R. L. Wilson is a regular table holder once again at our Maryland Arms Collector's Association (MACA) aka the "Old Baltimore Show" every March.

The NRA has guns in inventory storage they have not even thought about displaying at the museum yet due to space and temporal considerations. Within walking distance of my home, I stop by there at least once every 2 weeks to savor the roar of the Rangoon oil and the smell of the Circassian. Except for Tony Galazan's guns, I had never seen a Fox gun displayed there, ever. When they shipped some of their best guns out to the newly-opened Bass Pro Shop mega store in Springfield MO, they backfilled the display cases with some of the stuff they've had squired away for years. Lo and behold, they now have on display not one but TWO Fox cutaway guns, one 12 and one 20! (Who knew?).

Bruce's comments on the courts upholding the right of museums to sell off all or parts of collections pretty well 'center punch' the situation. (Museums call it "de-accessioning").

The venerable Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC did this last year, with robust local and federal support. Operating budgets became the victim of poor planning by the BOD; in the end the museum itself faltered but at least the art was preserved for future generations.

Owners of nice art, guns, pens, whatever their passion often feel that by donating them to a museum and taking the deduction they are preserving the item so all can appreciate forever more. It's never really worked that way.

Things left in families have disappeared into drug money for the third generation, or power bills if left to museums because insurance rates went up. You can't control the future.

Kevin, is R L selling books , paper , or back to guns? He is interesting and knowledgable

He is selling mainly paper and his numerous books; he has guns on his table (vintage Colts & Winchesters) but I think they are under the auspices of his fellow table holders. (I'm not sure he's allowed to sell firearms any more).

The Pererson exhibition, I believe, was stipulated never to be 'deassesed' and that every piece was to be displayed.

If someone knows differently, please correct me.






.

An "Annie Oakley" gun that sold for a very high price a couple of years ago was, in fact, not an "Annie Oakley" gun, but a Frank Butler gun. I wonder if the new owner realizes that?

Now if I had $200k to spend on toys would I want Annie's 20 gauge or a 1970 four-speed Hemi Cuda?

I know I would be riding in style.

Any idea as to who engraved Annie's BHE serial no. 117432. This is the gun with a picture of Annie on the sides?

Well I certainly have nothing important or overly rare in my accumulation but based on what I'm reading here none of my prized junk will be given to ANY museum or charitable or not for profit organization .

After my mother passed my father donated a validated James Madison card table to Montpelier . That still galls me the way those ingreats waste money !

Neither , I'd get several nice Parkers and a 69 Chevy Z-28 with the 302DZ motor and four on the floor (fully restored of course).

On a side note I was sitting at the cross of main street and Madison road in Orange VA at about 8:30 AM Friday and the most lovely 28 or 29 Packard convertible with the rumble seat and golf bag door came riding by along with several other pre 1940 autos . I assume there was some sort of rally going on in the near vicinity this past weekend .

Sometimes things are left in a family trust and then a semipermanent loan to an organization. That seems to work better provided that the family trustees are able to function rationally. Philmont Scout Ranch with which I am associated recently significantly increased size with the acquisition by semipermanent loan of the famous Chase Ranch and another smaller property.