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Posted: 5/1/2013 7:20:37 PM EDT
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How do you guys tie down your guns on the table at gun shows?
Getting ready to do my first one. Need ideas. Any other tips for gun shows would be appreciated. |
| Go to Lowes/Home Depot and buy some locks ( the 4 packs that use the same key), a small roll of 5/32" coated cable and some aluminum wire rope sleeves. Cut them to length,loop the ends, and use a chisel and hammer to seal the sleeves. Make multiple ones so that it's easy to unlock and pull a gun off and not have to undo 20 pistols to get to it. I keep just one of the key's on a small snap link on my belt loop. The problem with using zip ties is that they are easier to cut than wire. Thiefs will carry small wire cutters (yes I've seen it) and snip the wire, string, zip tie what ever. Keep an eye on hands and body language! Only pull one gun out at a time for someone to look at. They look at it, lock it up, pull out another for them to look at. You'll need table cloths and something to cover the table at the end of the long day. Receipt books, clip boards, cash box with change, calculators, pens, markers, price tags, 4473's, rubber stamps, charged cell phone/lap top etc... Have cash to buy as well. You just never know what might come in the door. Have people with you to help out with what ever like bathroom breaks and watching the tables. Make friends with your neighbors, if you can. Chairs are normally provided but go quick and are not the best. I always grab some for the other side of the table so folks can sit down when filling out the 4473. Be ready for questions like "is this full auto", " can I make it FA", "are you a dealer", and other dumb questions. Also be ready for the "I can buy this from Shotgun News for $xxx" and "would you take $500 and my rusty NEF 12ga for this SCAR". |
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Drill a 1 inch hole through your display tables at each end about 6" - 1 foot from the ends of the table. Measure the distance from hole to hole add 6 inches for a little play, go to Home Depot or Lowes and get 3/16" coated cable that is a 1 foot longer. Get 2 master locks big enough that they wont pass thru the holes you drilled in your table. How many guns are you going to have on display at 1 time "for example 15" get that many lengths of the same 3/16 inch coated cable http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-5-16-in-x-200-ft-Galvanized-Vinyl-Coated-Wire-Rope-11980/202305515#.UYMPw8osm24 or http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-16-in-3-16-in-x-250-ft-Wire-Rope-Galvanized-Green-Vinyl-Coated-13030/100337583#.UYMQDMosm24 about 18 inches long, get enough of the 2 hole cable ferrules http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-3-16-in-Aluminum-Ferrules-and-Stops-GD-12153/202633625#.UYMC6Mosm24 but of appropriate size to fit over vinyl coating to crimp a loop at each end of your lengths of cable "using the example of the 15" plus the length running from end to end of table would equal 32 of the cable ferrules and 6 extra in case you make mistakes or need to adjust later. Make sure you get the swaging tool http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lehigh-Swaging-Tool-ST18S/100243794#.UYMQWcosm25 to crimp the ferrules securely...mashing them with a hammer or vice wont work properly. Get some strong zip ties...enough to secure one end of the loops to your trigger gaurds and to re-secure as browsers / customers return the gun back to you after handling. On one end of the 15 inch pieces make the loop big enough to fit over the loops of the length running from end to end of table so you can take some off or add some more later on. On the other end make the loops small enough to pass thru trigger gaurds that the crimp ferrule has least chance of marring the gun. If you are going to walk away from your table and leave it unattended or just want extra security buy some small locks to secure the guns to by running lock loop thru the loop of the cable and capturing the cable in the lock loop when locked. You can use different color paint to color code the locks to the keys for fast key identification or yo can contact the lock manufacturer and order all locks siamesed with the same key. This is how I plan on doing mine, that way if I'm out of stock of a particular gun I can quickly identify the appropriate key to the lock to let the customer handle and if it's marred in some way I'll give a slight discount to make the sale plus I can still use the tables for something else, family function, picnic, whatever just by unlocking one end that through the table and removing cable. |
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Quoted:
If you have a lot of guns that are priced to sell it might be best to connect a zip tie to the gun then run the para cord. This way, when you sell one you can snip the zip tie and keep all the other guns tied with the para cord I'd go this route. If you plan on doing it alot, I'd invest in the alarm system. |
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Quoted: You don't / cant use your own table? Did not know that. looks like I'll be changing my plans when I get to the point that I'm going to Gun Shows as a no customer.I dont think the people putting on the show would appreciate me drilling holes in their tables. then its simpleBuy enough cable to wrap around the table and go thru leg supports |
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