At the nexus of major north-south and east-west rail systems, we get a *lot* of trains. Lots of trains means lots of right-of-way maintenance (lest we have derailments, which we did in the area in the mid-nineties). While on my way Saturday to pick up the spring needed to return the lawn mower to service (and, incidentally, attend a gun show on a whim) I saw this kewl bit of maintenance-of-way kit parked on a siding. 
As for the gun show, it was packed. Most of the gun vendors looked like they did their wholesale shopping at Century, though there were a few specialist black gun dealers, too. The types of pieces that interest me were rare, and based on the prices, most of those guys were there because the wife demanded they get rid of some stuff, and they priced it so that they could go back and tell the wife, "Sorry dear, they just weren't buying today." Of course, I got there Saturday afternoon, and there's a lot of trading that occurs very early on at shows. This was a general gun show, not a collector show, which matters, too.
Talking to vendors, people weren't snapping up guns, but they were buying ammunition, magazines, sights, and other such stuff. I picked up a Rock-Ola stock to go with the Rock-Ola carbine, and "I-cut" early stock that had been re-worked to a low-wood at some point. One reason it was affordable... I also picked up the components of butt-stock cleaning kits for the CMP Garands I got (yanno, those scary guns the gov't gives to the CMP for sale to citizens that the gov't doesn't want the Koreans to sell to citizens, but I digress). In addition I snagged slings and oilers for the two CMP carbines and the butt-stock cleaning kit for the Castle's latest edition, an ex-Brit-Aussie-prolly Pakistani SMLE.
I know it was Brit - Enfield 1908 receiver, with Aussie property marks and a 1954 FTR and surplus-out marks - but it has a brass middle barrel band... which indicates to me that it probably came out of Pakistan. That's just a guess for now, because I can't find a reference to brass barrel bands anywhere in Skennerton's book, but I haven't looked too hard just yet.
I had to go back on Sunday (dangit!) because I forgot to pick up cannon fuse. While not as packed as Saturday, the show was still well-attended. The guys and gals at RK were making money hand-over-fist this weekend. And I got the cannon fuse. Along with some 12-gauge anti-bird cartridges - which will more likely be used to chase off the boxer that comes around now and again to gnosh on chicken, than will be used to scare off birds.
As for the gun show, it was packed. Most of the gun vendors looked like they did their wholesale shopping at Century, though there were a few specialist black gun dealers, too. The types of pieces that interest me were rare, and based on the prices, most of those guys were there because the wife demanded they get rid of some stuff, and they priced it so that they could go back and tell the wife, "Sorry dear, they just weren't buying today." Of course, I got there Saturday afternoon, and there's a lot of trading that occurs very early on at shows. This was a general gun show, not a collector show, which matters, too. Talking to vendors, people weren't snapping up guns, but they were buying ammunition, magazines, sights, and other such stuff. I picked up a Rock-Ola stock to go with the Rock-Ola carbine, and "I-cut" early stock that had been re-worked to a low-wood at some point. One reason it was affordable... I also picked up the components of butt-stock cleaning kits for the CMP Garands I got (yanno, those scary guns the gov't gives to the CMP for sale to citizens that the gov't doesn't want the Koreans to sell to citizens, but I digress). In addition I snagged slings and oilers for the two CMP carbines and the butt-stock cleaning kit for the Castle's latest edition, an ex-Brit-Aussie-prolly Pakistani SMLE.
I know it was Brit - Enfield 1908 receiver, with Aussie property marks and a 1954 FTR and surplus-out marks - but it has a brass middle barrel band... which indicates to me that it probably came out of Pakistan. That's just a guess for now, because I can't find a reference to brass barrel bands anywhere in Skennerton's book, but I haven't looked too hard just yet.
I had to go back on Sunday (dangit!) because I forgot to pick up cannon fuse. While not as packed as Saturday, the show was still well-attended. The guys and gals at RK were making money hand-over-fist this weekend. And I got the cannon fuse. Along with some 12-gauge anti-bird cartridges - which will more likely be used to chase off the boxer that comes around now and again to gnosh on chicken, than will be used to scare off birds.
"Oh, gosh darn, hon, I forgot to pick up that roll of fuse you asked me to get -- I'm sorry! Honest, I'll go back there first thing in the morning, I promise!"
Pllppptttt!
< Big Evil Grin >
I think the next show I'm looking at will be in Topeka - which is still closer than Independence!
Of course I love the weird and perverse; if I had any money I would surely buy something chambered in .219 Improved Zipper, Or maybe even a Johnson. I mean, who wouldn't want to show people his Johnson, if he had a nice Johnson.