The Donkey
New member
I've been working shows with my dad all over the place since I was age 4.
The ones I have been to in Virginia are Chantilly, Harrisonburg, Mechanicsville, Roanoke and Hillsville. I may have gone to the one at the State Fairgrounds too, but can't remember, which is not a good sign.
I liked Hillsville the best in Virginia, although mainly not for the guns. It is an experience that everybody should have for the days that it takes just to walk around the Flea-market. I did some good buying there too: a double barreled percussion "Cape Gun" that required some work, but looks great now, and is for sale if anyone is interested.
The biggest ones I have been to elsewhere are Columbus, Detroit & Las Vegas. But sometimes, the little ones are just as good. Pottstown, PA for example can be a great show when the market for antiques is good. For me, on the modern stuff, Chantilly, Roanoke and Mechanicsville (while it existed) are fine because 80% of the guns on the tables of the major dealers are the same. The Chantilly show has become annoyingly crowded lately, but I think that is going to die down in a few months when the "weekenders" realize that the Assault Weapons Ban is going nowhere.
I rarely get worked up enough to boycott anything, although I have been more careful lately about avoiding fish that is over-fished or irresponsibly farmed. I cannot imagine that I will ever miss a gun show because I disagree with a state's laws, but who knows: there is a first time for everything.
