Dale City Gun Show Dec 18-19, VFW, 14631 Minnieville Rd

[Hammer]

I ran across a Gun Show announcement in Dale City while surfing that doesn't appear on the event calendar. Posted by "American Gun Shows, National Directory for Gun Shows". Appears to be affiliated with "Old Dominion Shows". I see posts on this forum from previous shows there. Is it worth attending?

Never been to a show and wondering what to expect. Questions:

- Is there generally and entry fee?
- What should I have with me as ID if I see something I want?
- Are credit card sales the norm, or should I have cash?
- Will I be able to carry a purchase out the door, or is there a waiting period?
- Anything else I should know?

I'm new to all this, so bear with me. Thank you in advance for your insight!

[tursiops]

Five questions:
1. yes, $6 if i remember correctly.
2. two pieces, one gov issued, both with addresses, one with picture; I use my VA drivers license and my CHP. A voter's card works too, as the second piece.
3. Norm, yes, but not at all the tables. Bring cash too!
4. Carry out.
5. Just because it is at a gun show, doesn't mean it works, it is a good price, or it is what you need....do your homework before you go and look around before buying. Also, the people-watching can be pretty interesting! Once I brought a small knapsack to carry stuff and ended up buying a lot more stuff that way. Hmmm, maybe that wasn't such a good idea!

[VBshooter]

1) Entry Fee= usually yes 7 to 8 bucks
2) ID= usual items for gun purchase=DL,voters card, CHP
3) Credit Cards = depends on the seller, Bring em in case,,Cash is good for closing a deal at a better price sometimes.
4) Carry out= Hell Yes ,,you just bought it!!!
5) LOADED FIREARMS ARE NOT ALLOWED!! So if you carry you will have to unload at the door and allow the cop there to put a tie wrap through the action to keep it so.I just leave mine in the car, I Can;t see carrying a damn unloaded club with me.
6) Anything else = go there with an open mind and realize that bargains and deals are not the norm,,,,Usually you can buy just as good or better locally or online.. Shows are good to check out guns and items that you wouldn;t normally get to touch and mess with,Sometimes there are good deals like 50cal ammo cans for 8$ in #1 condition or a sought after and hard to find holster,,,
7) Go and have yourself a blast, Seeing Xmas is close it may be more crowded than usual,, I went to one this weekend and the line to pay and get in was so long I said screw it and bought my stuff online with discounts and free shipping.

[allingeneral]

Thanks for the heads' up - I just added this one to the calendar and also moved the topic to the Northern Virginia regional forum.

- Generally, the entry fee is around $8.00.
- Bring your drivers license and something that verifies your current address (which should match your D/L)
- Credit card sales are the norm. You might be able to get a discount for a cash sale
- No waiting period beyond the background check that's conducted as part of the sale
- You can't carry a loaded firearm into the show

Here's more info on this particular show:

Dale City, VA Gun Show
December 11, 12, 2010

http://www.olddominionshows.com/Dale_Ci ... _2010.aspx

Show Location: VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd, Dale City, VA.

Directions: From I-95, north of Dale City / Potomac Mills, take exit 158b Prince William Pkwy. West. Go about 3 miles. Turn left on Minnieville Road, and go about 3 miles. The VFW post will be on the left.

From I-95, south of Dale City / Potomac Mills, take exit 152 onto Route 234 West. Go 4 miles. Turn right onto Spriggs Road. Turn right onto Minnieville Road. The VFW post will be about 1/8 of a mile on your right after .

175 six-foot tables available at $50 each.

Gun Show Hours:
Sat. 9am - 5pm
Sun. 9am - 4pm

Dealer Setup: Friday 12pm - 8

[Hammer]

Ahhh, very good. Thank you all!

[BlueTiki]

The only thing I'll add to this is that it is a very small show as far as shows go. The area they use is about the size of a nice bingo night at the local fire dept. It can get crowded but you will not see nearly the crowds you'd see at the Dulles Expo shows. Hell its like a quarter of the size of that show. You will see the usual dealers for the most part. Trader Jerry's is the biggest dealer there. You will also see a few private sellers but not much to wow you.

Hope to see you there.

[Taggure]

I will probably be working the VCDL Booth on Sunday morning so drop by and say Hello if you get a chance.

Hey Cowboy T will you be there as well one of the days?

Vern

[Taggure]

You might want to check the dates as it looks like the show is the 18-19 Dec vice the 11-12 of Dec

Here is an update from the VCDL Newsletter for the up coming Shows.


b. RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, December 4-5

Saturday, December 4 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 5 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Showplace in Mechanicsville.


c. HARRISONBURG http://www.showmasters.us, December 11-12

Saturday, December 11 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 12 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Harrisonburg.


d. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, December 18-19

Saturday, December 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 19 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.

