Gun Show Support from the Cody Firearms Museum

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The following is a listing of the shows that we will be supporting through the beginning of summer.

The Records Office will be available by phone (307-578-4031) during regular work hours and on the dates listed. Keep in mind that we will have “boots on the ground” at the Denver and Cody shows.

- April 4 – Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show, Tulsa, Okla. – Sat. 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.
- May 16-17 – Colorado Gun Collectors Assoc. Annual Gun Show, Denver, Colo.* – Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m. – noon
- June 13-14 – Winchester Club of America Show, Cody, Wyo.* – Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- June 19-21 – Winchester Arms Collectors Assoc. Show, Cody, Wyo.* – Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cheers,
Dave

1,000,000 is less than 350,000? (or: Customer Service is the Key)

I am constantly impressed by the ability of the Records Office Staff to respond positively to questions from our customers. Just today, I was informed that a customer, when told that we did not have the record for his Winchester became incensed (and questioned the validity of the staff member’s education) because “1,000,000 is less than 350,000″.

To clarify this matter, a description of the records office is in order. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company (as part of the Olin Corporation) and the Marlin Firearms Company gave us the records pertaining to more than 4 million guns manufactured by Winchester, Marlin, and the L.C. Smith Gun Company (These being links to the collector organizations). The staff of the Cody Firearms Museum uses these records to determine production information on these guns as a fee service.

The benefit of this service, while interesting to someone trying to find more information about “grandpa’s old Winchester”, is an inexpensive insurance policy for the collector of these guns. Being able to find out what a gun looked like when it left the factory can keep you from spending $10,000 (or more) on a gun that isn’t worth $1,000.

Unfortunately, we don’t hold the records for every Winchester, Marlin, or Elsie (as the collectors call them). Our list of represented serial ranges (in PDF format) will let you know if we should have the record for your gun. Unfortunately, the aforementioned gentleman looking for information on his Model 1894 could not understand why we do not hold a record on his gun serialized in the 1 million range when we hold the records from 1-353999.

Gotta love Customer Service

Cheers,

Dave

Gun Storage Questions

The staff of the Cody Firearms Museum is often asked about the best way to store guns. I was thinking about getting to this subject at some point, but I had not gotten there yet. Now, for the second time in a week, I find myself commenting on a topic that came up in the L.C. Smith Collector Forums.

Without attempting to answer directly to their questions, I can offer some of the following pointers:

• Keep the temperature and humidity as stable as possible. Granted, this isn’t always possible, but everything helps. Rapid changes in these factors can play havoc with wood and metal.
• Unless the metal is completely dry (no oil or almost no oil), try to store longarms with the barrels pointing down. This prevents the oil from migrating through the action into the stock. I know that most folks only use a couple of drops of oil and then wipe off any excess, but oil is still a liquid.
• Do not store firearms in a cardboard or foam- or sheepskin-lined case. Acids in the treatment of cardboard can affect the appearance of some gun finishes. Also, cheaper foams are often used in cases. This makes the case fine for transportation but, over the long run, this foam can fall apart (oxidation, exposure to solvent, and the like), damaging the gun.
• Use Ethafoam as a replacement for less expensive foams or as a barrier or cushion between the guns and carpet, plywood, or other materials in long-term stoage situations. You can use a hotglue gun to secure the Ethafoam in place.
• (Late addition) Decock the gun making sure that the gun is unloaded. This relieves the tension on springs, pins, and other parts in the gun.

There are lots of other tips out there, but this is a good starting place.

Heading Home

I am sitting at gate D43 in McCarran Airport, waiting for boarding to start. The weekend here in Vegas was topped off by attending the Greg Martin Auction yesterday.

I had some thoughts about the auction that resurfaced this morning while reading this post on the L.C. Smith Collectors Association forums.

While the subject matter in the forum posts applies, in general, to all collecting, it also helps to bring to light the differences between the different collector areas.

Europeans in general, and Brits in particular, have no issue with rebuilding/refinishing guns as they are still tools for the most part. Classic/antique shotguns are still used by the gentry and American tourists to go birding. Working guns, just like classic cars, need to be rebuilt occasionally and there is an expectation of this.

As I saw at the auction, the Colt Collectors wanted a factory letter that supported the various aspects of the gun, but it did not really cause a problem if the gun did not match the letter.

Winchester Collectors, on the other hand, will not normally give a gun a second look if it does not match the letter exactly.

Glad I’m not paid enough to collect.

Cheers,
Dave