Orvis Sandanona Game Fair
 

It was a beautiful, crisp fall day in Millbrook for the annual Game Fair at the Orvis Shooting Grounds. For the first time in a few years, there were several gun vendors in attendance.

Robbin Hollow and Steve Barnett Fine Guns were side by side (see what I did there?) and both had wonderful displays. August Morris had an exceptional display of fine Parkers, in addition to many beautiful English and Continental guns. His two 000 frame .410s attracted a lot of attention, as did the 000 frame G grade in Bill Hadfield's (RHO)booth.

I was completely smitten by one particular gun in August's rack, to the extent that I texted my banker, who stayed home to bake apple pies, for a credit check. Oddly, my text messages went unanswered. Must have been poor cellphone coverage.

Attendance at the Game Fair was the highest I have seen in years, to the extent that all parking was full, and they were shuttling in people from an off-site parking lot. The crowds were a mix of Sloan Rangers, and die-hard old men. There was no end to the displays of posh clothing and footwear. As always, they had loads of spectators watching the working dogs. Land Rover had all their new models on display, which mostly left me unimpressed, having cut my teeth on the real ones 50 years ago.

The only downside to the great day was finding, in my absence, that The Fall Leaf Fairy had stopped by and dumped a load of maple leaves everywhere.

I went with my wife, we had a great time. Saw those 2 Parker 410's very nice. Orvis had a nice Arrieta sidelock 28ga. The lobster rolls were to die for. Weather could not have been better. Great time.

Parking lot was full at 11 AM and the shuttle bus was working already. Sorry I missed you. I was with my wife and another couple. Talked for a while with Lou Rotelli and ran into a few shooting friends. The weather was perfect, the free alcohol was real nice and the cooking demonstration by the Culinary institute was informative on how to cook wild birds. They also put on a show on how to make cocktails and match it to your wild game dinners. More free alcohol. The booths were pretty much all high end. $160 for a leather belt does not work for me. Years ago there were lots of booths with guns. Hopefully, this is a harbinger of a return to that. Wonderful event worth going to if you are in the area. It is going on today also.

And Robin Hollow and Steve Barnett will not be at the Vintagers?

[QUOTE=edgarspencer;416960] I was completely smitten by one particular gun in August's rack, to the extent that I texted my banker, who stayed home to bake apple pies, for a credit check. Oddly, my text messages went unanswered. Must have been poor cellphone coverage.

Credit check??? Certainly, you've learned by now that all Parkers are $500, Winny lever guns are $550 and A.H. Fox Guns (bespoke of course) are $750.

There are few venues as atmospheric as Sandanona in early autumn. Please enlighten this ex-marketing lad why the hell the Vintagers can't somehow, someway, collab with the Game Fair folks to reinvigorate their Vintage Gunner's Cup and combine it into one, grand, exhilarating event? No doubt, both parties would have to agree to certain concessions, but how could the combination prove to be anything but synergistic?? :banghead:

I would love to go back to Millbrook for the Vintagers. So would a whole bunch of other people.

I seriously considered making the trip but some other prior half-commitments were already in play. I love the place and the event and will return someday for something.

Orvis Game Fair
 

:)Orvis Game Fair was well organized with class gun vendors along with a variety of activities hopefully will entice new new leadership in the Vintagers to consider..regarding dates & locations for the future and there survival.

I recently talked with August at Barnett and Bill at Robin Hollow and both told me they'd be at the Game Fair but not at the VC. That's all I know.

Ohio is a great idea Harry. I hear Springfield is nice this time of year. Just don't bring your dog or pet goose.

The Vintage Cup, when first held at Hopkins Game Farm, was a total bust for vendors, end of story. If it weren't for the PGCA annual meeting held at the facility the same weekend, no one would have been there to purchase anything. In contrast with the Vintagers in 2023, the facility proprietors were not at fault. George Hopkins runs a great venue and the low turnout was a mystery to attendees. Hopefully, this year will be different, but all news points to a mediocre event. As I have stated before, I will attend this year's event, but only because I can sleep in my own bed before deciding whether I will be there for a second day.

Speaking of Ohio, some of us Ohio Fellas have discussed the possibility of hosting a 2 day shoot at a very nice venue in Eastern Ohio. Some of the issues to be addressed are technical advice from an experienced host and a date that would not conflict with exisiting events.

Glad to see you're not a cranky curmudgeon anymore Harry!!

A few years ago, the Vintagers held their event on the same weekend as the Orvis Game Fair, and two things were evident. The vendors at the Vintagers considered it disappointing, and attendance was way off from the previous year. Having just spoken with August Morris, he reports that this year's Game Fair was one of the best years for he, and previously, his dad, both for foot traffic, and sales. (So much for Harry's theory that the NE old men don't have any money) He said he would have considered the Vintagers, except for the two weeks in between the two events. RHO is much closer to Maryland, than the 1300 miles for August to travel, but going home and unpacking, only to repack again two weeks later was out of the question. The Dover Furnace Vintagers was OK, But the last good Vintagers, in my estimation, was when it was held at Addieville East Farms.

