Still in search

The CFM is still in search of a curator. We have interviewed a number of good candidates and have a few more interviews scheduled. We hope to be able to make an announcement later this fall.
It has been interesting trying to find an individual with a good balance of firearms history and museum training. A large number of applicants are very strong on one side with little knowledge or experience of the other.
If you know of a highly qualified individual contact the Human Resources office at 307-578-4089.

Gun shows

Thanks to everyone who called in for serial number searches from the Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Assoc. show last weekend. I did about 30 serial number searches and answered a lot of questions about the CFM and the Records Office.  Wish I could have been on the ground there.  Hopefully the budget will allow us to go in the near future.

Next month I’ll be open to support the folks at the Big Reno Show on the 15th from 9 am to 5 pm (Moutain time).  Check out the Big Reno website for information about the show http://www.bigrenoshow.com/

June in Cody

We are into our busiest weeks of the year. 

This weekend (June 12-14) the CFM and the town of Cody host the Winchester Club of America annual gun show.  The show is at the Riley Arena (1400 Heart Mountain Street – Cody). 

Next weekend (June 19-21) the Winchester Arms Collectors Association annual show is also at the Riley Arena. 

The Records Office will be doing serial number searches for folks at both gun shows and offering discounts on CFM memberships.  I invite to stop by the shows if you are in the area.  

The rest of the  BBHC also has a lot going on this month with the Plains Indian Museum Powwow and the grand opening of the new Whitney Gallery of Western Art and many other activities.  The whole town bustles with events and activities so visit Cody in June!!

Travels and gun shows

We wished Dave a fond farewell a couple of weeks back and have been settling in to work sans curator.  No word on the search for a new curator, but we hope to have someone in place this fall.

I returned home from the Denver gun show last Monday (May 18).  It was a good weekend; we did around 150 serial number searches, eight Cody Firearms Museum memberships and a number of Factory Letters.  I wish I could make it to the Orangeville, Ontario show on May 31 as I am in the area visiting family, but unfortunately, I fly back to Wyoming that day.  We are looking forward to the two big gun shows in Cody in a couple of weeks.  The Winchester Club of America show is June 12-14 and the Winchester Arms Collectors Association show is June 19-21.  Makes for a couple of long weeks for us, but we enjoy seeing old friends and making new ones.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Adieu…

Yes, I know. That isn’t the real line from the song. But, it fits better.

This will be the last post to this blog from me as the Curator. As I am leaving, I will be turning the blog reins over to Jesi Bennett, the CFM Records Specialist. She will try to post semi-regularly until the next Curator comes on board. And, if he or she chooses not to blog, then Jesi may continue to do this (don’t tell her – shhh!).

I have had a great time in Cody and I am about the only person I know who worked in their dream job. I can only hope that the next position is as fulfilling!

Thank you and good night

Cheers!

Dave K.

Perpetuated Oddities

If you spend enough time in the gun business, you learn better than to say that Winchester, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Remington, or anyone else “Never did this.”

I am about to do the unspeakable…

We received an inquiry from a gent. His question has to do with a Winchester Model 12 shotgun and whether or not it was ever produced in a left-side-eject/left-handed version. He bases his question in an image printed in the George Madis book, “The Winchester Model 12″. On Page 83, there is an image of a Model 12 with a factory-installed Cutts compensator.

The issue here is that the image shows the right side of the gun, with no visible ejection port. My belief is that the image used in the publication of the book was flopped, creating a reverse image. In other words, Winchester never did this.

There. I said it. At least I won’t be here next week when someone shows up with one…

Cheers,

Dave K.

Thanks to all of the supporters and firends I met over the last (nearly) six years!

More about change

(This is an excerpt from a post I left on the forum at www.Gunbroker.com. I am posting this here as I have received some questions and I thought it would be good for the blog, as well.)

As for the future of the Cody Firearms Museum, there will soon been an announcement for a national search to fill the position. I have not seen the announcement or any sort of updated job description, but I expect that the minimum requirements will be something along the lines of a Masters Degree in history, museum studies, etc., 3-5 years experience working with museum collections, and subject knowledge.

Now I know there are a lot of folks who think that because they are know-it-all about guns, former LEO/Military, etc., that they are qualified for this job (trust me, I have talked to them… *sigh*). What this does is qualify you to work as a volunteer for the Museum (actually one of our BEST volunteers knows nothing about guns except that you pull the trigger and it goes bang!).

A background in museums/museum management is necessary because most of the work required at this level is administrative, exhibits planning, and working with donors and an advisory board. If you are not someone who can compromise and work with a WIDE variety of personalities, museum work is not for you.

OK, I’ve gone on too long. However, I have already received the question to the above answer several times and wanted to nip it in the bud.

Cheers,

Dave K.

More Bad Guns

We were offered right of first refusal on a Bill Cody-related gun. This guns had a signed affidavit (from 1925) describing the history as a gift from Buffalo Bill to the seller (a long-time friend of Cody’s supposedly) in 1876. The seller of the gun was in dire financial straits and needed to sell the gun. The selling price, you ask? $1.00. Granted, this was 1925 and the dollar went a lot further, but one would imagine that you could get more mileage out of the Buffalo Bill association.

Regardless, we looked up the gun and determined that the gun was not made until 1904. Also, relying on the Buffalo Bill Museum’s list of people known to have relationships with Buffalo Bill, we found no mention of the seller.

We took a pass.

Lots to do

So I am watching it snow while thinking about all of the various and sundry things that are going on.

The BBHC is about to announce a new venture with some local Cody businesses. We will be producing a BBHC-approved reproduction of the Winchester Single-Shot Rifle (aka, the Model 1885). We are looking at a limited run of 100 guns at a decent premium. The unveiling of the prototype will take place at the Colorado Gun Collectors Association Show in Denver next month. If all goes well, we will be able to proceed to the next step and go all out. If this project is a success, we will look at making this the first of a series of five guns.

In preparation for my departure, I am trying to get things caught up administratively. There is a small pile of things that need resolved before I am out the door. Amongst these is my participation on the AAM reaccreditation committee.

As part of the 10-year cycle, we have to renew our accreditation with the American Association of Museums. The final package will fill about three 3″ binders. I am the tech-person and I have to assemble everything into something understandable. I know I have mentioned it before, but it is something that needs done before I become the ex-Curator.

Cheers,

Dave K.

Coming close to saying goodbye

If you read this blog regularly, you will have noticed that the posts have been more irregular of late.

The reason why is this article from the Cody Enterprise.

As it says, I have taken a position at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid, Oklahoma.  This doesn’t mean that I want to leave. This was (and is) my dream job, but I need to move on professionally.

I will attempt to continue to post here, but I am unsure as to who will take over for me.

Cheers,

Dave K.