Treasures From the Vintagers

[Randy G Roberts]

Alright I am curious. Did anyone find anything they had to have at the VC ? For me I had my sights on a 36" hammer gun but unfortunately the deal could not be made. Brian Dudley did deliver a Parker he had been performing some work on so I did not come home empty handed. There were some nice Parkers there for certain.

[Craig Larter]

Bought a CH 12ga Bernard from Steve B., sold a DH 20ga and Fox SPE and got a commitment on a Ithaca NID grade 3 super ten. Lots of great guns. Josh L had a Fox XE 16ga that got me thinking. Josh also had a fantastic Fox FE. His Fox D is a good buy for the guy looking for a nice first gen D, looks better in hand than his pictures. Kirby Hoyt had a beautiful Steven Grant side lock that was a knock out for not much money. Steve Barnett had a bunch of great guns including a 8ga DHE but WAY out if my league price wise. Big fun!
The CH Bernard joins my CH 10/34 Damascus, CH 10/32 Bernard and CHE 12/32 #3 frame Damascus.
Randy nice to meet you and chat for a few minutes. Craig

[Randy G Roberts]

Same here Craig, nice to finally meet you. Sounds like you were in the middle of some good ones. Josh did have some great guns for sure.

[Dave Tercek]

Bought a little 20g, VHE, straight stock, single trigger gun, from Josh.

It was a great event. I got to meet some interesting people and talk to others that I only see every year or two.
I'll be there next year and hopefully find another gun I really don't need.

[Mills Morrison]

I got a lot of good stuff but no guns. A highlight was seeing a VH 20 Brian has done a full restoration on. More to come on it. I got some Parker brass shells, a great old leather case that needs some love and a bunch of other stuff.

[Randy G Roberts]

I saw that gun also Mills, nice. I bet there is more to come on it:corn:

[James L. Martin]

Got a real nice 1921 DH 20ga straight grip ,with hangtags from Josh, he had some real nice guns.

[Brian Dudley]

It was nice to see all of you that I did see/meet.

Randy pointed me in the direction of a good lot of Parker parts/collectibles that I was able to buy from another vendor and I am glad to have them for sure.
I was able to get a few cases for personal guns and steve had a boatload of case covers to dig through and I found a couple that fit my new cases nicely.

[Sara LeFever]

It was very nice to meet many people for the first time and put some faces with the names. I didn't wind up buying anything except for rounds of sporting clays. I kept pretty busy all three days!

Sara

[Randy G Roberts]

Got a real nice 1921 DH 20ga straight grip ,with hangtags from Josh, he had some real nice guns.

If that's the same gun that I handled and I am pretty sure that it is that is a very nice gun. Congrats on your purchase, I am certain you will enjoy that one.

[Karl Ferguson]

James, You hit the jackpot ... what a awesome DH

[Mike Franzen]

I got some some leather, a couple pieces of Orvis Hunting clothes and sold a gun. I actually came home with more than I took. I loved the venue and got to shoot a bunch. John Davis and I finished second in the two man team flurry. Got to meet some new folks too.

[Dave Tercek]

I usually travel with my wife. She also had a good time at the Friday afternoon tea. It was put together very well with a lot of friendly ladies.

[Frank Srebro]

My jewel is a prewar Winchester Model 21 Trap Grade with 30-inch VR barrels and factory upgrade to the forend with the "brace" and draw screw. Straight gripper to boot. Just what I wanted for volume SxS clays shooting with its unusual combo (for a Trap Grade) of Mod and Imp-Mod chokes and so stamped on the breeches. Shot her for the first time on Sunday along with Smitty and Daryl at Rock Mtn and she met my expectations.

[Ronald Scott]

I shot my recently acquired 2 1/2" 16 gauge Damascus GH on the 10/12 gauge course. Found that the 2 1/2" 1 oz loads I made up worked great -- they broke the clays I hit with authority and was very easy on the shoulder -- I just wish I hit more. I thought the course was pretty fair -- some easy shots, some challenging.

Went over to the dark side and bought a nice English double 12 ga for cheap money. All the Parkers I liked were priced out of my league. It's probably sacrilege to say but it seemed like dollar for dollar you could get more gun for the money buying an English gun. On the other side of the coin you can probably get more for the Parker when it's time to sell it ...

[Randy G Roberts]

[QUOTE=Frank Srebro;282021Just what I wanted for volume SxS clays shooting[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a great gun. I to have a 21 for volume clays as you put it Frank. They can take a lot of punishment and they have a reputation as such that is well deserved IMO. Good to meet you at the VC by the way.

[Reggie Bishop]

Sounds like you all picked up some jewels!

