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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith/ Community Columnist

A.G. Gun & Knife Show will be in Clanton Oct. 9 and 10 at the Clanton Performing Arts Center. The event will feature various vendors from the country that will buy, sell or trade guns. This is the first time this show will be held in Clanton.

“For every event that we host, different vendors show up, so we will not know what kind of vendors will be there until the day before when booths are being set up,” said organizer Anthony Giordano. “It isn’t uncommon to see antiques and things from the Civil War at each event, along with some of the new (arms).”

Giordano has witnessed unique and rare pieces come through the gun and knife shows, including a canon from the 1500s.

“This is something I love doing,” Giordano said. “Some people enjoy collecting cars and learning about them. My interests are in guns and knives.”

Giordano grew up going to the shooting range with his father and selling knives at gun shows when he was a teenager. He now travels across Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky to 36 shows each year.

“Anyone who has a gun that they are interested in selling or trading may bring it,” Giordano said. “We will have someone at the door that will make sure it is unloaded and zip-tied before they enter the showroom.”

Besides gun and knife vendors, there will also be hunting accessories, military surplus and ammunition sold.

“If someone has questions about the use of their gun or how to clean it properly, any of the vendors will be happy to help,” Giordano said. “Everyone is welcoming.”

The Gun & Knife Show will be open Oct. 9 from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $8, which gives admission to both days of the show. Admission for veterans and first responders is $5.

All federal, state and local firearm ordinances and laws must be obeyed.

Clanton Performing Arts Center is located at 1850 Lay Dam Road, Clanton, Alabama 35045. For more information, contact Anthony Giordano at 423-664-2715 or aggunshows@yahoo.com.