icebear
Sako-addicted
This weekend's gun show at the Pima County (AZ) fairgrounds was a nothingburger for the Sako collector. The hall had a lot of empty space compared to pre-COVID shows. No collectible Sako or Tikka rifles at all. (Maybe an NIB T3 or two with synthetic stock, but nothing interesting.) Few better-quality sporting rifles of any kind. Little of interest in European military rifles or handguns. Asking prices were high and I didn't see a lot of guns changing hands. There was one table of garishly plated and engraved 1911's at price tags of 5K and up. Lots of anonymous modern semiauto handguns and a kazillion AR-15's. AR-15 "pistols" seem to be in, suggesting that hitting anything is out.
I did stop to talk with the seller of a Wickliffe single shot in .45-70. The Wickliffe was a falling-block rifle made for a few years in the 1970's. It was kind of odd-looking, with a heavy pistol-grip stock like a bolt gun and a wide forend. Quite a contrast to the slender lines of a Ruger N0. 1, a Sharps, or an 1885 Winchester. The rifle had beautiful figured wood and a Leupold 3.5-10x50 scope and was priced at $1600. It didn't talk to me so I moved on. (In case you're curious, here's a link to an online photo of a Wickliffe. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1027/370/wickliffe-rifles-76rifle-3006) I looked at a Swiss 1911 long rifle, but didn't feel any strong attraction. There were some oddities, including a custom FAL with a Mexican crest on it, built by Arizona Response Systems. Kind of cool, but pricey and I don't need another FAL. I did see an original Martini-Henry in .577-450. Price was around 1200; no idea of value since I don't collect that sort of thing. There were some nice old lever actions around, especially Marlins.
Ammo prices have come down some and supplies of most calibers now seem adequate, but prices are still high. I saw corrosive ComBloc military 7.62x54R at a buck a round. It should be half that, and I still have quite a bit that I bought for 15 cents.
Masks were required because the fairgrounds is county property and the county is now requiring masks at all indoor events. Not surprisingly, I heard some grumbling about this. Personally, I find masks uncomfortable but I really would prefer not to get COVID, so I'll do whatever improves my odds. I did get some compliments on my Thin Blue Line mask.
The crowd was something else. There was more than the usual contingent of young, hairy, obese, unkempt males who looked and talked like they got their firearms knowledge from a video game. I saw a large extended family that all looked alike - men, women and children. Each looked like a barrel on legs, with a pale, puffy face sticking out of the mass of flesh. Sort of like the Farkle family as seen through the eyes of Francisco Botero.
The promoters introduced a new hassle. Instead of stamping your hand for readmission, they now have a "selfie wall," with the name and date of the show. You take a selfie, and then show your phone to get back in. No phone? Go see the manager at the desk in the back. I didn't have my phone with me, and I've never even taken a selfie, but it didn't matter because I had no reason to come back the next day.
I bought nothing. The fudge lady didn't show up, so I couldn't even treat myself to some fudge. Maybe next time.
I did stop to talk with the seller of a Wickliffe single shot in .45-70. The Wickliffe was a falling-block rifle made for a few years in the 1970's. It was kind of odd-looking, with a heavy pistol-grip stock like a bolt gun and a wide forend. Quite a contrast to the slender lines of a Ruger N0. 1, a Sharps, or an 1885 Winchester. The rifle had beautiful figured wood and a Leupold 3.5-10x50 scope and was priced at $1600. It didn't talk to me so I moved on. (In case you're curious, here's a link to an online photo of a Wickliffe. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1027/370/wickliffe-rifles-76rifle-3006) I looked at a Swiss 1911 long rifle, but didn't feel any strong attraction. There were some oddities, including a custom FAL with a Mexican crest on it, built by Arizona Response Systems. Kind of cool, but pricey and I don't need another FAL. I did see an original Martini-Henry in .577-450. Price was around 1200; no idea of value since I don't collect that sort of thing. There were some nice old lever actions around, especially Marlins.
Ammo prices have come down some and supplies of most calibers now seem adequate, but prices are still high. I saw corrosive ComBloc military 7.62x54R at a buck a round. It should be half that, and I still have quite a bit that I bought for 15 cents.
Masks were required because the fairgrounds is county property and the county is now requiring masks at all indoor events. Not surprisingly, I heard some grumbling about this. Personally, I find masks uncomfortable but I really would prefer not to get COVID, so I'll do whatever improves my odds. I did get some compliments on my Thin Blue Line mask.
The crowd was something else. There was more than the usual contingent of young, hairy, obese, unkempt males who looked and talked like they got their firearms knowledge from a video game. I saw a large extended family that all looked alike - men, women and children. Each looked like a barrel on legs, with a pale, puffy face sticking out of the mass of flesh. Sort of like the Farkle family as seen through the eyes of Francisco Botero.
The promoters introduced a new hassle. Instead of stamping your hand for readmission, they now have a "selfie wall," with the name and date of the show. You take a selfie, and then show your phone to get back in. No phone? Go see the manager at the desk in the back. I didn't have my phone with me, and I've never even taken a selfie, but it didn't matter because I had no reason to come back the next day.
I bought nothing. The fudge lady didn't show up, so I couldn't even treat myself to some fudge. Maybe next time.