Third annual gun show a success

A steady stream of people, mostly men, entered the hockey arena on the Nobles County Fairgrounds over the weekend, ready to shop, compare or just look at the items on display during the third annual Worthington Gun Show.

"There is nothing like a nice gun show on a Saturday morning to start your weekend right," one man said to another as they entered.

Wares at the show went from shotguns and rifles to antique handguns and gunsmithing tools. There was reload equipment, holsters, scopes and every kind of ammunition imaginable.

There were also a variety of knives that ranged from pocket size to Crocodile Dundee "Now, that's a knife" size -- some new and shiny, others antique.

As customers wound around the tables laden with guns and other miscellaneous items, they spoke what might seem to be a foreign language to the uninitiated, mentioning bores, beads and bullets while using cell phones to alert friends of a certain "find" or great deal.

Through the buzz of people chatting and visiting and the occasional goose call, vendors could be heard answering questions and offering information.

Merle and Pat Dodds of Arnold's Park, Iowa, had a table that featured old cowboy guns and civil war items, including a pre-civil war sword.

"There are quite a few more people here than we expected," Merle said, adding that he thought the weather would keep people away.

The Dodds are "into the antique stuff," which Merle said is a good market.

"There are a lot of people who want the collector items," he added. "There is a lot of good history that comes with the Civil War and the cowboy era."

A few feet away, Bob and Lori Lee of Watertown, S.D., were keeping busy talking to customers about the items for sale on their tables.

This was the first time the Lees had come to the Worthington show. They normally attend about eight shows a year representing Kone's Korner of Castlewood, S.D.

"(Kone's Korner) is pretty well known around the country," Bob said. "We have up to about 3,000 guns."

Bob said the crowd at the Worthington show was quite good, but he couldn't say which items were normally the best sellers.

"It changes at each show," Lori chimed in. "Every environment is different."

"Well, ammo always goes good," Bob added.

Last year, the two-day event brought in approximately 1,500 people.