NRANews Executive Producer John Popp and his band of audio/technical wizards stopped by headquarters today to shoot segments for the show. They left with a little more than originally planned.

"Taping at NRA Headquarters accomplishes two things," explained Popp. "First, shooting here provides our viewers with an actual view of the building. We tape our interviews at the museum, in the hallways, on the range - where ever we can find a free space.

"Second is the wild cards. Today, for example, we ran into Competitive Shooting's H.Q. Moody. That impromptu meeting turned into two separate interviews. They wouldn't have happened if we weren't here at headquarters."

In addition to the Moody interviews, Popp and his crew had the opportunity to sit down with Ruthann Sprague from NRA Women's Programs, J.R. Robbins from NRAHuntersRights.org, and (pictured above) National Firearms Museum's Phil Schreier. All of which are scheduled air on NRANews.com somewhere between 9pm and midnight Eastern Time over the next few days.

NRA National Firearms Museum Senior Curator Phil Schreier was recently in Newark, Ohio, for The American Thompson Association’s 19th Annual All Thompson Show and Shoot. He provided us with these photos and told us a little about his trip.

“I’ve been to five,” Schreier said of the annual gathering. The Association, an NRA affiliated collector’s club, was awarded the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy at the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Charlotte. Read more about the 2010 NRA National Gun Collecting Awards.

What do the Tommy Gun enthusiasts do at their show? The purpose of these meetings, their website says, is to gather and share experiences andinformation on the Thompson. Mixed with a good deal of fun, of course.

“It’s a two stage shoot,” Schreier explained. “The first stage you shoot your firearm on full automatic for five different stages, at 20 rounds each, with the focus on accuracy.”

“The second stage is a steel falling plate contest. That’s for speed.”

Given the chance, Schreier could hardly observe the event – he brought his Thompson and joined the competitors on the firing line. How'd he fare?

“Well, the guy that knocked me out of the first round won the overall competition,” he said with a smile, “so if I had to get beat by someone, at least I got beat by the guy who won it all.”

In addition to his time on the firing line, Schreier provided interviews for a few episodes of American Rifleman TV. 

“Anyone interested in joining the Association should check out their website,” Schreier said. Download an application here. Annual dues are $30. “They are a great group and a wonderful extension of the NRA’s commitment to gun collecting.”

More...

Doug Wicklund, Senior Curator at the National Firearms Museum, provides NRAblog with a brief history on a true rarity on loan from Mr. Ellis Joubert.

The Isaiah Jennings All-Metal Breechloading Flintlock Rifle

One of the most unusual repeating firearms ever to be manufactured in the United States was Isaiah Jennings’ repeating flintlock rifle of 1821.

Built with a detachable skeleton-type shoulder stock as well as a removable 21-inch octagonal barrel, the Jennings rifle was capable of firing twelve shots without reloading. This multi-shot arm was loaded with a dozen superimposed bullets and alternating powder charges, each placed one on top on another down the bore, and was fitted with twelve individual touchholes, each also being equipped with a swivel cover.

In firing, the first charge towards the barrel was discharged first, and then the movable lockplate was pulled back to the next swivel cover position. The .44 caliber and reduced powder space in this rifle may have meant it was intended to utilize hollowed-out projectiles with the powder charge placed inside the bullet itself.

This intriguing transitional rifle, bridging technology from muzzleloading arms to cartridge repeaters, bears serial number 1.

Here at NRA Headquarters, the National Firearms Museum draws visitors from all over the country who are interested in the history of firearms. However, although the Museum features a large variety of fascinating exhibits, the Museum Store is a destination in itself, housing a wide range of books and merchandise.

Here are a few particularly popular items:

Tactical Pen—According to Museum Store Manager Benjamin Van Scoyoc, the tactical pen is “the best-selling item in the store right now.” Why are the pens so hard to keep on the shelves? Perhaps because at only $29.99, they’re an incredible deal—Van Scoyoc said that he’s seen similar items sold for up to $145 at other places.

