Newsletter Archives for the V.G.C.A.
V.G.C.A. NEWS February, 2002
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This Month's Topics:
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General. Many wondered why we had pizza instead of the usual sandwiches at the last meeting. Ed Wages has been ill, and the regular order was not sent in. The EXCOM rectified the situation and had the pizza delivered. Thank you to all who volunteered to help pay for it until we got our act together, and please understand that no offense was meant toward anyone who was running around with money in their hands looking for someone to take it.
Next Meeting. As usual, the next meeting will be on the fourth Thursday of the month, which means 28 February at 7:30 p.m. at the NRA Headquarters Conference Room. Ballots will be counted for the four Officer positions. While that is being done, Addison Hurst will present a program about Trapdoor rifles. We may also have a few on display from the NRA Museum. If you wish to bring a Trapdoor from your respective collections, please do.
Last Meeting. Folks, that was one fantastic meeting. It was a gigantic Show and Tell. At least 25 people brought a favorite piece, or a just-plain interesting piece, to talk about. We had a 5-minute limit per item, and it's too bad there were only the 25 or so who brought something. We have had some great programs the last two years, and we will have more in the future; but members telling and showing things of interest to the other members in plain talk means a great deal to me and many of you.
I led off with my Fourth Model Velodog revolver and it got better and better. The others were: Ed Johnson with a .44 revolver that is one of just 1500 of the particular made for the War Department; Charlie Rathel with a Purdy 1883 rifle that is one of only 500 of the particular model; Bill Edwards with a prototype for a Navy Arms Colt. Uberti made 12 copies and Bill has numbers 1 and 13 from the first production run.
Charlie Rausch showed a Model 1905 Colt, which was the first .45 with a shoulder stock. Less than 500 were manufactured and there are only five known remaining. Moe Phillips brought an absolutely fantastic all correct early M1 Winchester carbine. Hal Johnson brought what I think was a Bulgarian 1911 pistol.
King von Schilling brought a scope-mounted drilling and an Austrian imperial Navy Lugar with a stock. Kelly Cook followed with a 1906 Colt. JJ Roberts then showed us a Reising 1921 pistol, and Doug Wicklund presented a Mountain Man Centennial Italian copy of a Hawken rifle.
Jim Burgess brought a Remington Rand 1911A1 pistol. Bill Lytel showed a 38-40 all matching Colt revolver; and Bill King showed us his favorite hunting rifle, which is a sporterized Remington 1903A4 sniper rifle. Larry Hare followed with a Hamilton Model 39 made in 1930. The rifle fires .22 short, and the barrel is rifled brass. Con Rice shared his East German Makarov pistol, and Sonny Laine brought his Springfield 1851 musket. The first 200 of the model were shipped to VMI, and the one Sonny showed us is one of them.
There were other presenters, and I was not able to keep up. I apologize to Roger Simmons and Ernie Padgett for not remembering what they shared with us. I also apologize to the presenters whose names I wasn't able to find. Some of the guns that were shared were a German Sauer Model 38H an 1882 military pistol, and an 1853 Sharps carbine. During the Civil War these carbines were shipped in boxes that were marked "100 Bibles." One of the most interesting was a Russian Nagant rifle made in 1901. It has Austrian marks, Hungarian marks, and Finn marks: To top it off, it has a Remington bolt. Then there was a John Wayne commemorative made in 1980.
Next Show. Don't forget out next show will be on 9-10 March at Hugo's Skating Rink in Bealeton. This show will be more tightly controlled than ever. The side doors will be off limits during the show. The side doors will be Off limits during the show. During set up and takedown access will be permitted to people with badges. Again, access will be sealed off during the show hours. This is to protect everyone, i.e., unchecked guns etc. I would like to remind everyone to be especially watchful for thieves. Stealing has been on the increase at shows in northern Virginia. Phil Hill and the Show Committee need more volunteers. You can sign up at the next meeting.
The weekend after our show, what is known as the Baltimore Show will take place at Timoniurn. There seems to have been some softening as to modem military rifles at this show, but modem handguns of any type are not allowed. The weekend after that there will be a gun show at the Fair Grounds in Richmond. Yes, I know the Fair Grounds has a new name, but I bet everyone knows what I meant.
Secretary's Subtleties. Let's not have any childishness at the next show. If you have been going in and out of the side doors for years, that doesn't mean it will continue. If you are challenged by a VGCA member, please understand that not everybody knows everybody anymore and the person doing the challenging will be doing as directed by the Show Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. We had two known attempted thefts at the last show, and we do not want it to happen again. Keeping guns so that a cartridge cannot be loaded will again be strictly enforced. In addition, any gun that is for sale has to be tied. That's all there is to it.
At the last meeting, a member voiced disapproval because he was asked to leave the Executive Committee meeting that took place before the regular meeting. The rule that members are always welcome has not changed, and the member was allowed to stay until we went into executive session. However, when the EXCOM goes into executive session, only EXCOM members and specifically invited guests will be allowed to stay. Sometimes things are discussed that must remain behind closed doors, and this was one of those times. We also had a lot of people milling about waiting for the doors to the Conference Room to be opened. Many members stuck their heads in and didn't have the courtesy to be quiet. When you attend an EXCOM meeting, please remember that we do not have time for bantering, the latest joke, or whatever interests you. If you attend, please sit and listen and don't speak unless asked to participate.
EXCOM Meeting. Your Executive Committee met on 13 February to continue the close-hold discussion of the previous meeting. For the first time in many years a Dealer was suspended from our show by the Show Committee, and the suspension was approved by the Executive Committee. The Dealer may reapply in the future.
President's Corner. I am truly sorry that I had to miss the last meeting-I have not missed many in about 20+ years-this was a true veterinary emergency or I would have been there!! From what I hear the Show and Tell was bigger and better than ever before and was quite a success. We will repeat this to be sure!! Do not overlook the importance of the March show. We need all hands on deck... if you can lend a hand, contact Gary Holderman or me - at the show there is plenty to do. We need all the help we can muster. It appears that we must hire uniformed guards to make sure all the security functions are under control. It saddens me somewhat that we have to do this when we have more than 300 members. The reality is that it appears that most members are more interested in having a good time than they are interested in working. This is not true for many members who always help... .but is true for a large number of members... you know who you are. For future thoughts, please be aware that we are looking at the Prince William County Fairgrounds and even-get this-using the small hall at Hugo's for expansion purposes of our show. Previously, the small hall at Hugo's was not available-it may be in the future... stay tuned!! More membership support is going to be needed if we get bigger - I hope we can.
My presentation of Springfield Rifles 1865-1888 is meant to be a symposium of sorts... I will present the basic facts with about 15 rifles and carbines and ammo, tools, books, manuals, etc.--in various media modes. I will give you an overview--I plan to have a magnifying light and period tools so all your rifles can be taken apart and examined and discussed. I would like to include what you know and own as part of the presentation--there is so much to learn that we can all benefit from what you have and know. This entire field is very mixed up. I am 60 and I have been collecting these things since I was 11- according to my Mom. That does not make me an expert - only some poor soul who has been collecting them for 50+ years and who is about as confused as I was many years ago. Bob Sears and O.H. McKagen and others - please show up and help me out here!! Bring in your stuff - lets all learn something from each other. You are never too old to learn!! Look forward to seeing you. -- Addison