Ignorance at a gun show

[Fujicon]

I'm tempted to say this is kind of a thing for gun folk, to cling violently to their mistaken beliefs regardless what reality may be, but in truth this is just part and parcel of the human condition. Expecially for people who dedicate a lot of time and effort to specialize in a certain field. If you doubt how universal this phenomenon is, just look at academia and the pissing wars that happen between professors in the same field of study (not to mention politics).

 

[bjmurp2]

Despite being a bit tired today,, a buddy & I went to a gun show. As I was cruising the tables,, I spied a Ruger Single-Six, New Model, and casually picked it up.
The seller,, said "It's an old one" but it wasn't a "flattop."

Despite the fact it had base pin that was NOT a Ruger one,, and in general,, showed a bit of neglect, he tried to sell me on the "really old" gun. I politely said; "This gun is not that old,, it's a "New Model!" (And by the serial number was made in the 1990's.) He insisted it was very old,, but not a Flattop. I (again) politely showed him where it said it was a New Model as shown on the frame. That an "OLD" gun would be a 3-screw, non-transfer bar gun. And I (again) politely tried to explain that NONE of the Single-Six guns were made as Flattops. That yes,, there were FIXED sighted guns,, but not a FT Single-Six.
He flat told me; "I know my Rugers, and that gun is an old one, and they did make a Flattop in the .22's."

Well, I then reached in my pocket,, pulled out my pocket sized RENE Reference Guide,, and said; "Prove it. Here's the collectors bible of detailed Rugers." He looked at the cover,, and said; "I don't need no book to tell me anything."

I tried hard to be polite,, but his ignorance & insistence of what he believed,, caught me wrong. I know I could have just smiled & walked away after his first claim of it being "old" and not a Flattop. I guess I was too tired to let it go. I knew better,, but I actually had (initially) hoped he'd be open to a bit more correct information.

I guess I'm more used to the good folks here who appreciate good, correct information.

Gun shows blow my mind. What people ask for some items (not just guns) is unreal

 

[HumphreyDaBear]

Last gun show I went to was a joke. That was around 3-4 years ago. More trinkets and baubles than firearms or reloading supplies. As we were leaving we went past a table selling beat up AK's and SK's for several hundreds of dollars listed. I remember the SK's for $80.00. Downside was spending the next week cleaning and recleaning Cosmoline out of them.

 

[Fujicon]

Last gun show I went to was a joke. That was around 3-4 years ago. More trinkets and baubles than firearms or reloading supplies. As we were leaving we went past a table selling beat up AK's and SK's for several hundreds of dollars listed. I remember the SK's for $80.00. Downside was spending the next week cleaning and recleaning Cosmoline out of them.

I agree. Not sure why they've gone so downhill, but where I used to go to gun shows at least three times per year, I've not been to one for at least the past five years. Maybe it's just the Pacific Northwest where guns shows have become so lame, not sure.

 

[steveodtw]

Reminds me of when I bought my GP 100 from Gander Mountain ( a while ago). I overheard the salesman telling a customer he should by the S&W because Ruger doesn't have a warranty.

 

[MaxMan]

Probably SW was offering some kind of incentive.

 

[Toyman]

I haunt most of the gun shows in Las Vegas and gotten to know several dealers on a first name basis.
I approached a table of one of the dealers and he handed a K frame S&W 2 inch that looked to be prewar. I noticed the barrel had been cut behind the front locking lug. I looked it over and it was a 5 inch 38 S&W sent to England during WW2. The dealer told me it was one of the 2 inch guns sent to OSS. He took out the BLUE BOOK to show me a price and he paid was less that shown. He told me a guy brought it to his table, showed him BLUE BOOK and the dealer bought it.
I showed him the cut behind the lug, his got red and he was pissed.
I walked around came back to the same table and saw the gun was gone.
The dealer pointed to another table, that dealer bought the gun thinking it was an OSS gun.
I did not tell the other dealer the truth.

 

[powder smoke]

Despite being a bit tired today,, a buddy & I went to a gun show. As I was cruising the tables,, I spied a Ruger Single-Six, New Model, and casually picked it up.
The seller,, said "It's an old one" but it wasn't a "flattop."

Despite the fact it had base pin that was NOT a Ruger one,, and in general,, showed a bit of neglect, he tried to sell me on the "really old" gun. I politely said; "This gun is not that old,, it's a "New Model!" (And by the serial number was made in the 1990's.) He insisted it was very old,, but not a Flattop. I (again) politely showed him where it said it was a New Model as shown on the frame. That an "OLD" gun would be a 3-screw, non-transfer bar gun. And I (again) politely tried to explain that NONE of the Single-Six guns were made as Flattops. That yes,, there were FIXED sighted guns,, but not a FT Single-Six.
He flat told me; "I know my Rugers, and that gun is an old one, and they did make a Flattop in the .22's."

Well, I then reached in my pocket,, pulled out my pocket sized RENE Reference Guide,, and said; "Prove it. Here's the collectors bible of detailed Rugers." He looked at the cover,, and said; "I don't need no book to tell me anything."

I tried hard to be polite,, but his ignorance & insistence of what he believed,, caught me wrong. I know I could have just smiled & walked away after his first claim of it being "old" and not a Flattop. I guess I was too tired to let it go. I knew better,, but I actually had (initially) hoped he'd be open to a bit more correct information.

I guess I'm more used to the good folks here who appreciate good, correct information.

Know it alls can be a pain in the rear! walk away smilling knowing what you know! ps

 

[Old1215]

Despite being a bit tired today,, a buddy & I went to a gun show. As I was cruising the tables,, I spied a Ruger Single-Six, New Model, and casually picked it up.
The seller,, said "It's an old one" but it wasn't a "flattop."

Despite the fact it had base pin that was NOT a Ruger one,, and in general,, showed a bit of neglect, he tried to sell me on the "really old" gun. I politely said; "This gun is not that old,, it's a "New Model!" (And by the serial number was made in the 1990's.) He insisted it was very old,, but not a Flattop. I (again) politely showed him where it said it was a New Model as shown on the frame. That an "OLD" gun would be a 3-screw, non-transfer bar gun. And I (again) politely tried to explain that NONE of the Single-Six guns were made as Flattops. That yes,, there were FIXED sighted guns,, but not a FT Single-Six.
He flat told me; "I know my Rugers, and that gun is an old one, and they did make a Flattop in the .22's."

Well, I then reached in my pocket,, pulled out my pocket sized RENE Reference Guide,, and said; "Prove it. Here's the collectors bible of detailed Rugers." He looked at the cover,, and said; "I don't need no book to tell me anything."

I tried hard to be polite,, but his ignorance & insistence of what he believed,, caught me wrong. I know I could have just smiled & walked away after his first claim of it being "old" and not a Flattop. I guess I was too tired to let it go. I knew better,, but I actually had (initially) hoped he'd be open to a bit more correct information.

I guess I'm more used to the good folks here who appreciate good, correct information.

 

[Old1215]

They are everywhere. Happened upon an "expert" while at the junkyard looking for a rim. Guns got mentioned and I said I had a few I was trying to sell. Showed him my outdoor sports two tone MarkII. He said "yeah I got one of them, but mines chrome plated" What ya want for it? I was kinda desperate so I said $500. He laughed said he can get a brand new "chrome" MarkIV at Rural King for $400. I went straight to the website and they are almost $650.
Engaged longer than I should have. I walked away mad, he remained blissfully and confidently ignorant.