The pen is fully functional as both a writing instrument and an “item of last resort,” and part of its popularity is due to the fact that it is still allowed on airplanes and other public places.

Describing the pen’s aesthetic appeal, Van Scoyoc explained, “It has the NRA logo on the top, and of course it’s a Smith and Wesson. It’s a hot item, and it’s going fast!” 

Hot and Cold Pack—Another great item currently on sale at the Museum Store is a dual hot and cold pack, which is useful for a variety of comfort needs.

Van Scoyoc has found the cold pack helpful for pulled or strained muscles: “I’ve used the cold one for a stiff neck, and to use it you just put it in the freezer.” For the hot pack, he explained, it works “like magic! The heat pack has a little metal piece that you click, and it heats it up like a battery. A chemical reaction happens to make it stiff and hot, so it’s perfect to use if you’re hunting or hiking in the cold.”

In addition, the hot pack stays warm for about ninety minutes, “and to reuse it you just drop it in boiling water for a minute and it returns to its regular state, and you can use it over and over.” As you can see in the photo, the product comes with a stylish NRA sleeve, which is optional -- but a great chance to show off your NRA pride!

NRA National Firearms Museum's Doug Wicklund reports:

You could tell they were nervous by the way they placed their sleeping bags close to one another.

But the Scouts were excited as well as they spread out through NRA HQ and prepared for a “Night at the Museum.”

Yet this would be an evening for these young Scouts unlike any other at the National Firearms Museum, because it was Friday the 13th....

The special afterhours tour wandered through the quiet galleries, pausing from time to time at significant pieces. The Hollywood Guns gallery gathered the most attention with Scouts gazing in awe at the actual guns from movies like Die Hard or The Outlaw Josey Wales. But the “petting zoo” downstairs was next on the agenda. The Scouts filed slowly into the dimly-lit auditorium, only to halt in amazement at what was spread out on tables before them.

Assistant Curator Amber Lammers had put out an assortment of arms fit to repel any monster. And they were going to get to handle them.

The Scouts had the chance to inspect historic Civil War pieces like an 1863 Remington rifle, classic military guns like the M1 carbine, M16 and AK-47 rifles, as well as bigger ordnance like an M60 machine gun. A particular favorite of the evening was the Steyr AUG, one of the gun models with screen time on Die Hard.

Interested in scheduling a tour of the Museum for your group? Call the NRA National Firearms Museum at 703-267-1620 for information.

Overnight visits are available for Boy Scouts troops, provided the Museum has enough advance notice. "The Boy Scouts experienced a unique “behind the scenes” look at the magic of museums, even to handling pieces of history – it really was a special activity that happens nowhere else," Wicklund said. "We’ve had many Scout groups in the two years we have offered this program and the “word of mouth” advertising is great."

When the NRA hosted the 61st Annual Meeting of the Company of Military Historians, NRAblog sat down with West Point Museum's Curator of Arms and Armor Leslie Jensen as he viewed the new Hollywood Guns exhibit.

You are now the curator for the museum at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but how did your career start?

I always wanted to be involved with museums and I've worked with a number of military museums over the years. Joined the army system and run a couple of their museums. I've been at West Point for about six years now. I've been able to work with a lot of different collections, got to see a lot of good stuff. Of course, you have a lot of good stuff as well.

Tell us about the West Point Museum.

West Point is interesting because it's actually the oldest federal museum - it even predates the Smithsonian. A number of our items go back to the Revolution, a good deal of the artillery which is on display on the post for example. It's a really good collection in that every piece allows you to gain a lot about the story behind it.

Another great piece is the first British flag captured during the Revolution. Taken at Fort Chambly Canada, in October of 1775 from the 7th Regiment of Royal Bugleers. We also have the first Medal of Honor that went to Jacob Parrott. The guys who participated in the Great Locomotive Chase were all awarded those medals, but Parrott happened to be first in line. It's a good collection.

What is your favorite piece at West Point?

Probably a pair of George Washington's pistols. They are Hawkins, London made, brass barrel pistols presented to him by a Virginian named Turner during the Revolution. What makes that very interesting is that a thank you letter survived. I can't quote exactly what he wrote, but it was in the order of, "I don't usually accept this kind of thing, but these are so neat I just can't stand it."