Harry, I'm 76. I know another Parker guy well, and he's no kid either. That only accounts for two of more than 7-8 others who stepped up. Keep in mind that August only had about a dozen Parkers, the balance being some pretty fine English SxS, Several fine continental guns, and some beautiful rifles.

Orvis reports that this was the most well attended Game Fair ever. Given the very few events held in New England of this nature, Suggesting they are dying out, couldn't be further from the truth.

Being one of them, I've got a lot off respect for 'Old Men', but Harry, you and a couple others really have to accept that the Civil War ended almost two centuries ago.

Harry and I went Sunday afternoon and were impressed. I figured the crowd would have died down by then but there was a good crowd and we had to park in the remote lot.

Sorry we missed the folks who posted here. We did have a good short visit with Geoffrey Gournet.

Had I known you planned on going, I would have come back out Sunday also. One can never get enough of the great guns. Nothing beats putting your eyeballs on them.
Salisbury is just a short drive to Millbrook, and I'm glad you had a reason for being in the neighborhood.

edit: I should have said Lakeville. They don't like to admit Lakeville is part of Salisbury.

Harry, contact the Vintage Cup people, get on their board and make your vision come to reality.

So I talked with August at Steve Barnett's last week who told me he had an excellent show at the Orvis Game Fair event, and part of that was the liaison lady who had frequent contacts with August and with Bill at Robin Hollow asking how things were going and what Orvis could do improve for that show and next year's event. Apparently Orvis is actively looking to return to the days when it was THE place to see fine guns in the early Fall. He also mentioned that the Vintagers timing at Hopkins was just too close to the Orvis Game Fair to justify a second road trip from/back to MS. Lastly I learned that SBFG will be moving to a new location in (as I recall) Cleveland MS that's about 2 hours away from its current location in West Point. Move to be complete right after the first of the year.

Most of the guys heavily involved with leadership of the Vintagers are not on this site. If they hear about your complaints, it’s strictly hearsay and you know what that’s worth. The Vintagers have their issues, mainly the aging of members. The demographic issues have been beat to death on this and other boards. Organizations run by volunteers can be problematic for various reasons. When Ray Poudrier (sp?) ran the Vintagers it was his baby and he made money doing it. He was the central point of contact and things got done. That is no longer the case; the profit motive is not there. Maybe that’s what is needed. A change in location might help in the short term but long term prospects for the Vintagers are questionable. Your complaints are a rehash of the obvious so if you want positive change put your shoulder to the wheel rather throwing rocks from the sideline.

My mother was from Cleveland, Mississippi and my brother was born there.

If the powers that be in the Vintagers organization are not on this site, they would be wise to change their ways. An apology from the Delany's posted on this site would have gone a long way to smooth out their poor performance at the 2023 Vintage Cup. They should be on all of the double gun forums to see how things are going. As was the case at Vintage Cups held at Millbrook NY and Easton, MD, sales of display space seems to be more important than shooting revenue or dinner sales. My vote is "Back to Millbrook" in conjunction with the Orvis Game Fair.

It would surprise me if Orvis consented to a 'joint venue' because (a) they don't need the Vintagers to be successful and (b) the Vintagers weren't exactly gentlemanly when they left, and deliberately scheduled their event on the same weekend as the game fair, whose dates were already published.

Why would the Vintagers intentionally shoot themselves in the foot? In my opinion, it wasn't intentional, it was stupidity. I don't think the Delany's did anything intentional to destroy the 2023 Vintage Cup either. It was also more stupidity. I have no idea how the profits are shared at these events, but some agreement has to be reached to make the shoot successful. Maybe the promoters should ask the people at Orvis Millbrook and Pintail Point how they ran their events.

Bill and Edgar make very good points. The Vintagers was successful when it was a for profit enterprise. Trends would indicate that while Orvis seems to be doing well with its Game Fair, the Vintagers need a partner. What better way than to make the Vintagers a part of the Game Fair, or at least partner with an entity who can organise and make the venture pay.

I always wanted to attend the Orvis Game Fair but have never made it. I would like to attend one year. Remember, these things can be cyclical. I attended my first Game Fair in the UK last year. Nearly 100,000 people turned out. I thought it was spectacular. But Brits who’ve gone for many years said it wasn’t nearly what it had been. I love SxS events and the Spring Southern is likely the largest and best in the world. I keep my guns in the UK at Atkin, Grant and Lang. In speaking one of AGLs managers, they did very well this year, as they do each year at Deep River. I also attended several VGCs at Pintail Point and at Hausmann’s. I attended once at Hopkins and thought it not nearly up to those standards. It was a bunch of guys shooting at an OK clays range. Nothing wrong with that but nothing particularly unique or special about it. It didn’t feel like an event. I don’t know what the answer is for the VGC. It may have simply run its course. That happens. Events will come and go, and change over time. I’m not going to worry about it. If VGC regroups and puts on a good event, I’ll try to attend. If not, I’ll do something else.