Anecdotal Evidence of Extremely High Gun Sales

Classic Arms Website ^ | November 18, 2008 | Classic Arms

[MHGinTN]

Spent eight hours over Saturday and Sunday at the Gunshow in Kingsport, TN (Tri-cities area of East TN). Sales of ammo were brisk, but rifle and shotgun weapons were about average! I purposely watched to see how M1 Carbines and AR style weapons went and it was slow for them, but there were only four or five M1 Carbines in evidence in the beginning and two still available at the end of the Show on Sunday. Bins of mags were moving slowly. Most buyers were cautious on plastic mags, looking for all metal high capacity versions for SKS, AR, and AKs.

Pistol sales were brisk, with carry style being more in demand than the large, weighty 1911 styles. I was attending to find a good lever action .357/.38 in Winchester or Marlin. Found two and one is at the gunsmith as of yesterday. I happen to have an antique 5 shot .38 Iver Johnson Owlhead which I wanted ammo for. Found one box left in that caliber (.38 SW). It fits my Webley, also.

The most interesting thing I overheard repeatedly during the roll through the booths was a desire to purchase 'black guns', weapons sold from individuals rather than having to register the purchases. Folks know instictively that there will be confiscations coming under the Marxist squirrel. And East Tennessee is solidly non-Democrat. Not many folks in this area are seeking to hoard ammo, with a few hundred rouns per gun seen as enough for personal needs. The booth arrangement was full for the show (four rows between booths and walls filled), but both days there were a lot of individual sales being done in the lobby and out in the parking lot. The general feel is that the folks need home defense weaponry but assault weaponry for a revolution isn't seen as practical since either the squirrel destroys social order with his stupid policies and elections tend to right the ship, or the dquirrel brings about the commie world where livin' in the hills by millions just won't be practical anymore.

Bottom line: most purchases seemed aimed at self-defense and home defense, not at building basics for militias.

[DocH]

How many will answer the letters with shot up range targets and letters of their own warning of the consequences of any further unConstitutional actions?

We'll just have to wait and see if there's still some bite in the old dog Liberty.

"The Tree Of Liberty Must Be Refreshed From Time To Time With The Blood Of Patriots And Tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson

[Deaf Smith]

"purposely watched to see how M1 Carbines and AR style..."

The price of AR type firearms went from a Summer low of $800+/- to $1400+ as of last weekend in Fort Worth.

[MHGinTN]

ARs were running around $1000, with several ‘conversion kits’ available for 1022s and SKSs to make them appear like ARs and M16. Auto loading shotguns sold well. I had several conversations over how to shorten barrels, legalities, etc. By Sunday eveneing I didn’t see a Remington 870 anywhere but in private hands. The reloader booth did an average business, and mostly ended up telling folks that they didn’t sell ‘ready to use’ ammo.

[An Old Man]

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[Deaf Smith]

"I had several conversations over how to shorten barrels, legalities,"

You really shouldn't be talking to the undercover ATF agents.

[Lurker]

How many guns would you say is needed?

Just one.

L

[Eagle Eye]

Hmmm...so that extra 1000 primers and bottle of Unique doesn’t fit in at all?

[gundog]

They make no real effort to hide their proclivities, and they can be trusted to pursue their destructive agenda "by any means necessary".

First gun control...then total control.

[darth]

I’m betting that in addition to bans and perhaps confiscation, the Obama regime will use the EPA to outlaw lead ammo and primers containing lead azide among other things. That would make it ILLEGAL to own or discharge ammo that you already bought. We can still reload with copper, brass, or tungsten bullets and non-lead primers.

[Eagle Eye]

That would make it ILLEGAL to own or discharge ammo that you already bought.

At some point it may not matter...what they gonna do about it? Take our guns?

[CodeToad]

“Bottom line: most purchases seemed aimed at self-defense and home defense, not at building basics for militias. “

Many people have no clue what a military use firearm is. They believe a 30/30 is good for a militia man. Seriously. I am not discounting their patriotism or intentions, I am just saying that people do not understand what firearms are best for fighting so they buy what they know.

I have a friend who bought a Walther PPK because the James Bond movies of his youth made them seem logical to buy. I have another friend whose dad fought in WWII and he bought an M1 Garand thinking that was the best rifle ever made for the military.

[MHGinTN]

Cutting a barrel down for home defense is not illegal so long as the barrel remains over 18 inches, in the 18 1/2 range minimum.

[ArrogantBustard]

In general, one may legally purchase rifles and shotguns in other than one’s State of residence ... but the laws of BOTH States must be complied with. In general, one may not legally purchase handguns outside of one’s State of residence.

[east1234]

Thanks

[BreitbartSentMe]

Thanks

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Two words for arms and ammo dealers:

AIR FREIGHT

You can get a lot of AK47 mags on a 747 freighter from Hong Kong.

[ikka]

You are right, but that is how it appears on the original site. I could not figure out (look up in the thread for someone who did) how to convert it to regular text.

[omega4179]

WE PURCHASED PRODUCT ANYWHERE WE COULD FIND IT WITHOUT MUCH REGARD FOR THE PRICE. IT WAS ALL WE KNEW TO DO. IT WAS EITHER THAT OR BE SOLD OUT AND CLOSE THE DOORS.

People should think about that before blaming the local gun store for “gouging” once everything is sold , there is no reason to open the doors.

[NYTexan]

Interesting thread and comments...