Had a great time!

[SoArk]

I understand from many of the exhibiters and dealers that the Memphis Relic Show ain't what it used to be, but for one that just attended his first show, I had a great time. I saw some awesome stuff, and even added a couple of items to my collection. One guy there...... John Turner ( I think was his last name) had the most awesome display of C.S. buckles and buttons I have ever seen! I think he may have been from Nashville???? Overall I had a great time..... attended both days....... ate a wonderful Seafood Buffet at one of the casinos in Tunica, and traveled back and forth with a good friend who also enjoyed it.

Now, I'm gonna have to figure out the next one I can attend! LOL

 

[relics4plus]

All of the shows are not what they used to be. You used to be able to go and see lots of dug relics now its mostly non-dug or if its dug its the best dug items. Shows are good however for identifying relics, getting the value of an item. ( never get items appraised at a show) the main reason is dealers are looking for bargains and if they believe you are selling they will not give you a fair appraisal. Meeting fellow diggers are a plus and meeting book writers or artists are also a nice feature.I just have fun getting together with my buddies and spending the day looking at all the neat stuff and wishing that I had a fraction of what is at the show in my own collection.
Nice Post,
HH

 

[GRAY GHOST]

that's good, soark. i also enjoy going to every show i can. a lot of the business has transferred online - it's not as personal as buying stuff from people and dealers you know from the shows. you and jay are both right when you say the shows aren't what they used to be. i consider myself very fortunate to live in the richmond, va. area. i've met and seen other area diggers at these shows, most are good, some bad! strangely enough, i've never met anybody off the forums at any of the shows, despite their assurances they'll be there - with a nametag on too!

i feel it's important as a longtime hobbyist and collector to invest in our own hobby - it keeps things moving, so to speak. did you see the prices on the csa stuff? yup, it's gonna keep on going up too! investors are really starting to get involved, just like they did with the old coin market, pushing prices up across the board. just watch, it won't be long where they'll start encapsulating and grading the rarer relics like beltplates and buttons. i never thought i would see the day where a nice yankee "I" button would be fifty bucks! and they made millions of 'em!

i recently went on a wanna be buying spree throughout the staunton/winchester area of virginia looking for confederate buttons to buy. i saw lots of fake buttons and beltplates, or postwar stuff being touted as period. truth is, the good confederate stuff is rarer than hen's teeth. i came away empty handed - after hitting at least ten antique shops and malls of substance in a 200 mile radius. what does that tell you?

 

[SoArk]

....... the C.S. stuff was expensive...... the brass stuff, most especially. And there were a few C.S. bullets that hit the "expensive" mark in my book.

There were a couple of Arkansas State Seal buttons that had a very healthy price on them. (I did not acquire them, btw). Ozan Creek (Rick), do you have one of those?

But, I did not see many of these high dollar items moving. I saw a couple or three weapons being sold...... and people bringing weapons, etc. in to sell to the exhibitors. I think the economy really sucks right now, and folks were just not buying a whole lot of stuff. By noon on Sunday, the dealers were nearly all asking..... "Well, what kind of offer would you make me on it?" I'm sure that the long-time dealers have seen this before.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I enjoyed meeting the exhibitors/dealers that I got to speak with....... I enjoyed meeting the folks that were just milling around like I was doing. And, I did manage to pick up a few items...... a Ginger Beer bottle, a bullet or two..... a cartridge or so, and some hand carved jade items.

And, like I said above...... I'm gonna have to figure out the next show I want to try and get to.