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 are interested in
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 2006 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.
Now- on to the Great Displays!
Click on the title to go directly
to one of these displays or enjoy scrolling down the page to see them all.
Old Colts - Lost and
Found (Best of Show Award Winner)
A truly amazing selection of rusty old
Colts. And we mean REALLY rusty! these are al relics that were lost or discarded
years ago, and later recovered. This display includes one of every model percussion
or cartridge conversion Colt revolver (except for a Paterson!).
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Just a sample of the great presentation and variety in this popular display.
A
Selection of Austrian WW1 Arms, Equipment & Related Items
(Third Place Award Winner)
Gus is the proud owner
of these interesting WW1 relics. If you want to see
how he makes the nifty mannequins, be sure to check out ___________.
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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.
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Kids of all ages love guns, and hear a young historian is learning how a water
cooled Maixm gun on a wheeled "Sokolov" mount works.
Below, we will explore the items seen in this view of one part of this display.
Starting with the Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine which proved to be clumsy and
useless at both tasks, especially when compared with the Colt revolvers and
Sharps carbines being adopted about the same time.
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| . Here we see a Model 1900 "Bowie" Bayonet-Entrenching Tool for the Krag rifle, which in trrials proved no better than the standard bayonet for either job, even though they sure do look sexy. Also on the left we have a British Pattern 1858 Cutlass-Bayonet intended for Navy use at a time when both the bayonet and cutalss were being rendered obsolete for naval uses other than ceremonies. |
The brass handled U.S. Model 1855 Sword-Bayonet was for the use by elite Rifle units. Theheavy weightmade it unweildly for use as a bayonet, and it was too short for effective use as a sword. On the top reight we see two .45-70 "trapdoor rifles with (top) the Model 1873 "Trowel Bayonet" which failed in field trials. Underneath that is the Model 1888 rifle with the Rod Bayonet which could be used as a bayonet or a cleaning rod. Since the Indian Wars had little opportunity for bayonet use, this was perhaps a good idea, but the weight of this attached to the muzzle created serious accuracy problems. |
The ubiquitous Knife-Bayonet used by U.S. Froces from 1945 until the present.
Left to right- the M4 for the M1 Carbine; the M5 for the M1 Garand; the M6
for the M14 rifle and the M7 for the M16 rifle.
The current issue M9 Multi-Purpose Bayonet System. This combines a knife,
bayonet, wire cutter and saw.
Collectors love these and have identified nearly a dozen variations so far.
Small Arms of the
Allied Forces
This fine assortment if from one of our younger members, and got a lot of
favorable attention. A lot of younger collectors like the WW2 arms, while older
collectors someitmes prefer more antique items.
An overall view, note flags of the major Allies.
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And details of each panel.
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Left- Jimmy pointing out some details to a guest, and right, comparing the quality
of the finish between examples made by the regular Colt employees, and the rather
nasty looking product turned out by non-union employees during a prolonged strike.
(Some collectors will find just about any excuse to justify getting another
gun for a collection!
Carolina Pistols
As a change from his regular diet of long rifles, George brought out
some nice pistols made in North or South Carolina. You can almost see the
French Hugonaut influence in the beautiful flintlock pistol shown in detail.
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