The Dixie Gun and Knife Show occurs about every 5 or so months within the Raleigh location. Though I’ve had numerous friends who have gone, this weekend is the first opportunity that I’ve actually had to go. What I saw and what I was prepared for were two different things. I thought that the gun show would be completely dominated by either 300-lb redneck hunters, or gang members. What I saw was a lovely mixture of families and women who had braved the monsoon that was hitting Raleigh.
Even though I started to get bored about halfway through the show, I did enjoy holding various guns and seeing the different styles. I have to admit, I fell in love with a gorgeous pink Smith and Wesson – retail price? $550, and that was actually one of the mid-priced guns. There was a large amount of war memorabilia, which was pretty cool to look at. My favorite part was, of course, the free samples. I tried all sorts of jerky, though I usually can’t stand the thought of jerky. But the most amazing sample was the no-bake cheesecake by Catamount Specialties of NC. I tried tiramisu, pumpkin spice, and creme brulee flavors, so I broke down and purchased those flavors to recreate it at home. Though you can prepare it as a cheesecake, the vendor had created dips with whipped cream and cream cheese. It was amazing – completely mouthwatering.
Sadly, I only saw one traditional bow, surrounded by dozens of cross bows. No flame throwers, and no desert eagles, even though my friend tried as hard as possible to hunt one down.
All in all, it was a very interesting experience that I recommend everyone try at least once. If anything, you’ll have some inspiration for your novels!