This past weekend Assistant Curator Matt Sharpe of the National Firearms Museum came up to Camp Perry with a few special items to display for the competitors at the National Matches.

"We recently opened our newest rotating exhibit, Hollywood Guns, that displays famous firearms used throughout the history of film and have been taking small portions of it around the country to promote," Sharpe said. "It's just one part of our never-ending quest to increase firearms education among the public." This trip, Matt brought along a collection of guns used in Clint Eastwood movies. How'd it go?

"Being at Camp Perry was a great experience," Sharpe told me. "I talked to folks from all over the country. I even spoke with a gentleman from Dublin, Ireland. It was a great venue to promote museum activity seeing as we were among many firearms enthusiasts who appreciate the intricate details that go into firearm production."

Matt went on to say that the best part about traveling around with the exhibit is answering people's questions. Being an Assistant Curator, Matt has accrued quite a knowledge of firearms and likes being able to help people better understand the guns they're looking at.

And what is Matt's favorite piece in Hollywood Guns? "That's a tough one, but I'd have to say the silenced Remington 11-87 used by Javier Bardem in the 2007 film No Country for Old Men."

The National Firearms Museum made an appearance at Camp Perry this weekend to promote its newest exhibit, Hollywood Guns.

Assistant Curator Matt Sharpe drove up with a collection of firearms used by Clint Eastwood in various films throughout the actor's career during the tail-end of CMP Week and the beginning of NRA High Power.

"Dirty Harry's Model 29 is always a favorite of people who come by," said Sharpe.

Prior to its use in the Dirty Harry movies, the Model 29 was only popular among collectors, law enforcement and hunters. After Clint Eastwood's character, Harry Callahan, brought it to people's attention as "the most powerful handgun in the world," its popularity skyrocketed. Many people can attribute their interest in the pistol directly to the movies.

From a more recent movie of Eastwood's, the Museum displays the M1 Garand featured in Gran Torino. "I just saw Gran Torino last week," NRABlog overheard a kid say. "That's so cool."

Hollywood Guns, the Museum's newest exhibit, showcases firearms spanning eighty years of silver screen classics like Stagecoach and 2010 Best Picture Oscar Winner The Hurt Locker. If you're ever near the NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, VA swing by and check it out.

Mike Krei, Director of the NRA's Competitive Shooting Division, continues to report from the 50th Anniversary International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championships in Munich, Germany:

My first trip to the City Center (Marienplaz) of Munich was by way of U-Bahn – the underground subway system. As I climbed the stairs, the first thing taht came into view was the New Town Hall. Spires, gargoyles, turrets, sculptures and the famous Glockenspiel was a sight to behold.

Luckily, English is spoken in most areas and the people are helpful and courteous. I soon learned a visitor should do his best to stay off the bike path or you could get run over – or at least yelled at. Bicycles are a major means of transportation in Munich and officials have made a great effort to accommodate them.

I have yet to sit down to a bad meal even though the food is far from the usual American menu fare. My favorite so far has been the wiener schnitzel and fried potatoes from at a little restaurant known as Zum Durnbrau.

The Olympic Shooting Range in Munich is a tribute to Germany for having the vision to keep these ranges for the world shooters after the 1972 Olympic Games. Each and every venue is busy from dawn to dark. Shots from the Trap & Skeet Fields are heard throughout the facilities – what a great sound. Top shooters from more than 90 countries make their way through the Running Game Hall, Commercial Row, and restaurants that fill the complex.

One of those shooters was 24-year old Joshua Richmond from Team USA who the World Double Trap title with a 196 that included a perfect 50 for 50 in the cold and rain of the final frame.

I'll be sure to send more updates soon, but Auf wiedersehen until then.

NRAblog is delighted to introduce Wendy Cunningham, who has been working at the NRA National Firearms Museum since February. Cunningham brings a variety of skills to the Museum’s small staff, and she reports she has worked on some very interesting projects.

