PoconoJack and I ventured to the big city in search of all things Savage, but got side tracked by, well, all things not Savage.

1000 dealer tables full of the most unimaginable temptations known to man.

There were a lot of 1899/99's to be seen from run-of-the-mill EG .300's in so-so condition (generally in the $450 price range) up to and including Joe Salter's MHG for $12K+. The ones in my price range either had condition issues ( 99G 20" 30-30 for $700, but with a pitted bore and much rust at the carry point under the receiver) or didn't suit my mood. There was an 1899B .32-40 carried around by an onlooker, for $1500, pretty fair condition, that got my heart pumping until I looked through the bore.

Ted found a Winchester M54 in .30-30, like mine only better, for an "optimistic" price which he adroitly haggled down to a manageable level- but he then had to lug it around the rest of the time, in a truly thick crowd. I found one of the items I was on the hunt for- a pristine 6X Unertl target scope- for about 2/3 the going ebay rate. Ted's pockets were also stuffed with swag such as saddle rings, and Parker butt plates and grip caps. New friends were made, and old friends were met, all in the setting of one of the biggest and oldest gun shows in the Universe (of antique guns).

As we were leaving Ted asked if I would hold his gun for a minute, and then stole my image with his Secret Squirrel Spy Camera (which I think he got in a box of Count Chocula cereal):



Afterward, Maryland lump crab cakes were called for, and consumed while regaling each other with tales of gun dealing prowess. All in all, a day very well spent.

Sounds like a fun day!

I remember going to a gun show in Baltimore when I was in APG back in 1987, saw some really amazing guns.

Gary,

I went with you to that show in either 2007 or 2008. I think it was 2007. Good times.

Jeff

I'd keep a sharp eye on your partner in crime. When it comes to cool guns and cool old gun stuff especially of the likes of Feckers, "Targetspots", and Unertles no man is to be trusted. He may try using the photo as evidence of the Unertl being swiped from the 54! But in all seriousness it sounds like it was a successful hunt for you both.

Great minds think alike Gary, wife and I hit a show today as well in Eugene Oregon. Might as well add that to the thread if you don't mind.

Savage 23D 22 Hornet in better than average shape $400 ish, don't remember for sure. I do remember it had a one piece base spanning the opening and a small diameter vintage scope.

A mint Stevens SxS 20 gauge with that gawd awful ugly wood on it, serial # beginning with E, so later, what 1980's? What I liked about it was the short short barrels, about 23". Would have been handy in the brush for grouse and only $325 for a mint SxS 20. If I wasn't ok for scatterguns that would have come home with me.

About a dozen Savage lever guns in various states of Bubba-ization and wear from $400 up. Only good one came home with me, and most wouldn't be interested, but I was missing this one. A 1968 99C in .284 in 99% shape with an extra .284 magazine for $800. Stamped checkering but hey, it's a .284 that's 50 years old and looks almost new. The metal does but the wood was refinished.

Saw a 50's/60's cut checkered Savage SxS 12 gauge for $750. Not much interest at that price! A few used up model 24's but one good 22 mag/20 gauge with the silver receiver, is that a DL model? I forget. $450. I think that was a fair buy. A couple custom 99's including one heavily engraved one very nice workmanship, but lacked taste. Old style rifle, modern Williams sights, that sort of thing. Too bad, it was some very nice engraving.

Made some great deals on 7mag Redding dies and components I needed, lots of goodies all for $40. Also needed and found both front and rear sights for a remington 600 in .222 and only $15. Felt really good about that find.

Was looking for 22HP dies, 38-55 dies and a couple three loose rounds for testing the feeding in a rifle I'm rebarreling to 38-55. No luck with any of that.

Ended up reacquainting myself with two Savage collectors I'd met in Reno that live in Oregon and am looking forward to playing show and tell with them when time allows.

I saw some nice specimens of other types but nothing I'm interested in. It seems like the Winchester lever guns that have always been so collectible have pretty well flattened off. There's so darn many of those things out there.

Had to hit the Hobby Lobby craft store for the wife and of course the Cabelas gun library, no love there.

Check out these 38-55 Dies Fireball2
https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hu...m?rsqid=7a54d159f5014ba6987f12f32629a809

Sounds like both shows were pretty good,each of you got some goodies and had a good day out. I didn't see any snow in Baltimore,got plenty of it here !!!! winter wont go away.i may have to go outto the vault and spend some happy time !

Good stories!! Gary You look like a leprechaun with pot-o-gold, ...but I always imagined the end of the rainbow differently.

Yup sounds like a good time! theres a big show next weekend, up here planning to go, and run into RAS there! same weekend another crappy show in town might hit that one on Sunday! but lack of funds will keep the good ones out of my reach!

If you ever get the chance to attend the Baltimore Antique Gun Show, by all means do. The only thing you won't see there are post-1898 pistols and regulated firearms (AR's, AK's, etc.), tables piled high with modern military/tactical surplus, and jerky/candles/candy. Just a lot of the good stuff we all are interested in. It's one of those shows that attracts the elite of the gun business. Every year mid-March. Plan your trip back East around it. (The crab cake lunch afterwards should be enough incentive for anybody!)

I've been wanting to get back to the Smithsonian for years and maybe next year would be a good time to scratch two itches.

I don't know how that would work out for the seller being in NZ and shipping!

I reccomend the RCBS cowboy dies.

If that is NZ$ you take it times about .72.

RCBS is generally pretty good stuff and their customer service used to be stellar. I hope the latter hasn't changed.

RCBS doesn't list the 38-55 dies now.

Look on ebay. There's eight sets of dies on there right now, including two sets of RCBS. C'mon guys....

i'm trying to get that first set on eBay, rcbs.

I don't seem to have the time to plow through Ebay and Gunbroker anymore. Will check it out.

Got a set of Lee dies.

Just type in ".38-55 dies" in the ebay search engine. Done. They all pop up on one page in front of you in 10 seconds max.

Midway has both styles of RCBS dies in stock $45-50 range.

Can you load .38-55 rounds with .375 Win dies? They are only $40.

Wish some of those dealers mentioned in the first post with the so-so $450 EG's would come up to shows in western Pa. Went to a small show last weekend, saw a few that were tagged at nearly twice that.

That's nuts. Even in this inflated day and age I just don't see a grey rat EG .300 being worth even $450. The only reason I pick them to look at is for the off chance it might be in a caliber different from .300, or have some other redeeming value.

900-bucks for just about any 99 I see at gun shows or shops is just friggin' nuts and damn good reason to walk on by.

Gnoahh is spot-on regarding the quality of that show. The only thing I regret about moving out of the Wash, DC area was that annual March show. Only held once a year - If you can get there do it. Two brief personal stories:

Bought my first 1899 there many years ago a complete saddle ring carbine in .303. $190

Lots of parts there. Came across a fellow from PA that had a shoe box full of NOS Savage 24 metal parts. Both style hammers, springs, sights, selectors, etc. etc. Forget the price, but reasonable so I bought the whole box. That has re-payed itself many times over for personal use and friends who've needed parts.

I was fortunate enough to attend one time. Weren't many 99's there the year I went.

If you like old Winchester rifles and Colt revolvers, you will think you have straight up died and gone to heaven.