When brothers Jack and Bob Kester held the first J&B Sportsmens Hunting and Fishing Show, they never expected the event would continue running annually for 19 years.
But there’s an element to the show that makes it unique, Bob said, and it’s a big reason why it has grown into a tradition.
“We cover all aspects – hunting, fishing, trapping and guide services – yet it’s the collectibles that really gives this a different angle,” he said.
Collectibles as in old metal hunting licenses, antique wooden fishing lures, vintage ammunition boxes, advertising posters and just about anything else that defined hunting and fishing decades ago.
The relics are desirable and, in some instances, pretty valuable. Some lures can bring $100 or more, and metal hunting licenses from the 1920s can fetch hundreds of dollars.
Such items can be hard to find, but there’s a chance a few of them will turn up at Kester’s show, which will be held on March 21 at the Shadowbrook Inn and Resort in Tunkhannock.
“It’s like a treasure hunt under a roof,” Bob said. “There are vendors that have been coming to our show for a long time, and every year it’s exciting to see what they dug up and have on their tables.”
While collectibles are sought after because of their age and rarity, there are some items that are consistently popular every year.
Fishing lures are at the top of the list, and the older they are the more attention they bring. Vintage makes such as Heddon, Rapala, Rebel and Arbogast are always popular, and those that date back to the 1920s sometimes command a premium.
But age alone doesn’t always define value when it comes to vintage lures. Bob said so many people collect fishing lures that the market has become flooded and prices on some varieties have stabilized. For an old lure to stand out, he said, it has to be different.
“The old Heddon Pumkinseeds bring money if it’s an odd color, along with the Arbogast metal lures,” Bob said. “But with the old wooden lures with the glass eyes that are usually beat up from being used, condition is everything. And if they come with the original box that’s the key to a higher price.”
Carl Marx Jr., who has been a vendor at the show for several years, said the common antique fishing lures that used to bring up to $50 sell for $25 today. But Marx, who resides in Quakertown, believes the downward trend won’t last.
“Right now there are a lot of these lures out there, but people are still seeking them,” he said. “There is still an interest.”
Old hunting licenses and fishing buttons are also hot items. Hunting licenses made prior to 1941 were metal as opposed to the paper versions today. That alone makes them valuable, Bob said, but the county where they were issued can often drive up the price.
Licenses from Bradford, Tioga and Sullivan counties, he said, are pricier because there weren’t that many issued in the 1920s. Up until 1937, each county was assigned a number that was placed at the top of the license, and the allotments varied for each locale.
Metal licenses are also rare, according to Bob, because they were prone to rusting and were often discarded. And in 1924, he added, hunting licenses were made from aluminum and bent easily, making it difficult to find one in good shape today.
“A lot of people collect licenses from a specific county, and if you’re looking to complete a set for Bradford, that’s a hard one to put together because there weren’t many issued,” Bob said. “But they can turn up.”
Old ammunition boxes are also desirable. Those with graphics of a hunting dog or wildlife on them typically date back to pre-1950, which increases the value.
Boxes for odd calibers are also desirable, such as 28-gauge Remington, .256 Winchester and .303 Roberts. And, if the box still has the original shells the price can increase significantly.
Just like fishing lure boxes, however, old ammunition containers aren’t common but people discarded them years ago.
“Back then, you bought a fishing lure to fish with, and you bought ammunition to go hunting or target shooting. Once you were done, you threw out the box, and that’s why they’re so high in value today,” Marx said.
While there are plenty of hard-to-find items at the show each year, it’s always possible for a once-in-a-lifetime treasure to turn up.
Bob said during the fourth year of the show, someone brought in a Heddon River Runt lure in gold, which was an extremely rare color. The lure sold for more than $400, he said. Another rare lure, a Heddon Tadpole which was painted with the Pepsi logo and used as a promotional piece, garnered $100.
And then there are items that are so rare that they’re simply hard to value.
“One year there was a poster with Marilyn Monroe’s image and a ‘Hunt Safely’ message on it. I don’t know the background or origins of the poster, and I’ve never seen another like it,” Bob said.
The show offers plenty of opportunities to buy and sell hunting and fishing relics, but Bob said there’s an educational component that holds a broad appeal as well. The antique items provide a glimpse into origins of today’s hunting and fishing gear and the craftsmanship still impresses veteran collectors such as Marx.
“The old fishing reels amaze me, just to look at the way they were designed and engineered,” he said. “They are very mechanical and they were built by hand, which is fascinating compared to items today that are mass produced.”
The 19th Annual J & B Sportmens Hunting and Fishing Show will be held on March 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shadowbrook Inn and Resort in Tunkhannock. General admission is $5 and kids are free. For more information call 570-587-1302 or 570-587-4427.
- This story originally appeared in The Citizens’ Voice.
