramyd AIR listed it incorrectly. My apologies.
BB
BB,
No problem, simple mistake.
Glad to see a good time was had by all; nice selection you brought back home, RR. Had FM made it to the show, he would have found that DQ hard to resist. Keeping fingers crossed for making it there next year – God willing, of course.
Thanks for the interesting report. Looks like this was a success for both of you (in more ways than one).
Thank you for the report RR, all the more precious with your grandson by your side.
I have to make the next Texas show.
Henry
Oh, RR, I forgot to say, enjoy that Falke. I remember B.B.’s report on it. I’ll bet it looks great next to your other gals.
Roamin Greco,
Falke is HAWK in English.
shootski
Cool. I like that imagery. Almost as good as Diana dropping her bow in favor of an air rifle.
RidgeRunner,
I wish i could have made it this year.
I have always enjoyed time spent with fellow airgun addicts; it is one of the better addictions to be afflicted with!
I’m going to try to plan better for next year and be there for both days, God willing.
shootski
sounds like it was a great place to be.
Larry drove fromHouston to be there. WOW!
It’s only 100 miles difference between my house and the airgun show, and my house and the Pyramyd AIR Cup.
TMac had invited me to attend, but unfortunately my work schedule interfered with that.
I look forward to your reports on the new family members..
Ian
RidgeRunner,
I should have been there; my brother lives in Jonesville, which is only an hour away from there.
But it looks like you scored some good ones!
Blessings to you,
dave