'MICHIGAN ANTIQUE ARMS' SEPT. 2012

We were invited by the Michigan Antique Arms  to do our display at their Sept. show.  The show is not a display show as such so they placed us right in front of the incoming public.  I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the many informed and inquisitive visitors.  The Club people were very accomodating and put on a quality show.  I tocl them that we would be back next year with a different display, and we will..

CODY, WY 7-2012

We left on July 3 arriving on July 4.  Cody was very busy, but no so busy we could not find a seat in the Irma's bar, and we were able to make reservations at the Proud Cut Saloon for dinner.
The Winchester Arms Collectors Show was better than ever.  We set records for the amount of tables and for the public attendance.  Visiting with friends is always the highlight of the trip.  I had a WACA Board meeting Sunday after the show so we did not leave until Monday morning arriving home late Tuesday afternoon.

We took home the 'Best of Show' traveling trophy with our new and improved Winchester Hotchkiss Display highlited by the B.B. Hothckiss 'One of Two Known'  prototype.  We will reutrn the trophy next year in Cody.

CGCA DENVER MAY 18,19,20, 2012

We had a long uneventful trip out to Denver arriving Thursday.  Setup started at 3:00 Thursday and 9:00 Friday and the show is really in full swing Friday by noon sans the public.  Saturday and Sunday were well attended. 
We again took our new Hotchkiss display and this time we remembered out table covers.  There were 75 displays in competition!!  Both the NRA and the Colorado Gun Collectors judged and presented awards.  A monstrous judging job by any standard.  We won the best 'Antique Display' award from the NRA, and one of the ten recognition awards from the club.  The Club also presents three higher awards than the ten.  Very good in our opinion considering the very stiff competition. 
Good times were had with out friends the Vandersnicks' and the Wales'.  Larry Wales won his division, Classic Arms, with the NRA and one of the higher awards with the Club.

Leaving Denver Sunday afternoon, we drove 200 miles to Goodland, KS, then drove home the next day.  Major traffic jams in MO caused us to be 1-1/2 hours late arriving home, but without incident.  We have already made our room and table reservations for this trip next year.
A WONDERFUL TRIP!!!!

OGCA SHOW MAY 12 & 13, 2012

Debby and I had a rough start for this show.  Well below Indianapolis it dawned on me that we had forgotten our table covers.  I was ready to turn back to get them when Debby suggested we call our friend Larry to see if he had left yet and if he had an extra cover.  He had not yet left and he had a cover we could use.  Thanks to Debby for quick thinking.  Then we had a complete van breakdown in rush hour traffic 35 miles from our destination.  AAA took us to our hotel and the next day we were able get the van repaired.  Now $450 poorer we were ready for the show.
It was a great show with 35 displays.  We were lucky enough to get a judge's choice award for which we are very proud.   The awards were presented at a banquet Saturday night attended by 550 including many dignitaries.
Despite the problems it was a great trip.

Dakota Arms Show, Sioux Falls Feb. 11&12

We did the Sioux Falls show with the Lee Straight Pull display as promised, and we won 'Best of Show'. The excellent crowd was knowledgeable and appreciated our display. When we got there at noon on Friday it was 5 degrees with 30 mph winds. Almost unbearable. It was a good time visiting with friends from Sioux Falls, Minnesota, Colorado and elsewhere. I am not posting a photo because I forgot to take one. It is the same display as we took to other shows so page down to see it. We are headed to Louisville this coming weekend just to attend the show, and visit with the family. Then we will stay home building our new Winchester Hotchkiss display for the shows in May.

LONG OVERDUE UPDATE

Friends,

I just realized that I did not post the results of our Dallas display last August. Well, we did not win a thing but had a great time with some old friends. Dallas, as usual, was very hot.

This year (2012) we are displaying in Sioux Falls, SD Feb. 11 & 12, OGCA May 5 & 6, Denver May 19 & 20, and Cody WY at the WACA show July 6,7 & 8. We are doing the Lee Straight Pull display in Sioux Falls, a new Winchester Hotchkiss display featuring a rare prototype, our normal display of Service issues with some special additions, and some civilian models including sporting models at OGCA and Denver. Probably the Hotchkiss display in Cody too. Come see us and introduce yourself.

This year October 27 & 28 the Winchester Arms Collectors will be having a show in conjunction with and as guests of the Ohio Gun Collectors show in Cleveland. It should be a great show.