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Scumbag Factor at Gun Shows

I need to twist my head around and see things cockeyed, but I can see the old enemy crap (flags, uniforms, medals, etc - from the Nazis, Japs, commies, etc) reproductions as a cheap way to make a nice backdrop on a historical arm. For use as just a backdrop, I don't see the need for something that has a true historical value and view all of these items as little more than toilet paper. And for toilet paper that I wouldn't use as such, I'd rather pay a cheaper amount to make my little display.

On another note, I've discovered a great way to find the actual guns at gunshows and avoid the aisles and aisles of crap.

Walk along the end aisle and look down the main aisles. If you see more than 4 guys bunched around one table, go there - it is the table in the aisle with guns for sale.

This will help you avoid all the clothes, nazi propaganda, Suzanne Sommers Thighmasters and all the other stuff packed into gunshows.
 
BillK said:
I would say "forced" more then allowed. I am not going to get aboard this one.
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If "forced" means elected then, you are correct. Not really reasonable to villify a few whackos in an otherwise normal crowd, now is it?

Feel free to open a new thread on the merits of national socialism-or not.
 
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Mikey said:
This table was part of one of the vendor's areas set up near (but NOT) Tombstone IIRC.
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Thanks, I was beginning to think that I had gone blind! Yes, I have seen NRA sign-up materials at most/many gun shows, however they were always part of some vendor's table. IIRC an older gent who has a training company usually has them at MA and NH gun shows.

Just saying that it wasn't an "official NRA table" or they wouldn't allow him to be selling his products/services at that table. When I'm working the GOAL table, I can't sell my products/services, as it would be mis-representation . . . looking like GOAL endorses me/my products/services.

Since the NRA commission is $10/member, I can easily see someone buying a table to sell memberships next to their products/goods at the gun shows.
 
So in other words if you want to join the NRA go online or call them. I understand the NRA wanting as many people out there signing up new members as possible but they are actually "profiting" off of the NRA meaning less of your money is going to the causes. Not to mention that fact that selling Nazi pins on the same table just looks horrible.
 
As far as the Nazi periphanalia is concerned - I don't get good feelings from seeing it. I didn't remember it until I read this - it is just is not a focus of mine. It turns me completely off.
 
Mikey said:
This table was part of one of the vendor's areas set up near (but NOT) Tombstone IIRC.
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It was the "Swiss Arms Collectors Association" or something. They used to have Schmidt Rubin books and accessories as well as 7.5 Swiss ammo. This time they had a bunch of other stuff and I think ammo, but they really weren't set up very well when I was there. They had a sign that said "Join the NRA here", but I didn't get the sense that it was an official NRA booth.

BTW, I walked by the GOAL table twice and then had to ask MilSurps4Me where it was. I don't know if there's a way to put the banner up higher, but it might help draw more attention to GOAL.
 
One part of me says I cannot bring any semi interested non gun owners to a show because of this crap, the other part of me says, if people want to sell legal things that I dislike, who am I to try and stop them if crazy fools buy it from them.

Who is buying this crazp so folks keep selling it? Or I guess it is more like those Scientology fools I see selling books in the city. Some sort of cult where $$ may not be the goal.
 
I was so single mindedly looking at guns that I automatically ignored anything that looked boring from a glance, which would include nazi and kkk crap.
 
I could see getting some sort of 'setting' material. Like say, if you had a WWII era Luger. Putting it in a display case with a photo or some scrap of German uniform - something like that. (ed. there is something to learn in history - even the bad parts)

As to the KKK idiots; [puke]
 
namedpipes said:
I could see getting some sort of 'setting' material. Like say, if you had a WWII era Luger. Putting it in a display case with a photo or some scrap of German uniform - something like that. (ed. there is something to learn in history - even the bad parts)

As to the KKK idiots; [puke]
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Grin, there is ALWAYS something to be learned from history. Just look around at our current situation. [grin] Will we as voters ever smarten up?

Purchasing period pieces is just something collectors will do....because they like it. That is collecting. No, I am not a "collector"....but I understand. Grin, my wife likes antiques...specifically 1800's. Doesn't matter the venue, she just likes it. Have had to politely but firmly put limits on it. Do not want to live in a "museum".

I think Nazi firearms are pretty much the same thing. Its most likely a "thing" with the pieces, rather than an identification with the ideology. Could be wrong....just a thought. [grin]
 
I just stay away from the Nazi and KKK stuff. Honestly, I'm usually so busy hunting for a nice 03A3 or assorted parts that I don't even notice.

However, I do think having these people there gives gun owners a bad image. Wait til Rosenthal throws that up on the front page of the Globe.
 
Mikey said:
Not to bring up and old thread but the scumbag factor on Sunday morning in Marlborough was not bad at all. Only complaint I have is the people running the NRA sign-up table really should keep the Nazi "collectibles" on a separate table, doesn't reflect well on the NRA. How about some American flag pins and decals...
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The "new" nazi stuff is what angered me. Who makes this stuff? Some of the pins and such were brand new.
 
News Shooter said:
I guess I'm going to have to sell my collection of Confederate memorabilia including my great-great grandfather's saber. I mean, after all, what could be more evil than a Confederate?[sad]
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Yes! You must! Because I'm such a nice guy, I'd be happy to take it all of your hands. Awe heck, I won't even charge you to do it![smile]
 
News Shooter said:
I guess I'm going to have to sell my collection of Confederate memorabilia including my great-great grandfather's saber. I mean, after all, what could be more evil than a Confederate?[sad]
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That's not even close to being the same thing as newly manufactured Nazi and KKK memorabilia.
 
