Tulsa Gun Show - Friday Afternoon...

Sorry, folks; no cameras were allowed, and when they did my bag check, the found my camera and asked that I give up the batteries or else leave it in the car...


So words will have to do :


1. You all cannot imagine how much my feet hurt after walking nearly 8 hours straight. This is one big show ! Only got through 3/4 of it today.


2. The Wanamacher event folks advetise only 2% non related gun tables. I would argue with that and say they allowed 5-8% with jerky, art work, jewelery, etc. thrown in here and there. But compared to the deteriation to "joke level" of CA-State guns shows, this trip to Tulsa for a Californian is a well worthwhile venture.


3. Altogether, I would estimate 250-maybe 280 lugers total.


4. Biggest tables were Fred Fiet's table, a private collector named Mulligan (?), Simpton's LTD, and Ralph's WOL. Fred Fiet had the most on the table with maybe 35 or so. It appears like the big dealers use this show for buying inventory, and do not present much for selling. I did not see any real "gun show pricing". All dealers seems to stay in their published list pricing. Maybe some prices will drop on Sunday, the last day of the show...


I personally watched Ralph Shattuck work the entire show floor all day. Boy is he a luger buyning machine or what. I have never seen so much cash come out of a plain paper envelop...


5. Lots of other gun tables everywhere with 5-10 lugers each. And alot of lugers being sold by walk-in folks just floating around the show.


6. Spent a better part of the day looking for luger books. Was able to find a Fred Datig (The German Militaty Pistols) new for $ 18.00. Bought it for its historical value, understanding some is dated. Also found a new Jan Still's (Weimar Lugers) for $ 60.00.


7. Did get a chance to meet the Forum's Tom Heller. He really is the first class gentleman he seems to be on the Forum and as others reported on the Forum. You can't meet a nicer person !


Tom did tempt me and I bought a 1920 commercial DWM with 6" barrel at 75-80% for $ 850.00. This will be my second luger from Tom. I think this might be my first shooter I send to Thor for a TDJ...(Ted, I will be calling you the week of 4-15-02!!!)


8. Some of the tables with only a few lugers were obviusly re-finished lugers that were not tagged or described by their sellers as "not original". It really is "buyer beware". Some of the "nicest" lugers at a small table were all marked as original finish. But they did not allow me to disassemble their 1st. variation 06/24 Bern (so I could look for internal white surfaces). And as I backed away from their table, I noticed their overhead banner that said they were an elite refinish/reblue shop...Boy...!!!


9. The highlight of my trip here to Tulsa was to see a fantastic luger exhibit by a fellow named Atkins (I think) from the New Mexico area. I heard he is an older fellow that has been collecting for over 35 years. This exhibit, located on the lower floor, was roped off to keep folks at a safe distance. It comprised all mint lugers (nearly 20 or so) and Borchardts (2). The lugers ran a good historical perspective and were well presented with ID labels,text write-ups, photos, and manuals. Included were also mint holsters, straps, stocks, trummel magazine and load/unload tools. I utilized this exhibit during the day as my luger shrine; if I got tired of seeing very poor quality lugers or re-blued lugers presented as original, I came back to this shrine to clear my head. The exhibit's Owner should have tremedous pride in his collection accomplishment ! I hope to chase down the Owner tomorrow to meet him and shake his hand. I was just impressed with the fact that he would buy a table and use it to exhibit the luger hobby and not even try to sell anything. (But I do suspect he was working the floor trying to add to this wonderful collection.)


Well, I will close for now. Again, sorry for no photos...