At their 18 annual gun shows throughout New England, the trend in collectible firearms and accoutrements is that nearly everything from the World War II period is quickly snapped up.
Meanwhile, interest in Civil War era items, including Sharp’s rifles, is in steady decline, says show promoter Newman Chittenden.
It’s a trend he’s seen develop over the last two to three years. The show season started in September, and sales of AR-style rifles, handguns and ammunition were all strong, though not what they were during what Chittenden terms the winter and spring’s “panic buying.”
New Connecticut gun control laws now mandate a Certificate of Eligibility to buy firearms or ammunition at guns shows; to get that certificate, applicants must complete an approved safety course and pass a NICS background check.
“We dropped out of Connecticut because of that mess,” Chittenden said, whose popular East Coast Fine Arms Show, previously held in Stamford, Conn., was moved to Matamoras, Pa., January 4 and 5, 2014.
Recommended Resources for Gun Collectors:
2014 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 24th Edition
