Here are some samples of the
educational displays presented by UGCA members.
We hope you enjoy them. Part of the pleasure of
gun collecting is learning about the historical, technical, and artistic
features associated with firearms. Gun shows provide members, and
the general public, a chance to appreciate these aspects.
If you collect guns,
we invite you to join UGCA.
Membership benefits include
for free admission to all UGCA shows, reduced table rates, and a great
newsletter.
Click
here for membership information and application
Copyright 2005 by Utah Gun Collectors Association. All rights reserved. Box 711161, Salt Lake City, UT 84171
Let's go to the UGCA gun show!
Lots of people bring old guns or related items to our
show for free appraisals or to sell. Maybe you want to do this at the
next show.
If you do not bring a gun, maybe you can leave with one.
We usually give away a great door prize. In this case it was a nice high quality
replica of the famous Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver.
Look what walked in....
People bring in some amazing thins that have been in their family or that they find in an old house they bought or brought home as a souvenir a long time ago. Usually our members can help identify the items and maybe estimate a value (sort of like the "Antiques Roadshow" people) but other times we really do not have any good answers. One family brought in a group of edged weapons from the Pacific islands. We know that some people collect these and they have very specific names, but everyone who saw these scratched their head and said "Neat, but I don't know...."
.
Civil War Guns
(Best of Show Award Winner)
Mel shared his impressive collection of
Civil War arms, and his handsome appearance as a Civil War cavalry trooper.
. 
A great display!
. 
Left, ten difference Civil War carbines, and right- different kinds of ammunition
for some of the different guns in use then. What a logistics nightmare trying
to keep everyone supplied with the right ammo!
"Old Sarge" keeping an eye on his hardware!
Winchester Model 1885
Single Shot Rifles (Judges' Choice Award Winner)
Keith shared a wonderful collection of Winchester Model 1885 "high wall"
rifles in nine different caliber ranging from .22 short rimfire up to .45-90
Sharps (the others being .22 [long] rimfire; .32-20, .32-40; .38 WCF; .38-55;
40-65; .40-70; and .45-70).
One especially interesting piece was a beautiful rifle in .38-55 engraved by
John Ulrich, one of the master artistic engravers of the late 1800s, and then
sold by Browning Brothers in Ogden (about 10 miles from the show location) and
later having had the barrel burst. Now is that cool, or what?
. 
Some of the rifles, and the cartridges they used
.
Two rifles shipped the same day but with many very different in features.
(Upper rifle is the Ulrich engraved gun.)
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The receiver sides feature a bear and an elk
. 
The barrel tells us it is .38-55 caliber, and John Ulrich signed the rifle
in tiny letters on the bottom of the receiver.
. 
Browning Brothers, Ogden Utah sold the rifle, but at some point in its history
this beautiful example of the gunmaker's art had the barrel burst by improper
ammunition or firing with an obstruction in the bore.
American Military
Swords (Honorable Mention Award Winner)
One of our lady members shared this most impressive
and complete array of American military swords, ranging from Revolutionary
War to the early 20th century, including some rare Confederate items.
This is only about a third of the great swords on display!
. 
Two panels full of beautiful "eagle pommel" swords, circa 1790-1840.
. 
A horseman's sword from the Revolutionary War a Naval cutlass and an artillery
short sword from the pre-Civil War era.
. 
Various swords for officers and enlisted men, mainly circa 1840-1870.
. 
Some swords used by the U.S. Army in the 20th Century.
An anonymous collector showed the evolution of hunting arms from about 1500 to 1870.
, 
Two matchlocks, the earliest form used to ignite the powder in early firearms.
Keeping the match burning was a big problem.
. 
Wheellocks used a piece of flint which dropped down against a revolving steel
wheel (much like a cigarette lighter) to create sparks to ignite the powder.
. 
The much simpler flintlock used flint held in a hammer that scraped against the frizzen as it uncovered the powder charge, dropping sparks into the powder. Many flintlocks featured beautiful brass patchboxes.
. 
Percussion locks were much more reliable, and used a hammer that struck a
tiny cap (similar to a modern primer) places on a nipple that allowed the
flash to pass into the main powder charge. The most common lock design is
shown at the left. The "side hammer" or "mule ear" lock
is at the right and in the photo below we have a "back action" lock.
