I’m home now and almost caught up on the pile of things I find when I’m gone for several days such as email, phone, snow, mail and a lost gun case (now found).

The show was outstanding and very rewarding from a personal standpoint. I would like to thank all the folks who stopped by the display to let us know that the work was appreciated. I could not believe the number of folks who are from this forum and others on the “Netâ€,and here I thought no one was paying attention ;-). I would like to personally thank the ACGG for having us, Paul Nickels, Steven Dodd Hughes, Steve Nelson, Mark Benenson (a forum member), Terry Buffum, Charles Murray, Monte Mandarino and others who took the time, effort and expense to make this happen.

I took my point and shoot digital camera then transferred pictures to my flash drive which I cannot unlock at this time. They were not the best anyway. I know that several members in general and Mr. Mack in particular took many pictures so I’m sure when everyone makes it home we will have pictures.

Bill & I stopped by and chewed the fat with you for a little while. Great collection of older custom rifles. Glad to get to see them up close and personal.

I would also like to thank the guild for having the vintage custom rifle display. It was awesome to say the least. I admit to probably wearing out a pair of white gloves holding the different specimans. Here are a few pics of different folks having a great time at the display.

The person in the red shirt was a tireless worker who explained a ton of things to a lot of different people.


A couple more folks who were a great source of info on these rifles.


Another author and great craftsman who found them interesting.

This might be a stupid question but are rifles bought and sold at the show?

Absolutely! Customs, actions, barrells,wood, services, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Prewar70:
This might be a stupid question but are rifles bought and sold at the show?

All the rifles and guns in the Historical display were not for sale.

Thanks Jim and Mike. I like old stuff and the historical section would have been tempting. I need to go to this show sometime in the near future.

Jim, I'm headed up to Ely in the morning, let me know if you want me to say hi to anyone.

YIKES!? Is that a white line spacer on the butt of the rifle in the last pic?! Please say it ain't so. :-)

John

quote:

Originally posted by gasgunner:
YIKES!? Is that a white line spacer on the butt of the rifle in the last pic?! Please say it ain't so. :-)

Yep. If memory serves, that's a Shelhamer w/Rex O'Dell checkering pattern. The white line spacer wasn't that uncommon. There was more than one Shelhamer there with them.

I confess I spent an inordinate amount of time around the vintage customs. And my brother and I monopolized much of Steve Hughes' time, for which I apologize. You're just a damn interesting guy to talk to, Steve. (Sorry for buying your latest book on discount. I pre-ordered it, but wouldn't have had I known some background about the issue. )

The work by the guild members is uniformly excellent. Not much surprise there. (Our AR members Bill and Jim are fine additions.) Fine finish and inletting is all top notch. I looked for style differences and interesting "transition" areas. Picked up some ideas there. Just curious.......have we about run the coarse on mullered borders and tiny ribbons?

A big thanks to Michael, Monte, Doc, Mark, and whomever else responsible for the vintage custom display. That many pre-war customs in a collective display was a rare.....and likely once in a lifetime opportunity. I applaud you all.

Of the contemporary artisans, I was most taken by Nathan Heineke's exhibit. The Springfield in 400 Whelen was wonderful. The "weathered" leather covered pad was interesting.....and a brave move. Loved the big bronze of Whelen complete with Springfield sporter. Nathan has an interest in the "historical" customs. Also saw him in conference with Michael Petrov (who's research aided him in the 400 Whelen project). I'm hoping that leads to more projects of similar ilk.

http://www.nlheineke.com/about.htm





My brother scored a great book from Jerry Fisher. Contemporary American Stockmakers by Ron Toews. Jerry had 5 copies, and they were all gone by our 2nd pass around the hall.

I "shotgunned" a bunch of photos of stuff that interested me, but as always, they don't do justice to the guns.

At the banquet we sat with engraver Sam Welch and stockmaker Kent Bowerly and wife. As usual, the people are as solid and interesting as their work.

I was also very impressed by Nathan Heineke'.400 Whelen. The rifle was written up in the Jan-Feb 2008 Bugle magazine by Wayne Van Zwoll.

Several years ago I helped an artist who was working on a Townsend Whelen bronze. I had no idea that it was going to be at the show. The rifle Whelen is holding is a James V. Howe .400 Whelen with the first Howe-Whelen rear sight. The rifle today belongs to Mark Benenson and it was on the display table at the show. Talk about a small world.

