First, truth in advertising - I am new to OK and this is my first gun show here. I have been to many in Georgia. I also realize that Lawton is a small town and it isn't reasonable to expect the kind of turn out one might see in OKC or Tulsa. So here goes...
- The Good - they give a 50% discount ($4 vice $8) for active or retired military and the fee is good for entry both days of the show.
Unusually large displays of pocket knives at good prices and gun manuals (how to disassemble/clean, etc.) that are often hard to find online.
- The Bad - after walking into the main display area - this is one of the most poorly attended (by vendors) gun shows I have ever seen. I estimate that there are 20-30 vendors tops (likely fewer but I am trying to be generous). Very few pistols on display. There is a decent array of hunting type rifles mostly used. Two vendors have nice though small displays of AR variants.
- The Ugly - some very high asking prices - one vendor was asking $695 for a Rossi Circuit Judge. I just saw the same make/model for sale at Wally World across town for over $220.00 less. I understand that volume dealers get better wholesale prices but nearly 50% difference! They also didn't seem very much interested in dealing down the price.
Special Note: Doubledsteel.com (also guntargets.net ) have a very nice display of steel targets from small 4-point "tank trap" type targets to multi-plate arrays. All of his stuff was at good prices and seemed very competitive with Brownell's and other online sources.
I may try a second day and probably will pick up one or more of the steel targets.
- The Good - they give a 50% discount ($4 vice $8) for active or retired military and the fee is good for entry both days of the show.
Unusually large displays of pocket knives at good prices and gun manuals (how to disassemble/clean, etc.) that are often hard to find online.
- The Bad - after walking into the main display area - this is one of the most poorly attended (by vendors) gun shows I have ever seen. I estimate that there are 20-30 vendors tops (likely fewer but I am trying to be generous). Very few pistols on display. There is a decent array of hunting type rifles mostly used. Two vendors have nice though small displays of AR variants.
- The Ugly - some very high asking prices - one vendor was asking $695 for a Rossi Circuit Judge. I just saw the same make/model for sale at Wally World across town for over $220.00 less. I understand that volume dealers get better wholesale prices but nearly 50% difference! They also didn't seem very much interested in dealing down the price.
Special Note: Doubledsteel.com (also guntargets.net ) have a very nice display of steel targets from small 4-point "tank trap" type targets to multi-plate arrays. All of his stuff was at good prices and seemed very competitive with Brownell's and other online sources.
I may try a second day and probably will pick up one or more of the steel targets.