[Reggie Bishop]

Bought a CH 12ga Bernard from Steve B., sold a DH 20ga and Fox SPE and got a commitment on a Ithaca NID grade 3 super ten. Lots of great guns. Josh L had a Fox XE 16ga that got me thinking. Josh also had a fantastic Fox FE. His Fox D is a good buy for the guy looking for a nice first gen D, looks better in hand than his pictures. Kirby Hoyt had a beautiful Steven Grant side lock that was a knock out for not much money. Steve Barnett had a bunch of great guns including a 8ga DHE but WAY out if my league price wise. Big fun!
The CH Bernard joins my CH 10/34 Damascus, CH 10/32 Bernard and CHE 12/32 #3 frame Damascus.
Randy nice to meet you and chat for a few minutes. Craig


Craig that CH Bernard 12 has some beautiful engraving! Very nice gun.

[Joe Graziano]

Found my perfect game gun. It’s a Cogswell & Harrison hammerless 16 ga, 28 in sleeved barrels with London nitro proofs, M/F, 2 1/2 chambers, round body, on the 1878 Scott and Baker back action patent, made in 1884. Some time over the past 135 years it was restocked with a very nice piece of walnut with excellent modern dimensions, 14.75 LOP. It fits me perfectly. After my brain unexpectedly disconnected from my M21 during the main event, I switched guns and made up ground��

[Randy G Roberts]

After my brain unexpectedly disconnected from my M21 during the main event, I switched guns and made up ground��

Joe I feel as though you were one of the lucky ones as my brain never did connect in the main event :)

[Joe Graziano]

Randy, I feel your pain. Friday, I was crushing them, for me anyway. Hit 43/50 on the 12 ga course and 18/20 with my little 20 ga on the 5-stand. The next day, the wheels fell off early. I switched guns to the 16 ga I’d never shot before and ended with a 54. I was disappointed in my overall score but very happy my new shotgun did it’s job!

[Michael Murphy]

I was unable to attend. Based on all the great guns being talked about, it would appear that i saved a lot of money by missing the event !!!

[Brian Dudley]

Believe me... your attendance and business would have been appreciated.

The retail traffic was down for sure. It was like that in June for the NE as well. The high point for traffic in the tent was Friday and it was not a mob by any means.

I know of at least one vendor that did no business whatsoever, no sales and no trades. Though someone I know made him a very fair offer on a gun. But it didn't happen.

[Randy G Roberts]

I was unable to attend. Based on all the great guns being talked about, it would appear that i saved a lot of money by missing the event !!!

Speaking of Great Guns one of the better guns that I was able to see was an A grade 12 bore that Bill Hadfield had just taken in. It had some unique customer requested engraving on it and was supported by a research letter. It was a real nice gun with very shootable dimensions. The barrels were 30", if it would have had another 2" I am not sure I could have passed on that one. Bill was still in limbo about his asking price but he was talking about some very reasonable numbers. If anyone is looking for an A grade you may want to consider calling Bill.

[Reggie Bishop]

A grade gun is listed on GI today Randy. And btw there isn't a thing wrong with a 30" Parker!

:)

[Randy G Roberts]

A grade gun is listed on GI today Randy. And btw there isn't a thing wrong with a 30" Parker!

:)

Agreed, not a thing wrong with a 30" Parker except that I want a 32" A Grade target gun preferably with game scene engraving, tight chokes, condition, DT, and a PG configuration. ANYONE LISTENING ??? :corn:

[Mike Koneski]

I didn't make any purchases this time. Bought a bunch of Parkers and Lefevers this year though. No time to buy when you're shootingshootingshootingshootingshootingshooting.. ........Did I mention we were shooting a lot? :rotf::whistle:

We did pick up some nice vintage Parker coffee grinders and some vintage rollover tools.

[Randy G Roberts]

I didn't make any purchases this time. Bought a bunch of Parkers and Lefevers this year though. No time to buy when you're shootingshootingshootingshootingshootingshooting.. ........Did I mention we were shooting a lot? :rotf::whistle:

Terrible problem to have. My guess is that you're coping with the situation.

[Mike Koneski]

Agreed, not a thing wrong with a 30" Parker except that I want a 32" A Grade target gun preferably with game scene engraving, tight chokes, condition, DT, and a PG configuration. ANYONE LISTENING ??? :corn:

Not asking for much, are you? :shock:

[Mike Koneski]

Terrible problem to have. My guess is that you're coping with the situation.


Randy, it's a dark and lonely job, but someone has to do it. I'm your huckleberry!!

[Mills Morrison]

I didn't buy too much (did get a few good things though), but Harry and I had a good visit with the Dallas Safari folks and now have the bug to go big game hunting.

[Randy G Roberts]

Not asking for much, are you? :shock:

You know the old slogan, "if you don't ask". My dream target gun will come along some day. Just hope I can still eat solid foods when it does.

[Randy G Roberts]

I didn't buy too much (did get a few good things though), but Harry and I had a good visit with the Dallas Safari folks and now have the bug to go big game hunting.

I can see your pic now in the PP's with a big Buff and your 10 bore GH. Best of luck :corn:

[Ronald Scott]

If you heard a cannon go off now and then it was the guys shooting their big bore stopping rifles. I watched one guy shoot his 450 #2 nitro at a moving rhino target -- very cool. Need to bring a rifle next year.