Tulsa Gun Show Report...

Pete Ebbink · 10-20-2002, 06:17 PM

Two days of a very large gun show...here's a recap :

Highlights :

1. Dinner with Ron Wood and George Anderson (both from the Fourm).

2. Getting to see Tom Heller again. And buying, from Tom, a nice little 1923 Swiss DWM commerical, reworked shooter with 8", non-artillery, 9mm barrel. (Hey Hugh Clark, get ready for another swiss border-grip job...!)

3. Getting to see a real nice 1902 4", .30 cal. Fat Barrel prototype (serial 10041 B) at Ralph Shattuck's table.

4. Getting to meet Mike Morris and being able to see a real 1904 DWM Navy; which was on consignment sale with Bob Simpson, but is now back with Mike Morris. Having Mike show me some photo albums of his great collection pieces...

5. Getting to see a detailed, simultaneous take-down of two historical, rare lugers; one righteous and one very doubtful. What a learning experience for this beginner !

6. Getting to see Jim Eckert's latest luger holster and pistol display; which is always a treat. Getting to chat with Jim for a few minutes during the show. Hope he wins a display award, again, as he did in April coming in at 2nd. place.

7. Getting to meet Charlie Kenyon in person and asking him when his new, 3rd. book will come out. Mr. Kenyon said soon; as he will retire soon and will devote more time to the project, which he reported as nearly done already...

8. Finding the nicest pair of very nitre-blue grip screws for only $ 5.00 for the pair...I spent 15 minutes digging through parts bins and the seller did not want to get up off his chair and just asked what I had in my hand, I told him 2 screws, and he said "five dollars please...". Deal done...

9. Finding a decent copy of Constanzo's WOL Proofmarks book; asking was at $ 250.00, bought late on Sunday for $ 180.00. Also found a nice copy of Ian V. Hogg's book, The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Firearms, for only $ 12.00

Lowlights :

1. Had to walk on the world's hardest concrete surface for more than 2 days. This concrete must be 6,000 psi grade and even your most "sensible", comfortable shoes don't help much.

Tips for others at Tulsa future shows : Wear soft, well cushioned, and well worn-in shoes and take lots of sit down breaks during the day.

2. Lots of well-done, refinshed lugers for sale as "original" finish pieces...this is really frightening !!!

3. Had no luck finding that "right" Dutch KOL luger. Looked over three; one was too pitted, one was too expensive, and one was nice at $ 1,700.00 but did not have a brass side plate...will keep hunting for now...

Off to soak my acing feet...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Jimbo · 10-20-2002, 08:54 PM

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the great report for those of us who didn't attend. The highlight I'm most jealous of is your meeting new forum members. That's great! Lowlight that struck me was those fake refinished lugers. Bad, bad news, bro.

Jimbo

Jimbo · 10-21-2002, 02:53 AM

Hi again, Pete,

I just re-read your Tulsa report for the show in April 2002. You wrote that there were many Lugers being sold by private folks at that show. You wrote that Ralph Shattuck "vacuumed up" 29 new (old) Lugers, by which I assumed you meant that he was buying from the non-dealers walking around the show.

So how was the supply of private non-dealer lugers this show, compared with the April show? Is the supply drying up or are there still plenty of old Lugers coming out of the closet at Tulsa?

Pete Ebbink · 10-21-2002, 10:20 AM

Hello Jim,

I suspect lots of lugers continue to trade hands on the dealer-only day of the show, Friday. What is left on the tables on Saturday and Sunday are the lugers that the dealers passed up; probably due to the owner's asking prices and condition.

There were a couple of dozen or so small tables, probably private guys selling off their weapons. On these you might find a shooter luger or two at such tables. I think I saw up to 10-14 lugers as such; all over-priced.

I did not see any folks walking the floor trying to sell a luger; but I could have easily missed them amongst the hoard of folks at the show.

I did see a couple of walk-ins that headed right for a dealer's table to sell...

Sunday was really disappointing at Tusla as well. I would guess that up to 10% of the tables were evacuated before the show opened on Sunday morning. I did not think the show promoter allowed dealers/sellers to leave the show early, but many left...

At dinner, both Ron Wood and George Anderson mentioned, when I asked them, that it has been a couple of years when they were able to buy collector-lugers from private guys. They felt such pistols were drying up.

I overheard a conversation with Chris Clark (of FSG) and he mentioned that they are having difficulty finding lugers as well and is planning a Europeon trip soon to re-stock.

I might not attend Tulsa next year, unless I happen to be at a client site nearby...sounds like that Louisville, KY show was the luger show to go to this year !

I have heard from a nice nambu and luger dealer (named Wally S.) who lives in Las Vegas that that show is really a good pistol show. He said there are more pistols than long guns. Tulsa seems to be predominantly a long gun show.

I will attend the Las Vegas show in a couple of weeks and will post a report, then...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Brandon · 10-21-2002, 04:18 PM

Pete,
If you ever decide to come out to the Louisville, KY show, let me know!!! I'll try my hardest to get there!!!

Regards,Brandon

Jimbo · 10-21-2002, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the update on Tulsa. Thankfully there will always be nice lugers for sale at reasonable prices. Good hunting!

