"It's my honor to welcome you," Wayne Anthony Ross told the crowded conference room at the Charlotte Convention Center on Sunday, May 16, 2010. Ross, the chairman of the Gun Collectors Committee, is a longtime NRA Board Member and true friend to the community. "We have 25 gun collector organizations represented here, and before I say anything more, I’d like to introduce NRA Vice President David Keene, a fellow Winsconsinite who has honored us with his presence."
"It’s a pleasure to get the chance to be here for a few minutes," Keene said from the podium at the front of the room. "I’m awed by how much effort and love goes into this."
"Collecting is one of the ways we enjoy our firearm rights," Keene said. "You're an important part of what we do and why we're here, and I want to thank you for all you do."
"The heritage of the NRA goes back," Keene continued. "Waaaay back, and you are preserving a vital part of the American heritage, in addition to having a heck of a good time while you do it."
The first year any collector group participates in the NRA National Gun Collecting Awards Competition, it receives a special plaque. After that, the group receives a special star ornament for each additional year of participation.
In 2010, one group debuted an exhibit: the Southeastern Antique Arms Collectors Association. All NRA affiliated gun collector clubs are eligible to enter, Senior Curator Phil Schreier told NRAblog.
"Each of these organizations is to be commended for their individual and collective efforts and the resulting success that has been enjoyed by thousands of visitors in the Exhibit Hall this weekend," Ross told the crowd before calling representatives to the front of the room to receive their stars. Below, we've listed each group that is celebrating 25 or more years of participation:
BEST ARMS AWARDS - Each year, a maximum of ten sterling silver medallions are awarded to those collector arms judged best on display. Firearms are judged on their individual quality, condition, originality, collector importance and historical value. No member of the committee participated in the voting for any nominated arm that they personally own or have previously sold.
#480 - Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schofield, Cased Set of Nimschke Engraved revolvers SN# 8246 & 8847. Presented by The Governor General of Cuba to the Spanish Army General Pombo. Presented by the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association.
#481 - A .49 wheel lock rifle, Austrian, 1650 Stock carved, heavily inlaid in gold. – Presented by the Pennsylvania Antique Arms Association.
#482 - Smith & Wesson Number 3 Revolving rifle in .320 L.D. Nimschke engraved SN #533, One of 4 sold in 1880, Open vine scroll factory engraving. – Presented by the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association.
#483 - 1st Model Rifle Virginia Manufactory Richmond 1806, with snake “Don’t tread on me” motif patchbox. One of 8 of the original 239 that still survive. Presented by the American Society of Arms Collectors.
#484 - Smith & Wesson Model 1 ∏ 1st Issue Factory engraved with a rare 4” barrel. Only known example in this configuration. SN # 15655. Sold to Horace Smith. Presented by the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association.
#485 - Colt 1911 SN # 172723 Owned and used by Capt. Joseph J. Foss, USMCR in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WW II. General Foss earned the Medal of Honor and was President of the NRA. Presented by the Alaska Gun Collectors Association.
#486 - 2nd Model Virginia Manufactory Pistol, Richmond 1812, .54 caliber. 10” barrel. One of 386 made of which only 7 are known to survive. Presented by the American Society of Arms Collectors.
#487 - 2nd Model 1806 Virginia Manufactory Richmond Rifle. One of 1,560 produced between 1812 & 1821. – Presented by the American Society of Arms Collectors.
#488 - Smith & Wesson New Model #3 Target models in .44 Russian, SN# 27378 & 27379 (consecutively numbered) Engraved by Gustave Young, Cased, Gold plated, pearl grips, Presentation from the Prince of Wales to Captain Leon Martin. Presented by the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association
NRA GUN COLLECTORS COMMITTEE TROPHY is a sterling silver bowl is a perpetual trophy awarded for the display judged best of each years Annual Meetings and Exhibits. "The winning organization's name is engraved on the trophy and the organization receives a miniature of the trophy to retain," Schreier explained. "In this – our 50th year of competition – the miniature bowl has been gold plated to reflect our anniversary year."
For 2010, this 50th award year, the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy is awarded to Internal Views of the Tommy Gun as displayed by The American Thompson Association.