Bent_Ramrod wrote on Nov 16
th, 2022 at 9:37am:
It’s two days’ drive from Arizona, too, but it is well worth the time and effort. Tulsa is a nice city, easy to get around in. The show is gigantic; a statistical universe where you have a 100% chance of finding something of interest. Plus, of course, a ton of stuff to see that often isn’t even found in books.
Somebody had COL Whelen’s Ideal Armory loading set, with all the accessories and documentation. (I didn’t even know he had an Ideal Armory set, but there it was, in all its Japanned cast-iron glory.) More Ballards, Sharps and Winchester SSs than you could shake a stick at. I probably walked 20 miles over the two days. Hiking in the outdoors tires me out rather quickly, but hiking at gun shows is no problem. I finished up tired, sore and happy, happy, happy.
I didn’t realize until too late that a VIP Badge is available so you can go in Friday as well as Saturday and Sunday. With the extra day, you might have a chance of seeing the “whole” show. As it is, people still have their tables covered Saturday morning, and are packing up and leaving Sunday, and it takes a solid 8 hours to walk the whole show, so it’s impossible to see everything.
The only downside is the snowstorm I always seem to encounter on the 40 when I go home. I was glad to see the Michigan winter driving techniques I learned in my youth pop right back in play when the car starts skidding[u][u][u][u][/u][/u][/u][/u] around. Not to mention the adrenaline.
It’s kinda like riding a bicycle… you never really forget! Speaking of which, with 8 hours of walking I’d probably need a bike or a wheelchair. I used to think nothing of walking all day at a gun show, and I don’t think very much of it now!
I guess I need to start thinking of heading to the Baltimore Show in the Spring… I haven’t been there for years, but it was always one of the better shows on the Right Coast.
I wonder whether I can make it all the way to Etna Green in ‘23(?)
Froggie
PS I saw one of those nicely boxed Armory sets many years ago. Something every serious collector needs!