I would like to know different opinions about SOS show. Who were buying and who were selling? How were the prices? etc. I went on Thursday just for a day did bought 7 SAs in good shape from 600 to 1300 USD paid.

My only opinion is that there was far to many repo's at the show with high prices......

I visited the SOS on Friday and Saturday and bought a couple of items. I liked the show and I met some real great fellow collectors. It was great talking to them and learning from them. I agree regarding the fakes. It would be great if there would be a "fake security" identifying al questionable items and marking them ... or even ban them from the show.

I thought the show was hard work this year, less quality and certainly less quantity, saying that I still had a good time and will continue to go to the show.

Gary

Sounds like it should be renamed FOF Full of Fakes

I thought the show was a bit slower than last year but I think it is still the best militaria show in the country. Plenty of stuff to see and reasonable prices could be found if you looked for them. I just refuse to pay outrageous prices for stuff and I saw a lot of overpriced items going home with the dealers on Sunday.

Fakes are always with us. The MAX show has just as many fakes but they profess to police the dealers (and then fail miserably to do so). A collector in this day and age has to know what they are looking at. Those who don't educate themselves will buy the fake stuff. It is just that simple.

there was alot of nice stuff. but is was high priced for usa wallet. mostly priced for the stronger euro dollar. so that made slim pickens for deals. i couldnt find what i was lookin for. so i bought a couple things that was not on my list. the shows seem to be getting poorer quality every year..and most of the good stuff was under tables not to be sold to just anyone...

I was unfortunately unable to make it to the SOS show this year.
I have heard mixed reviews from friends of mine who were there.
The amount of fakes being sold on the tables are just too much, it is really sick and pathetic.
I sincerely feel real sorry for the new kids entering the hobby. You better know your stuff before buying anything.
It is becoming almost impossible to find quality edged weapons, unless you are ready to pay a premium for it.
Thankfully, the Russians are buying all of the average blades and that keeps most dealers very happy.
That said, the main reason to me for going to the show is too see my GDC friends, and if I can find a couple of nice blades along the line, that's just fine.
I will keep on going to both shows, until the day comes were every item being sold are fake, then I will stop going.


Personally, I wouldn't allow those dealers that willingly sell fakes, year after year.
There's a German dealer at the SOS/Max and he has more fake than anyone can even think of, and yet, he is welcome with open arms year after year..............go figured !

I think it should be like in baseball, after 3 strikes, you're OUT !

Another great show for Johnson/Weinand and our sales were up, but a lot to the European dealers.
Weather was not good and, without question, one of these times the weather will make the show a bust, but we will probably be there.
One good thing is that we signed up for the Wilmington OVMS Show and it appears its going to be a sellout, so it was good news for the OVMS Society. Tom is a life member and I am a gold badge member (started going in very early 1970s) and is good to know that the in between OVMS Shows are doing better.
Ron Weinand OVMS No. 312
Weinand Militaria, Inc.

Ron, did you see any Chinese buyers?

A number of the "old timers' were talking at the SOS remarking that " the day of the bargain is rapidly coming to an end"
We are in a new age where almost everyone surfs the web for prices before they sell. They see the trends and they see the high prices quoted on the major sites--so they raise their prices--and they don't pay much attention to condition of their item.
If they see a minty army dagger with a price of $800.00-they raise their EX+ one to $750.00 instead of $550. This could be seen at the show in many instances--and that is the small dealer/ Gun show dealer standard answer to "Why so high? " Well TJ or TW or JR or RW or HC or GD want so and so.

Look for that to be the case for now on.

Also --the good stuff is constantly being snatched up and socked away by all collectors and it continues to go "EAST"--never to return.

So--If you see a minty piece you want --most probably you are going to have to pay what it is worth or more--and IMO you should--I do--There is no "tomorrow" anymore.

WOW - I have to agere 100% w/ Houston on this. There were FEW deals (IMO) and I actually heard sellers giving the reason of: "Well whittmann is asking $___ " to justify their prices, and more than once.

Prices seemed higher.
Quality seemed lower.
Still a good show though.
Just my 2C
Johnny