Arms fairs in England

Tim Simmons · 7th October 2013, 05:18 PM

I have to say that my experience of UK arms fairs is very much the same as Williams. All the ones in my area tend to have very indifferent sellers almost unpleasant in manner. Most of the items are military based made by governments in millions and sold at high prices as if they are rare. Anything ethnic or at all interesting these days is so over priced as to be prohibitive unless you really do have money to splash around. Kempton early morning general junk/antique market can be good but only on the one off chance visits which can happen at over priced arms fairs too if you are lucky.

thinreadline · 7th October 2013, 08:35 PM

Tim
Who are these unpleasant dealers ... ? I honestly have to say that in 45 years of regularly visiting British arms fairs I can count the number of bad experiences on the fingers of one hand.. And I visit at least one a week ! We clearly visit different shows ! As for high priced stuff ... I generally find that the sellers of more modern military stuff tend to despise ethnic weaponry as 'junk' and price it low to get rid of it . In general I find militaria dealers to be pleasant , whereas my experience at Antique fairs is to encounter dealers who have a superior attitude and look down on customers.
Richmond

William.m · 12th October 2013, 10:12 PM

Difficult to point fingers at who the unpleasant dealers are at the Birmingham show as I don't really know most of them by name. But as Tim said they do treat you with an indifference that is quite unpleasant. Some of the older ones just grunt at you with a mild look of disgust you when you ask to have a closer look at the items on display! haha

With regards to the price, in general things are really quite expensive with the nihonto breaking the bank.

I have had some bargains on the ethnic stuff with the dealers selling low-end miscellaneous stuff.

thinreadline · 18th October 2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William.m

Difficult to point fingers at who the unpleasant dealers are at the Birmingham show as I don't really know most of them by name. But as Tim said they do treat you with an indifference that is quite unpleasant. Some of the older ones just grunt at you with a mild look of disgust you when you ask to have a closer look at the items on display! haha

With regards to the price, in general things are really quite expensive with the nihonto breaking the bank.

I have had some bargains on the ethnic stuff with the dealers selling low-end miscellaneous stuff.

OK .. I am with you now. Yes there is a guy at the Birmingham Fair who just grunts at you and looks at you you as though you have just been scraped off his shoe .... I disliked him for years and then by chance was stuck with him in a long queue to get off the waterlogged site at the War & Peace Show. I got into conversation with him and discovered him to be a most amusing intelligent man , and since then have found out he is great musician and multilingiust ! Well it shows you cant always judge a book by its cover.

7th October 2013, 05:18 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	I have to say that my experience of UK arms fairs is very much the same as Williams. All the ones in my area tend to have very indifferent sellers almost unpleasant in manner. Most of the items are military based made by governments in millions and sold at high prices as if they are rare. Anything ethnic or at all interesting these days is so over priced as to be prohibitive unless you really do have money to splash around. Kempton early morning general junk/antique market can be good but only on the one off chance visits which can happen at over priced arms fairs too if you are lucky.

7th October 2013, 08:35 PM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Tim Who are these unpleasant dealers ... ? I honestly have to say that in 45 years of regularly visiting British arms fairs I can count the number of bad experiences on the fingers of one hand.. And I visit at least one a week ! We clearly visit different shows ! As for high priced stuff ... I generally find that the sellers of more modern military stuff tend to despise ethnic weaponry as 'junk' and price it low to get rid of it . In general I find militaria dealers to be pleasant , whereas my experience at Antique fairs is to encounter dealers who have a superior attitude and look down on customers. Richmond

12th October 2013, 10:12 PM	#3
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	Difficult to point fingers at who the unpleasant dealers are at the Birmingham show as I don't really know most of them by name. But as Tim said they do treat you with an indifference that is quite unpleasant. Some of the older ones just grunt at you with a mild look of disgust you when you ask to have a closer look at the items on display! haha With regards to the price, in general things are really quite expensive with the nihonto breaking the bank. I have had some bargains on the ethnic stuff with the dealers selling low-end miscellaneous stuff.