The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Chapuis wrote:I think the trade "show" side of the phoenix definitely needs a bit of a kick start to get it going again. Long has it ceased to be a show. When was the last time that one of the major importers/distributors exhibited there?

Yes I know that all died with the pistol meeting but the likes of Viking Arms are still going and going strong, and the most popular .22 gallery rifle which they import is visible on most of the ranges on camp. The other extremely popular gallery rifle has to be the Marlin, perhaps even more common than the Ruger. What is required to get these guys back again plus of course those RFD's and small manufacturers who we all rely upon for our essential shooting supplies and support. Forget the tat merchants most of us don't want them but we would like to go to a meeting and see decent trade stands.

And why stop at Marlin, what about trying to get Rossi, Uberti, Winchester etc., and even people like GSG etc.

And others have said, it will never be like the old pistol days trade shows, but, it could still be a lot better than it is, it just needs someone within with the desire to do something about it.

Rumour has it that was the last trade show as it's all going to be offices....I also heard the nra put up the prices for traders to £300 I dunno how much of that is right but I'm glad I was right not to go as it sounded utter rubbish.....

No it will never be the same as pre 1997.

The diminishment of the trade side is reflection of the diminishment of the shooting market, it is fraction of what it was. Pistol shooters shot a lot of rounds and there was a healthy market for consumables and reloading kit. The high volume shooting emporiums can offer prices on such things that most medium to small traders cannot so they have that part of the market cornered and have no need of the hassle and extra cost of a weekend a Bisley especially when there is Stoneleigh for them to strut their corporate stuff.

As a market place shooting is just too small in the uk and I'm not talking about the airgun, shotgun and field shooters who have no direct association with Bisley or the Phoenix competition profile, that is where the "big" shooting money is, relatively speaking, and those suppliers are unlikely to see the Phoenix as a place to trade or do product placement.

the running man wrote:Rumour has it that was the last trade show as it's all going to be offices.........

What all going to be offices.....??

bradaz11 wrote:£1400!!!! was it still in it's grease or something??

But if you want one, you will have to pay what the seller wants, that is if you want one badley enough - I did

well mine is only 5 or 6 years younger than the £1400. glad I paid at least half that

The collapse of the Pavilion as a going concern under its old management gave the NRA a chance to take it back and re-develop it for the benefit of shooters. Getting any sort of trade fair up and going in the short time available was a real effort and the NRA should be congratulated. Instead the prophets of doom step in and forecast no more trade shows etc etc.
As for the diminishing shooting market, at the time of the hand-in of our pistols, my club had 70 members: today it has 200. In the mid-80s, if you wanted a 303 rifle, there was a good chance that you would be given one or at least pick up a good example for less than £150. Today, hundreds shoot 303 and other old military calibres. At the time of the hand-in, there was no market for Russian mil-surps.
Having similar shooting interests to Dromia, my complaint is that the supply of really good old guns has dried up. What is the point of a dealer going to a trade fair if he cannot get stock?
Going back to my club, the .22 plastic imitation military rifle accounts for most of the new shooters activity. Most of them come down regularly and practise missing until they can do it every time. We sell them the ammo, they pay their subs: we don;t care!
After a career move in the 1980s I met up with somebody from my old firm who asked if I was ever going back. My reply was that you can never go back, because what you had is not there anymore. Pistol shooting in the '80s and '90s was wonderful and I would not have missed it for anything, but we have to go forward and build on what we have today.
Fred

What I would like to see is a bring and buy stall.
We all have items we could move on.
Pay a nominal fee to cover a table and some one to admin it.
Win win all round.

qws wrote:

bradaz11 wrote:£1400!!!! was it still in it's grease or something??

But if you want one, you will have to pay what the seller wants, that is if you want one badley enough - I did

Ah I was stood behind you in Fultons while you were looking at this item, waiting to be served, if i had known you were on FB I would have said hi.
Nice shot gun by the way.

Hi, Yes it is one of the best 1897 I have seen. I know a lot of poeple think i paid too much !!!!. But I wanted one, and at the moment their are only two on the market. So I bought the Fultons gun and did not feel robbed. I know I will enjoy shooting it.

It seems their are so many FB members - we should have a meeting at one of these national gatherings to introduce each other

All the best - Richard

Thanks for the comments