Arms and Militaria Show organiser Keith Frazer thinks a renewed interest in war history was the reason behind a record turnout to this year's show.
An estimated 1100 people flowed through Greerton Hall between Saturday morning and yesterday afternoon - the most Mr Frazer had counted in his 12 years oforganising the show.
On display were medals, books, helmets, uniforms, knives, shooting accessories, flags and a vast array of weapons ranging from tiny antique flintlock pistols to a massive DsHK 1938 50-calibre heavy machine gun.
"I think there has been a great resurgence in interest in military history.
"More and more people are interested in finding out their grandfathers' and great grandfathers' history," Mr Frazer said.
That was marked by the number of families who turned out for the show alongside the usual weapons and militaria collectors, he said.
Among them was Tauranga 13-year-old Peter Derrick-Jehu, who spotted a Sig Sauer pistol identical to the one his grandfather captured from a German officer in World War II.
"Military history is just such an interesting topic, the teen said. "Firearms have been around for a long time now and there are so many fascinating things about them."