Brent and his boss brought out these collectible items which
were enjoyed by all. To anyone under the age of 40, World War 2 seems as remote
an even as the Civil War or Hannibal crossing the Alps. It is becoming an
increasingly popular collecting field along with Vietnam era military items.
"If you like your freedom, thank a Veteran!"
. 
.303 Lee Enfield Rifles
1895-1955 (Judges' Choice Award Winner)
Based on the design of American James P. Lee, the rifles made at the Enfield
arsenal (and elsewhere) in an amazing variety served the British empire for
over 60 years. Terry brought a nice assortment for our edification and viewing
pleasure.
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A variety of "Long Lee Enfields" on the left and at right some WW2
ear arms including a very rare grenade launching "trials carbine,"
a jungle carbine and and a sniper rifle
. 
Four WW1 vintage Lee Enfields at left and at right are the "rest of the
story" with two .303 rifles converted to .308 caliber for sniping or target
use, and the FN designed self loading rifle that replaced the Lee Enfields.
Soviet Infantry Weapons
of the Cold War
Lance showed us the variety of weapons used by the "Evil
Empire".
. 
Left a variety of rifles, including a SVD Dragunov sniper rifle (camouflaged)
and a bolt action Mosin Nagant have the attention of this visitor. Right we
have several other types of rifles, and one of the middle eastern "prayer
rugs" featuring the AK-47 in the design.
. 
Hey, Bob, you should come on down the the Utah Gun Collectors Association Gun
Show and see this cool stuff! Right, some of the Commie handguns.
Teen Girls with guns!
Hey, the is a gun show, and we are not going to show pictures
of cute babes to distract you.
But,here are two of their nifty guns! The upper rifle is the type used in free
rifle (Olympic style) competition. The lower rifle is one of the "evil
assault rifles" which were banned by the Clinton administration. Note the
large number of adjustable components so the shooter can get it to fit their
body to minimize the transfer of motion from breathing or muscle tension. These
are EXTREMELY accurate guns in the hands of a skilled shooter. One of our local
teen age girl shooters went on to join the U.S. Marine Corps and was the Service
Rifle National Champion a few years ago, beating ALL the men and women with
her M16.
An Introduction to
Collecting Argentine Military Rifles (Second Place Award
Winner)
John brought out a sample of the arms used by Argentina
which are available to collectors. This is typical of what a beginning collector
might end up with after a short period. He also listed references for further
study, and other variations that could be added to make the collection more
complete. Displays are always good "bait" and one visitor saw this
and went home to get another Argentine rifle and bayonet to add to John's collection!
Part of the display showing various Mauser rifles, with the flag of Argentina
. 
Left the Model 1879 Remington rolling block rifle with its impressive sword
bayonet.
Right, two variations of the Model 1891 Argentine Mauser, the top one being
the 41st rifle made, our of about 190,000.
. 
In 1909 Argentina adopted a variation of the Model 1898 Mauser, made in Germany,
and in the 1920s they bought the tooling to make these in their own factory.
At right are a bayonet and machete
. 
81st
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Dave had a variety of Civil War soldier items that he
uses in his living history presentations in schools. He is assisted by
grandson "Red Ryder".
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Commemorative Guns
Commemorative guns are issued to honor significant
events, places or people with elaborately embellished arms. Here is a nice
collection and a detail of one of them, courtesy of Bryce.
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Variations
of the 1851 Sharps
Sometimes called a "box lock" (because of
the way the hammer is located inside the lock instead of on the outside)
these were the very earliest of the famous Sharps rifles and carbines. This
included his Christmas present- an engraved version!
Close up of the "box lock", note the little door between the
hammer and breech. This could be opened and a roll of caps (Maynard tape
primers) inserted so you did not have to fumble around with loose percussion
caps.
. . 
Seven very rare guns!
.
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Bet you would be happy if Santa left this under YOUR Christmas tree!
Letter Home- Letters
from Soldiers 1775-2004
Ed and Jonathan and a friend from the Western Military
History Association share a laugh as the Mexican Was solder phones home....