With the title “Administrative Assistant,” you might imagine Cunningham does a lot of budgeting, filing, organizing, and assisting – and you’d be right. Museum Director Jim Supica and Senior Curators Phil Schreier and Doug Wicklund spend a lot of time on the road, and Cunningham holds the fort down, so to speak, and keeps the candy bowl freshly stocked at the Museum’s Fairfax, Virginia, offices.

But there is much, much more to Cunningham’s job. In her time with the NRA, Cunningham’s role has already grown to include gun show coordinator, advertising, and graphic design for Museum projects. Her work is visible on several Museum ads, the recent Hollywood Guns book cover, Museum exhibit labels, brochures, banners, and even on the latest Museum challenge coin.

Cunningham holds a degree in Art History from the University of New Hampshire, and before coming to the NRA she worked at Washington D.C.’s National Gallery of Art as a curatorial assistant to the Senior Mellon Curator of the Division of Prints and Drawings.

Although she started her new job at the NRA during February’s epic snowstorm, Cunningham says that the transition has been easy and enjoyable. Supica notes that Cunningham has brought a fresh perspective and new energy to staff. He reports, “In a very short time, Wendy has become an integral part of the Museum. Not only does she keep the staff organized – sometimes a daunting task on its own – but she brings great art and design skills to Museum projects.”

Cunningham confesses, “I love my job. I get to wake up in the morning and enjoy coming to work. My job is a lot of work, but we also have a lot of fun.”

Philip Schreier, Senior Curator from the NRA National Firearms Museum, continues reporting from the Boy Scouts of America's National Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia:

NRA Rocks Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree: Part 5
By: Philip Schreier

Scouts love to race mountain bikes almost as much as they love to shoot air rifles, so a natural combination of the two is a recipe for success at the National Scout Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill. The Jamboree Bikathlon is a two-wheeled version of the challenging Olympic winter sport, the Biathlon. Here's how it works;

Scouts take to a specially geared 20" BMX mountain bike and race over rugged terrain until they arrive at one of two shooting stations. There they dismount from the bike and meet an NRA certified instructor coach who scores their efforts as they fire five shots at the falling plate targets. They then get back on the bike and ride on to the next shooting station before they ultimately proceed to the finish line.

Most Scouts were averaging four to five minutes on their runs but the best time of the day came from one Scout who shot a perfect 10 and crossed the finish line in just under two minutes. Action Center C reported that nearly 800 Scouts a day rode and shot on the course, making for an estimated 28,000 Scouts who tried the event at the four Action Centers over the nine day Jamboree.

Be sure the check out part One, Two, Three, and Four of Senior Curator Philip Schreier's reports on the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary at the National Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia.

Kirk Brumbaugh receives the E. Andrew Mowbray Excellence in Exhibitry Trophy from Jim Supica, Director of the National Firearms Museum. (Photo by Bob Wos)

Philip Schreier, Senior Curator for the NRA National Firearms Museum, sent NRAblog the following report from the 15th Annual National Gun Show in Kansas City, Missouri:

Brumbaugh takes Best of Show at NRA's 15th Annual National Gun Show
By: Philip Schreier

(Kansas City, Missouri) - On July 23 - 25, the NRA sponsored it's 15th Annual National Gun Show in Kansas City, Missouri hosted by the Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Association during their 40th Anniversary Show. In addition to the 1,000 trade tables, there were 47 exhibitors who competed for over $11,000.00 in NRA display awards.

NRA judges made the rounds evaluating some of the finest collections of historic arms ever presented in public. From multi-barreled flint-lock combination guns to Barrett .50 sniper rifles, the displays were some of the best we have ever seen.

Winning overall best of show earned Kirk Brumbaugh of Omaha, Nebraska the E. Andrew Mowbray Excellence in Exhibitry Silver Bowl and $4,000.00 in cash from the NRA with his stunning exhibit of Vickers Machine Guns. Other notable exhibits included the M. 1895 Gatling Gun, SN 1041, one of the 4 Gatlings used by Lt. John Parker at San Juan Hill, Cuba on July 1st, 1898 and excellent historic displays of Colt Woodsman and High Standard .22 pistols. All the exhibits were of 1st class quality and the staff of the NRA thanks each and every one of the participants and visitors to this remarkable event.