Yeah, but the cost of true historic pieces may far outweigh the "fungshway" thing...

The Confederate stuff is a prime example - I'm sure true relics from the Civil War are very costly, and would far outprice a nice current repro of a Civil War arm. So the modern manufactured goods will add to a display.

Same with the current nazi crap. If you get a nazi marked 98 for $200 - $300 or so, do you really want to invest in an actual flag, or would you rather pay $20 for a new swastika to display in your "gallery of losers"?

Displaying it on your front lawn is what should truly irritate people, but that's what the first amendment is for - no matter how utterly stupid people are.
 
News Shooter said:
I guess I'm going to have to sell my collection of Confederate memorabilia including my great-great grandfather's saber. I mean, after all, what could be more evil than a Confederate?[sad]
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I think everybody's cool with real collectibles, it's just the newly minted stuff that gets people uncomfortable. If someone collected authentic replicas as a history buff that wouldn't be bad. If some skin head is buying swastika collar pins to dress up his uniform, I have to accept it, I guess, but I don't have to like it. The Civil War was about state's rights, I don't think the confederacy was evil, just slavery.

I can't even pick up a WWII German firearm because I don't know who was killed with it. But that's me, and I understand that for some it's history and spoils of war, and I think that's great too.
 
I have a Nazi marked K98 rifle (Russian capture/rebuild). It doesn't bother me, because it's a piece of history. Like others said, it's the new production stuff that's sold that sheds a bad light on gun owners as a whole.
 
vellnueve said:
I have a Nazi marked K98 rifle (Russian capture/rebuild). It doesn't bother me, because it's a piece of history. Like others said, it's the new production stuff that's sold that sheds a bad light on gun owners as a whole.
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I have a Nazi that I keep shackled in my basement. He was actually down there when I bought my house back in '86. You know the law, what ever is attached to the real estate becomes part of the real estate.
 
I saw some a**h*** buying a KKK belt buckle. These guys do make us look bad.

The WWII bring back Nazi item do not bother me at all. I do not collect but I always look at them. As long they are historical not ideological artifacts I have no problem. I Lived in Germany and have visited a lot of WWII historical places
none worse nor more evil than the former Concentration camps. I look at them as reminder that it could never happen again. We should never forget.
 
Then again - reenacting is pretty popular and dress up is part of the allure. No one thinks bad about grown men dressing up like band of brothers to spend the weekend, so there has to be someone to shoot at. So maybe there is another legitimate reason for the newly made crap.

I'm sure someone on this board would have chimed in before if there was a WWII reenactment group in New England. So there probably isn't a real market for the stuff.

I still wish there were more freaking GUNS for sale at gunshows! Is that too much to ask for?
 
natzi

Tuna: you are wrong,but the groups are not standing out.I went to a reanactment in Millis one yr and they had german with real MP40s.
BUT I agree that the repros are disturbing.I have a few german rifles.71/84 mauser and mod 88.als argen1909.its the gun that interests me and I got them cheep.[rofl]but I also have garand.
neverthe less to many knives and jewlery.jerky is a good hunting carry all.I just went to show this week end sat 27th.same thing but to many Brownings.
prices of guns were murder.powder was fair but bullets and primers were out of this world.
 
I recently brought my girlfriend to a gun show, she is of Latin decent and has recently gotten into the shooting sport. The first table we walked up to there were Nazi Pins, Flags, and other related items. She quickly grabed onto my arm and had a look of concern, I explained to her that these items are for collective purposes and although there are some people who celebrate these items and symbols she was in no danger. In my eyes it was never an issue before but after seeing her reaction to these items i can see how it would give these shows a bad image. Gun shows are meant for guns, knives, and accessories i dont see how a giant Nazi flag has anything to do with any of those.
 
Just a point about vendor locations as it relates to gun shows. The promoter assigns them to you and you as a vendor really don't have much choice. I am not saying it is OK to have a NRA table next to a KKK / white supremacist table I just want folks to know sometimes you get stuck.

Like the time I had to work beside a guy selling all sorts of game calling equipment. It was loud and the same darn animal from the beginning of the day until the end, two days straight!!!!. I went home and heard that sound for a week[crying]
 
Relax.If they were real Nazis,all the guns there would have been confiscated.Now if there was an Obama bumper sticker table,I really would have been nervous.
 
tuna said:
Then again - reenacting is pretty popular and dress up is part of the allure. No one thinks bad about grown men dressing up like band of brothers to spend the weekend, so there has to be someone to shoot at. So maybe there is another legitimate reason for the newly made crap.

I'm sure someone on this board would have chimed in before if there was a WWII reenactment group in New England. So there probably isn't a real market for the stuff.

I still wish there were more freaking GUNS for sale at gunshows! Is that too much to ask for?
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Honestly I know of at least one reenactment group in the area. www.easy506th.org The picture that is on the front page there is actually of a german tank (I was told its the tank from saving private ryan, a modified russian t-34, but could be mistaken) that is owned and operated by a group of german reenactors. (Also not sure where that group is based, I did a couple events with the americans who's site that is)
 

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