Gun shows are weird creatures. Odds are you might have chanced upon a gun show in your neighborhood. Most of these events are noteworthy in their unnoteworthiness. Lots of old dudes sitting around tables of guns they really have no intention of selling is the typical scenario that comes to my mind. Between this and the overall microscopic nature of the run-of-the-mill gun show, why would a manufacturer choose to go to one?
Well, to be honest, we didn’t. That is to say we didn’t go to a run-of-the-mill gun show. We went to Tulsa’s Wanenmacher’s Gun Show. This event is held in Tulsa’s Expo Square. This is a location that can host multiple events simultaneously. The building that hosts the gun show covers 11 acres and it uses the whole space for the event. Read that again. 11 acres. Of guns. It is nearly impossible to see each table that is at the event in one day.
Yes, this event has typical gun show gear– popular guns, ammo, accessories, and military surplus, but there are also exhibitors who have displays of specific kinds of gear. In my visits to this show on my own, I would awe at the collections of Colt Single Action Army revolvers, Winchester lever actions, pristine M1 Garands, or even ancient matchlocks, blunderbusses, and hand cannons.
Exhibitors travel from all over the United States to display their collections here. And, fittingly, people travel from all over the world to attend this show.
Are you getting the picture now of why we might want to attend? Oh, yes, Tulsa is only about 2 hours away from our headquarters, so that also worked in our decision making process. With that said, we loaded up a van with a bunch of Legends series BB guns, some Komplete NCR rifles and some accessories and headed northwest.
Early Saturday is reserved for window shopping only. No one is buying or selling in these early hours. Once some gear has been reconnoitered, then trade begins. If you are actually willing to sell, the commerce starts and doesn’t tail off until Sunday afternoon. For those who just want to show off or make insane profits on each sale, commerce is few and far between for the entirety of the show.
The Umarex USA crew had a great time visiting with hundreds of people who stumbled into our section of the building. We sold some BB guns, had many good laughs, educated people, and let them educate us on some things. Heck, we even got to walk around to do a little sightseeing and commerce for ourselves.
The Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Gun Show is an event that truly offers everyone something especially if you are looking for a hard to find item that has been out of production for a while. Some of our best sellers were our replicas of these guns that have been out of production for many decades. Guns, that if you were to price them on the dealers’ tables, would cost in the multiple thousands of dollars. And that is part of the appeal with our replicas. You might never have enough spare cash sitting around to buy an M3 Grease Gun, but it is not too much of a stretch to come up with a couple hundred bucks for an awesome replica of it that actually functions like the original. That’s what we do. We make fun happen.
Maybe we will be there next April! If so, we will be sure to let you know about it!