The 16th Annual NRA National Gun Collectors Show will be held in Dallas, Texas August 20 - 21, 2011.

The NRA’s National Firearms Museum will be showing off part of their new Hollywood Guns collection at this weekend's Nation's Gun Show at Dulles Expo Center. The show starts tomorrow, Friday, July 30, and runs through Sunday, August 1. Members of the Museum staff will be available to answer questions, provide advice, and maybe pick up a few goodies along the way.

We again thank Senior Curator Doug Wicklund for the following descriptions of the firearms scheduled for display:

• John Wayne’s Winchester Big-Loop carbine from the movie Stagecoach. If you're a Western movie fan, this is a gun you’ve seen in the hands of the Duke as he twirled it to flag down the stagecoach at the film’s beginning scene. It likely had on-screen roles in other Wayne classics such as True Grit and El Dorado.
 

• Lorne Greene’s Winchester Model 1873 carbine from the TV series Bonanza. This nickel-plated carbine was there on the Ponderosa Ranch with Hoss and Little Joe! Bonanza was one of the longer-running western TV shows; it first aired in 1959 and ended in 1973 after 430 episodes.
 

• Chuck Connors’ Winchester Model 1892 rifle from the TV show The Rifleman. Come by and look over the famous Winchester rifle that TV sheriff Chuck Conners fired at the beginning of each show. Unlike John Wayne’s Winchester, this gun has a special set-screw fitted to hit the trigger as the loop comes up to a closed position.
 

• Clint Eastwood’s Walker revolvers from the film The Outlaw Josey Wales. One of these .44 caliber sixguns was also used by John Wayne and Kim Darby in True Grit. Converted from percussion ignition to use blank cartridges, these heavy revolvers were originally designed to be carried in saddle holsters. (One is pictured at right.)

Plan to visit the National Firearms Museum exhibit at the Capitol Expo Center all three days. If you come to the gun show, remember that “Hollywood Guns,” our special exhibition of movie guns, will be open (with free admission) at the NRA Headquarters just up the road. For more information, call (703) 267-1600 or email nfmstaff@nrahq.org.

The Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Association, an NRA affiliate since 1953, hosts its 40th Annual Kansas City National Summer Arms Show in Kansas City, Missouri, this coming weekend.

If you’re in the area, stop by to see the many different exhibits competing for 10 Special Judge’s Awards for Exceptional Collector Exhibits, The People’s Choice Award, Gun Report Magazine’s Best Educational Award, and many more.

The 15th Annual NRA Gun Collectors Show is sure to be one of the event’s most exciting exhibits. NRA’s own National Firearms Museum Director Jim Supica and Senior Curator Phil Schreier will be on hand to display the world-famous .44 Magnum from Dirty Harry, currently housed at the Museum’s Hollywood Guns exhibit.

The Summer Arms Show is open to the public. The hours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 23; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 24; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 25.

Admission is only $8 for adults and free for children under 12, and the address is the K.C.I. Exp. Center, 11730 N. Ambassador, Kansas City, MO, 64195. Find more information here, and check back with NRAblog for a recap on winners and more! 

	After a tour of the NRA National Firearms Museum, the 45 students participating in the 2010 Youth Education Summit, or YES, headed to the NRA Headquarters Range. At left, students enjoyed photographing the Museum's varied exhibits.

Today was a busy day, and we're told it's going to be one heck of a week. "We head to the Pentagon for a tour on Wednesday, and the U.S. Capitol on Thursday," event organizer Nicole McMahon told NRAblog.

But today was all about NRA Headquarters. The Range, with its exciting new renovations, marked the first time a few of these students had handled firearms. "I can't believe how fun that was," a student told us after shooting a .22 caliber pistol for the first time in her life. 

Stick around for more Youth Education Summit photos!