Kudos! To all our vendors

[Paul63]

Just wanted to say a Special Thanks! To all the great vendors that were at Friendship this past weekend and all those others that supply our needs.
We as traditional BP shooters and reenactors are kind of a special interest group, that walk a different path than others and without our vendors doing what they do, our hobby might be lost in short order to this high tech society.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

:applause: :hatsoff:

 

[Don Steele]

I'm gonna add a note of appreciation as well.
I REALLY enjoy being able to see so much of the "Stuff" we use in this sport and talk about online, up close and in person when I'm walking the "sheds" at Friendship. Meeting the people and having the opportunity to just chat about rifles, parts, and muzzleloading shooting in general is worth the trip to me. :thumbsup:
With the spread of internet business, it's all too easy for suppliers to stay home and never meet the customers who support them.
On a side note...I'm disappointed that the NMLRA feels it necessary to charge the vendors as much as they do. I look upon their presence at the big shoots as a service to the shooting community as much as anything. I seriously doubt that there's a lot of net profit generated in many of those booths. I'd like to see MORE vendors, not less and yes..I'd not have a problem if the association lowered the rent for vendors and replaced the lost revenue by getting it from the shoot participants. I have to wonder...If booth rent were lowered, there might even be enough additional vendors that the total revenues from the "sheds" wouldn't drop all that much after all. :hmm: If more booths were opened, I don't see that adding to the association's cost. :idunno: Perhaps they should give it some thought. :hmm:

 

[smo]

I agree it is very nice to be able to handle an item and look it over prior to buying. Unless you are lucky enough to live near a vendor or specialty shop then the "web" is our only outlet. Thanks again to all those vendors who participate in events such as Friendship. :hatsoff:

 

I agree it is very nice to be able to handle an item and look it over prior to buying. Unless you are lucky enough to live near a vendor or specialty shop then the "web" is our only outlet. Thanks again to all those vendors who participate in events such as Friendship. :hatsoff:

I really miss the days when I was within an easy driving distance of three gun shops that catered to muzzleloaders. Ramrod, in New Castle, Indiana, E Cristopher, in Miamitown, Onio, and Ray Boggs' shop in Oldenburg, Indiana. Just a little further drive was Fort Davis in Friendship but I found out the hard way that Don's advertised hours of operation were only a general guideline and not all that firmly set.
After I was out of this game for over a decade, getting back in would have been a lot harder without the 'net. Although, come to think of it, my first gear replacement purchases were at the Trade Fair in Xenia, OH. At that event I bought quite a few items from Ohio Traders. They are, for all practical purposes, out of business. I am afraid it might be a trend.

 

[Artificer]

Used to LOVE stopping by Ramrod, in New Castle, Indiana during the mid/late 70's. Thanks for the fond memories.

Gus