[allingeneral]

You might want to check the dates as it looks like the show is the 18-19 Dec vice the 11-12 of Dec

Here is an update from the VCDL Newsletter for the up coming Shows.


d. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, December 18-19

Saturday, December 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 19 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.

You're right. Thank you. Will adjust the calendar entry now.

[jrswanson1]

It is a small show, but it's close by, and there are some regulars there I always try to talk to. Only a couple of non-gun related tables, and I found a CETME bayonet there, so you'll get some unusual stuff like that there. Nice way to spend an afternoon, and the ammo can guy is outside, so you don't have to pay for the show if all you want are cans.

Jim

[Hammer]

Well I will be there, just can't be positive of which day, depending on honey-dos. Is there any way of identifing forum members: jacket, patch, secret hand shake...? I expect I could spot Jim if he were sitting in his car, and Vern at the VCDL Booth if I make it on Sunday morning.

[allingeneral]

Well I will be there, just can't be positive of which day, depending on honey-dos. Is there any way of identifing forum members: jacket, patch, secret hand shake...? I expect I could spot Jim if he were sitting in his car, and Vern at the VCDL Booth if I make it on Sunday morning.

Some folks might have a VGOF Euro sticker on their car. Other than that...hmmm... Maybe we need some ballcaps...

[Taggure]

I will take a Ball Cap

VGOF in the background with and AR running through the middle of it
like the one on your news letters

Vern

[allingeneral]

Something like this, perhaps?

[CowboyT]

I will probably be working the VCDL Booth on Sunday morning so drop by and say Hello if you get a chance.

Hey Cowboy T will you be there as well one of the days?

Vern

You betcha! I never miss that show and have already emailed Sam about it. I'm hoping for Sat PM and will head to Sharpshooters afterwards for a little fun.

[Hammer]

How do you get one of those VGOF euro stickers?

I like the hat idea too.

[allingeneral]

I have a very few of the stickers left. You could probably get one if you PM your name and address to me.

I should order more stickers soon...they're not cheap though, and I've found that they aren't salable, for the most part. This is where donations are greatly appreciated (upper left of the site) - to help cover some of these costs

[Taggure]

Something like this, perhaps?

I will Take two of them they would make a nice Christmas present to myself

[allingeneral]

Something like this, perhaps?

I will Take two of them they would make a nice Christmas present to myself

I'm still considering the hats. I don't think they'll be done before Christmas though. Off to a separate thread to discuss such things as hats and decals...

Back to our regularly scheduled program here... Dale City Gun Show

[CowboyT]

Granted that the Chantilly gun show is much larger (dwarfs most shows in VA), but the reason I like the Dale City show is precisely because it's small. It's less hectic, and there's a much more relaxed atmosphere to it. The vendors can take more time to talk with you. This particular show was in fact the first gun show I'd ever attended in my life.

There are a couple of ammo guys there. One is always by Trader Jerry's tables, an older, no-nonsense-but-very-nice fellow. Another one shows up sometimes and sells his ammo outside, as mentioned in a previous post. Both have reasonable deals on ammo. Among firearms vendors, the two big ones are Trader Jerry's and Dark Sun Surplus. There's also a dude who specializes in optics; I bought a couple of BSA's from him a bit back for reasonable prices. Finally, there's Mac's Reloading, for those of us who roll our own. He attends about every other show (he comes from the Hampton/VA Beach area).

If you buy a gun from Dark Sun, there's something you oughta know. They have a reputation for being kinda gruff, and it's well deserved (I experienced this first-hand a while back). However, this was also right around the time Mayor Bloomberg was still sending his goons out to try straw purchases. Once they figured out I wasn't one of them, they relaxed considerably around me, and they're actually quite friendly. I always stop by to say hi to 'em.

Trader Jerry's is the biggest gun vendor there. Talk about gun porn! Just...tables full...of guns... They already have me sorely tempted by at least two firearms. They are very "n00bie" friendly and have no problem discussing the merits/faults of a given gun for a given person/situation. I bought the "Assault .22", as I affectionately call it, from them, a bone-stock Ruger 10/22 w/ stock 10-round magazine, for a good price. Good gun, good service, and the people are total smart-alecks--lots of fun to be around. If I were to go to work for a gun dealer, I'd hope for it to be either them or NOVA Armament.

So, yeah, the "little" Dale City show is worth it.