Baltimore Show 2023 report

For anything related to Trapdoor era U.S. martial arms collecting.

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John S.
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Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:05 pm

Baltimore Show 2023 report

Post by John S. »

Overall a good show with good turnout and lots of good stuff.
However, for the second year there are NO sales tables in the show ring, and there were reportedly 30 table cancellations at the last minute (mainly health related) but most of those were filled from the waiting list or neighbors spreading out. Usually there have been 5 or 6 artillery pieces in the show ring, bu this year only two, a Rev War era bronze gun, and a WONDERFUL .45-70 Gatling gun with limber and all the accessories.

There was a FANTASTIC display of "Trapdoor Sporting Rifles" which will be subject of a separate post when I have time.

Prices seemed pretty optimistic on the part of most sellers, and I did not see as many sales as usual. Crowd size was off from pre-covid numbers, but a bit better than last year.

You could have built a pretty good trapdoor collection off the tables there. In addition to the 4 Foragers noted previously, there were three M1880 triangular rod bayonet rifles, one atrociously refinished M1881 Long Range Rifle (sold cheap at $1800), two M1884 round rod bayonet trials rifles (one a restoration, other seemed original), and lots of standard rifles ranging from bow-wow to minty.

Kudos to the Maryland Arms Collectors Assn members who volunteer their time to put this show on, still THE BEST ARMS SHOW IN THE COUNTRY!
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