10-20-2002, 06:17 PM	#1
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Tulsa Gun Show Report... Two days of a very large gun show...here's a recap : Highlights : 1. Dinner with Ron Wood and George Anderson (both from the Fourm). 2. Getting to see Tom Heller again. And buying, from Tom, a nice little 1923 Swiss DWM commerical, reworked shooter with 8", non-artillery, 9mm barrel. (Hey Hugh Clark, get ready for another swiss border-grip job...!) 3. Getting to see a real nice 1902 4", .30 cal. Fat Barrel prototype (serial 10041 B) at Ralph Shattuck's table. 4. Getting to meet Mike Morris and being able to see a real 1904 DWM Navy; which was on consignment sale with Bob Simpson, but is now back with Mike Morris. Having Mike show me some photo albums of his great collection pieces... 5. Getting to see a detailed, simultaneous take-down of two historical, rare lugers; one righteous and one very doubtful. What a learning experience for this beginner ! 6. Getting to see Jim Eckert's latest luger holster and pistol display; which is always a treat. Getting to chat with Jim for a few minutes during the show. Hope he wins a display award, again, as he did in April coming in at 2nd. place. 7. Getting to meet Charlie Kenyon in person and asking him when his new, 3rd. book will come out. Mr. Kenyon said soon; as he will retire soon and will devote more time to the project, which he reported as nearly done already... 8. Finding the nicest pair of very nitre-blue grip screws for only $ 5.00 for the pair...I spent 15 minutes digging through parts bins and the seller did not want to get up off his chair and just asked what I had in my hand, I told him 2 screws, and he said "five dollars please...". Deal done... 9. Finding a decent copy of Constanzo's WOL Proofmarks book; asking was at $ 250.00, bought late on Sunday for $ 180.00. Also found a nice copy of Ian V. Hogg's book, The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Firearms, for only $ 12.00 Lowlights : 1. Had to walk on the world's hardest concrete surface for more than 2 days. This concrete must be 6,000 psi grade and even your most "sensible", comfortable shoes don't help much. Tips for others at Tulsa future shows : Wear soft, well cushioned, and well worn-in shoes and take lots of sit down breaks during the day. 2. Lots of well-done, refinshed lugers for sale as "original" finish pieces...this is really frightening !!! 3. Had no luck finding that "right" Dutch KOL luger. Looked over three; one was too pitted, one was too expensive, and one was nice at $ 1,700.00 but did not have a brass side plate...will keep hunting for now... Off to soak my acing feet... Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

10-20-2002, 08:54 PM	#2
Jimbo User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF CA Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Pete, Thanks for the great report for those of us who didn't attend. The highlight I'm most jealous of is your meeting new forum members. That's great! Lowlight that struck me was those fake refinished lugers. Bad, bad news, bro. Jimbo

10-21-2002, 02:53 AM	#3
Jimbo User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF CA Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi again, Pete, I just re-read your Tulsa report for the show in April 2002. You wrote that there were many Lugers being sold by private folks at that show. You wrote that Ralph Shattuck "vacuumed up" 29 new (old) Lugers, by which I assumed you meant that he was buying from the non-dealers walking around the show. So how was the supply of private non-dealer lugers this show, compared with the April show? Is the supply drying up or are there still plenty of old Lugers coming out of the closet at Tulsa?

10-21-2002, 10:20 AM	#4
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello Jim, I suspect lots of lugers continue to trade hands on the dealer-only day of the show, Friday. What is left on the tables on Saturday and Sunday are the lugers that the dealers passed up; probably due to the owner's asking prices and condition. There were a couple of dozen or so small tables, probably private guys selling off their weapons. On these you might find a shooter luger or two at such tables. I think I saw up to 10-14 lugers as such; all over-priced. I did not see any folks walking the floor trying to sell a luger; but I could have easily missed them amongst the hoard of folks at the show. I did see a couple of walk-ins that headed right for a dealer's table to sell... Sunday was really disappointing at Tusla as well. I would guess that up to 10% of the tables were evacuated before the show opened on Sunday morning. I did not think the show promoter allowed dealers/sellers to leave the show early, but many left... At dinner, both Ron Wood and George Anderson mentioned, when I asked them, that it has been a couple of years when they were able to buy collector-lugers from private guys. They felt such pistols were drying up. I overheard a conversation with Chris Clark (of FSG) and he mentioned that they are having difficulty finding lugers as well and is planning a Europeon trip soon to re-stock. I might not attend Tulsa next year, unless I happen to be at a client site nearby...sounds like that Louisville, KY show was the luger show to go to this year ! I have heard from a nice nambu and luger dealer (named Wally S.) who lives in Las Vegas that that show is really a good pistol show. He said there are more pistols than long guns. Tulsa seems to be predominantly a long gun show. I will attend the Las Vegas show in a couple of weeks and will post a report, then... Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

10-21-2002, 04:18 PM	#5
Brandon User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 329 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pete, If you ever decide to come out to the Louisville, KY show, let me know!!! I'll try my hardest to get there!!! Regards,Brandon

10-21-2002, 07:31 PM	#6
Jimbo User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF CA Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the update on Tulsa. Thankfully there will always be nice lugers for sale at reasonable prices. Good hunting!