Being an old-school type I was also taken by Kathy Forster's Sauer Mauser.

A big thank you to you, Michael. The display was fantastic, and I tip my hat to all that made it happen! That was our first time at the show, and won't be the last! My wife loved it, and said "let's do this again!" Who am I to argue?

Another thumbs up to Kathy Forster's Sauer...it was near perfection! ( Steve, thanks for telling me to go look at it! )

I also thought that the SxS JP Sauer on Steve Heilmann's table was superb!

Jeff

Gentlemens:

I too would like to thank everyone involved with the classic custom rifle exhibit. It was a wonderful thing to see.

The best part of the display wasn't shown on the pictures. It was, without a doubt, the packages of white cotton gloves on the table. Everyone was allowed, after donning a pair of gloves, to handle the rifles on display! (Mr. Buffum wanted me to wear a bib as well, but I resisted as I have so little dignity left and I was hoping to save it for later) That was a very generous concession by the owners of all those fine rifles. Handling rifles by the likes of Niedner and Zischang was a real treat.

Thanks again to all who made it possible. I can only hope that another such exhibition can be put together for next year. It was a great addition to a fine show.

Glenn Fewless

Idared,I.was.the.man.in.the.red.shirt.

Did you guys go to the Engraver's convention while you were there?

quote:

Idared,I.was.the.man.in.the.red.shirt.

vigillinus

Yes, I knew that. It was a pleasure to finally meet you and view some of your fantastic collection. The military stocked Springfield complete with bayonet was awesome.

Thanks for having your firearms sent out for the show and for all the information you provided at the show. I enjoyed my time there immensely.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Did you guys go to the Engraver's convention while you were there?

FEGA and ACGG are at the same show. The two guilds combined efforts at this show a number of years ago.

Mr Petrov,
The display you all put up for us to see was awesome. I just wish that I had had more time to look. The three days sure go fast. Thank you and the others involved for a great show.

And my thanks to each and all, Mark & Michael were tireless in presenting and discussing the guns, as were Monte, Dr Murray and Terry Buffum.
What a display!
Absolutely the best thing ever to come to the Guild show since it's beginning!
I've got 3 brothers, & meeting Grandview & Idared together was a big treat for me and I'm sure I enjoyed our conversations as much as you guys did.

I told more than one person that Kathy Forster's 30 US Gov 1906 was my favorite bolt rifle in the show, (J.C. Tucker's fullstock Mauser being #2).

Good to see AKJeff who stopped by here while hunting last fall, had breakfast with Glen & Doug Monday before embarking on a three day 900 mile return trip, with three several hour-long white-out white-knuckle on ice episodes.

I might add that in my opinion we had the best group of new members in many, many years including Bill and James, who I was pround to vote for. Also the work of Joe Seeley, who lives but 35 miles from me?!?!

But the greatest pleasure and treat for me was bringing a case of books down for, and after two decades finally meeting Mr. Petrov, who I had long known was a great guy and a real doer in the best sense of the word.
thanks all!
All around the most enjoyable Guild Show I've been too in the 20+ years I've been going!
Thanks again to all!
Steve

Steve, glad to see you made it back safe and sound. Maybe we should plan a yearly Monday morning breakfast before we all leave just so we can catch up on what the weekend was like.

Glenn and I had a great flight going home. It was smooth for most of the trip and we ate our Southwest Airlines provided snacks like good boys. The landing was...... well dicey comes to mind.

Doug

SDH has the above mentioned Kathy Forster mauser up on his website.

http://finegunmaking.com/page41/page15/page15.html


Nice!

Damn! I'd looked for a copy of that book for a couple of years after i was told it was THE definitive book for seeing american stockmaking at it's finest. I'll console myself with the thought that if I'd been there I couldn't have afforded it anyways.

Red

Next year will you guys be in Reno or at the Dallas Safari Show???

Gidday gentleman, I was at the show in Reno, I'll drag out the photos. I was very impressed with the show. I traveled from Australia to visit the SHOT show, in Vegas, flew up to Reno for the Custom Gunshow, stayed at "The Nugget", visited the Sheep Show, flew back to Vegas for the SCI and also went to the Elk Convention.
I would of loved to talk to Mr Petrov, as I'm a huge Whelan fan.
I'll find these photos and post 'em
Cheers Malcolm

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Next year will you guys be in Reno or at the Dallas Safari Show???

In January of 2013, we will be in Dallas at DSC