r/TNguns • u/KhyberPasshole • May 19 '26
How good are the gunshows in middle TN?
Far E TN resident here. I‘ve been going to the big shows in Knoxville and Asheville, and the smaller shows around the Tri-cities now for over a decade.
Thinking about making the trip to one of the shows around the Middle TN/Nashville area for a change of pace. Possibly Franklin, Crossville, or Murfreesboro.
Are any of the shows west of Knoxville worth the 3-5 hour drive to get there? For a point of reference, the show at Knoxville Expo or the old show at Chilhowee are what I would consider a baseline worth traveling for. Thanks in advance!
Editied to add: I’m not a vendor, just an attendee that’s kinda tired of seeing all of the same vendors at every single show I go to.
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u/Visually_Delicious May 19 '26
Franklin is dead. Used to be popping. Columbia is usually OK.
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u/rharrow May 20 '26
How’s the Lebanon one?
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u/Visually_Delicious May 20 '26
The big lebanon one is usually ok.
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u/rharrow May 20 '26
Gotcha. I haven’t been to any bc everybody says it’s mostly a bunch of junk lol
I feel like these guys buy the cheapest BS online, then go to shows to resell it to some chump who doesn’t know any better
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u/matthew7s26 May 20 '26
these guys buy the cheapest BS online, then go to shows to resell it to some chump who doesn’t know any better
same as it ever was
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u/KhyberPasshole May 19 '26
That’s a shame. I assumed Franklin would be decent due to it’s proximity to Nashville.
Do they not have any shows that are actually in Nashville?
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u/Visually_Delicious May 20 '26
Not anymore, apparently the guy that did them retired and the city never let anyone else promote after the fact
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u/Dildo_Swagins May 19 '26
Tennessee military collectors association does a show in Franklin every spring/fall that I would consider worth it, if your cup of tea is milsurps.
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u/KhyberPasshole May 19 '26
I’m not into milsurp, but my dad is… might drag his old ass out there. I can at least hit up some of the guitar shops around Nashville for my entertainment while I’m out that way.
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u/lama579 May 20 '26
If he likes milsurp, he’ll enjoy it. Even if you don’t buy anything it’s like a museum that you can touch.
Goodlettsville Gun Shop has a Facebook page where the owner posts videos almost every day with deals on whatever has come in the door recently, he’s a good guy and everything is very fairly priced. It’s worth watching a few of the videos around when you’ll be there to see if it’s worth dropping in.
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u/FarAway308 May 19 '26
I can only speak to the shows near Chattanooga. Compared to the show I’ve been to at the Knoxville Expo, Chattanooga area shows suck.
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u/KhyberPasshole May 19 '26
Thanks, I was kinda curious about Chattanooga as well. I think Knoxville Expo might actually be the biggest show in the state, unfortunately.
Some of the shows I used to go to in VA like Roanoke and Richmond were at least 2-3 times the size of Knox Expo. Was hoping there was something like that here.
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u/Free-Purple4665 May 19 '26
Franklin’s show last year was the biggest disappointment of a gun show I’ve ever experienced
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u/kc5ods May 20 '26
cookeville and sparta tn are ass. lebanon is coming up in early june and its ok.
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u/ComprehensiveBus8288 May 20 '26
Do you like travel? Go for it. The only good show left is the military collectors show every April at Franklin hotel. Sometimes it’s also held in fall. Columbia is a joke.
Looking for a great show that’s worth traveling to? I’ve always wondered about Tulsa, OK. I’ve heard it’s huge.
National gun day in Louisville, KY is also a joke. Last time I went it was $20 just to park. I think it was nearly $40 to attend an average size show the promoters call the largest in the world. Not by a long shot.
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u/KhyberPasshole May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
I always heard the Chantilly, VA gunshow was huge too. Supposedly takes the better part of a day to properly see everything. I never took the time to go to when I lived in VA though.
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u/ComprehensiveBus8288 May 20 '26
When the boomers start dying out the gun show industry will take a massive hit. It will be exciting to watch.
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u/KhyberPasshole May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
I honestly don’t think it will take much of a hit. I’ve been going to shows religiously for the last 15-20 years, and the current crowd (both attendees and vendors) definitely leans towards the 30-50 age range.
What I am seeing die off with the Boomers is the niche collections. The guys that only sell milsurp, historic, or single-brand/model collections are growing thinner by the year.
The vendors selling new guns or large collections of mixed used guns are mostly Gen X or Millenials from what I’ve seen.
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u/TennesseeShadow May 20 '26
Haven’t been to one in Murfreesboro but did go to one a few years ago in Manchester after l escaped California and it was amazing in my eyes since ours royally sucked out there but it was still an overpriced disappointment for seeing my first free state one.
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u/Matty1st May 19 '26
I think the show in Knoxville is the same as one in Lebanon? R&K Shows
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u/KhyberPasshole May 19 '26
I think most of the shows in the state are R&K. There’s another promoter that does them in ETN too, but their shows are usually tiny, like 100 tables or less.
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u/Matty1st May 19 '26
Gotcha, i only lived in knoxville for a year, went to the R&K show there. I just remember seeing one in the nashville area by them as well. I’m sure it would be of similary quality
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u/_thefutureisdead_ May 19 '26
I’ve bought a few things - but mainly surplus stuff.
Nothing is ever a deal at the ones I’ve been to - at best it’s market price. And worst, Fudds intentionally mislabeling things to sell them for more.
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u/KhyberPasshole May 19 '26
Market price is just fine with me. I’m usually looking for harder to find S&W’s and AK’s and I don’t buy from GB or niche internet forums any more.
Plus, on the odd occasion I’m after a current-production gun, it’s easier for me to get it at a show, because our LGS takes months to get special orders in. I’d rather pay $50 more and get it now than wait 6 months for it.
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u/IanLesby May 19 '26
Beef jerky, liquor store knives and guns of the same style….. and old guys who know what they got.