The gun show is an American tradition that traces its roots to the early days of our country’s settlement, when hunters and trappers ended their season in a “rendezvous.” Like those early meetings, the contemporary gun show is an event that allows participants to view, buy, sell, and trade a wide variety of shooting and sporting products.

Gun shows contain a mix of accessories and weaponry. Displays range from rare and collectible civil war weaponry to the most recent hunting and shooting products. General merchandise also found at the show include army surplus, shooting supplies, historical collectibles, and other forms of militaria.

The gun show is an organized and legal event that promotes understanding of the shooting sports, appreciation of American history, and an opportunity to view historic and contemporary weapons. A variety of people, from professionals to blue-collar workers, attend gun shows. Gun show patrons attend the shows as collectors, hobbyists, sportsmen, and hunters; many also attend because they are interested in home defense.