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Our Wednesday Social where we renew old friendships and meet new friends —

It is good to be together again

Frank Graves with Dave and Linda Burghoff

Walt Crutcher and Norman Schaefer share a story

Lloyd Hudson and Bob Holter with a guest

Two Philly boys – Dick Labowskie & Steve EdelmanHere we have Hank Truslow, John McAden and Jerry Roxbury

Steve and Daria Andrews with Paul Johnson Enjoying the evening – the Vagnettis, the Carrolls and the Leahighs with Tim Prince

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Here we have Chris Semancik, Charles Cureton and Fred Gaede

The Shannon Pritchard family along with Karen Bell (on the left) and Penn Templeman (in the back)

Jacque Andrews with Mike Edwards and Jimmy Johnson

Robert Maze and Laurie Landeau Quite a nice crowd

A chance to discuss very old guns – Craig Nannos, Craig Bell and Giles Cromwell

Colorful John Eckert with Gordon Blaker

Walt and Jane Goulet enjoying the evening

All enjoyed the nice evening —

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We had many nice tours We started early Thursday for a tour of Independence Hall —

Now it is on to the new Museum of the American Revolution —

An iconic site! A beautiful view What’s a visit without seeing the Liberty Bell?

An then there’s Carpenter Hall, where the First Continental Congress met

Matthew Schneiderman leads the way!

Quite a nice entry Jacque Andrews is looking for the swords

The cannons pave the way

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More scenes from the museum ---

There are many quite realistic scenes – this one depicted a squabble among our troops that is being resolved by George Washington

There were many arms on display and Rusty Reise was checking out this display

Every diorama was distinctively life like – here a scene of a family visit to a soldier taken prisoner by the British

Bob Carlson and George Cooper discussing the tour

Part of the tour was led by a docent – note Tom Grinslade up front

More historic information for our group

These I-phones do come in handy –don’t they Craig

Another realistic pose – this soldier came from Ireland and noted that when he arrived he saw the first gun he had ever seen discharged in anger.

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Quite a show for a brand new museum —

An intriguing a display

Another dynamic diorama

It helped depict a major victory for the U.S. at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina

All of this exercise deserves a rest!

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On Friday we toured the Valley Forge Historical Park —

The gang’s all here and Bonnie Palmer is leading the way!Quite an entry

A docent speaks to our group

And later, led us to see the guard’s quarters

And there was a gift shop that grabbed Lloyd’s attentionThere were many arms on display

And then demonstrates his flintlock skills

Washington’s headquarters

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Our 127th Business Meeting —

Our President David Carter presides

We have the Society and Foundation financials from Secretary/Treasurer Charles Wheeler

Vice President Mike Edwards addresses the prospective members and their sponsors

A certificate to new member Stephen Basheda

And then Shannon Pritchard received his certificate

Congratulations to our new members (L-R) Shannon Pritchard, Stephen Basheda and Laurie Landeau

Congratulations to our new members (L-R) Shannon Pritchard, Stephen Basheda and Laurie Landeau

A time honored tradition of introductions

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Reports from committees —

A presentation by Chris Semancik A few words from Peter DeRose

Richard Littlefield reports on future meeting sites

David Hanes reviews plans for today’s tour

Bruce Bazelon encourages members to be future speakers

Craig Bell reports on the AS of AC Foundation

John Spangler, chairman of the Web Site Committee, gives his report

Craig Nannos, who heads the Publications/Scholarships & Grants Committee, gives his report.

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Seen in the display room —

Lewis Southard and Rex Kessler discussing a Rev. War musket Chip Beckford and Chris Semancik in deep discussion

Peter Albee and others, greeting Peter’s guests

Richard Berglund and Mike Carroll discussing his model cannon

Lee Bull leading a discussion on gun picksGuest speaker Matthew Skic talking with Fred Gaede

Lee’s partner in the study, Fred Gaede, is noting some conclusions reached It’s always nice to see the Hardmans at the show

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Awards to Matt Sears and Frank Graves for their service on the Board

For the first time remembered there was a tie for Best Single Item displayed. The awards went to Don Tharpe for his 1st United Colonies Presentation Sword and to Ray Petry for his Austrian Royal Wheelock Gun

For the Most Outstanding Joint Display, the award went to Craig Ross and John Burgoyne for the display of Revolutionary War Officers Pistols.

For 35 years of service – Richard Littlefield, William Reid and David Burghoff

Awards —

Best Single Items Award:

Most Outstanding Theme Displays:

Special Presentation:

Most Outstanding Joint Display:

Craig Bell was awarded for his “American Pistols of the American Revolution”.

Ed Marron was awarded for his display entitled “Early Sharps Firearms and Their evolution”.

President David Carter presented a token of appreciation to Mary Lou and Charles Wheeler, from Society members, for their outstanding service.

Ken Thomsen received an award for his display of Savage Revolving Firearms.

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There were many fine Single Item Displays —This time there was a tie, and the winners were:

Ray Petry with his Austrian Royal Wheelock gun

And, we have Don Tharpe with his award winning 1st United States Presentation Sword

Another work of art

Shown with an early (1664) carved Rifle Flask

Up close

And, closer to see the inscriptionsUp close

What a rare item

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David Hanes displayed his 1840 Springfield flintlock musket

Bill Reid displayed a musket that was “A 1755 Survivor”

Bob Sadler displayed his Privateer PistolsGiles Cromwell displayed a pair of Virginia Manufactory Pistols

Mel Hankla displayed this fine sword that was “Surrendered at Kings Mountain” Vince Rausch displayed his Model 1814 Pattern Rifle

Matt Sears displayed a Resin Target Ball Mold

There were many other fine Single Item Displays —

Up close

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More fine Single Item Displays —

Hank Truslow displayed a USMA experimental M-1 GarandRichard Berglund displayed his Merrill Patent Model Cannon, a subject of his talk

Roger Ballard displayed “Gone to Texas”

Chip Beckford displayed “A Product of the Pennsylvania Gun Factory”

Paul R. Johnson displayed a Fort Delaware Sword from Pea Patch Island

Donald Koleman showed “A J. Bailey sword for Francis Dana”

Lewis Leigh, Jr. “Who was Thomas Watson Green?Up close

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And finally we have ---

Matthew Schneiderman displayed a Dreyse Needlefire Revolver

Joe Salter displayed his Custis Lee Colt Navy

Val Forgett displayed his Enfield Arsenal Inspector Gauges

Dick Littlefield displayed his E. Wesson& E. Prescott Rifle/Pistol

Up close

Up close

Up close

Up close

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There were many and, some quite large, Theme Displays —Winners of the Theme Displays were:

Craig Bell won with his “American Pistols of the American Revolution”

Ed Marron display was “Early Sharps Firearms and Their Evolution

Quite an impressive grouping of America Revolutionary War pistols

Quite an impressive of arms and documentation

Some of those pistols up close

Three up close

With other Revolutionary War items as well

A Sharps Model 1850 Nippes Variant

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There we many fine other Theme Displays —

Our Other winner was —

Ken Thomsen with his Savage Revolving Firearms, the subject of his talk

It’s hard to do justice to the big picture

Quite an assortment up close

Peter Schmidt displayed his “Philadelphia Connection”

Steve Andrews displayed his Philadelphia Federal sword

With mounds of documentation

Up close

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Like all items here, they are “Just a Cut above the Rest” —

Bob Carlson presented “John Brown and the Abolitionists”

One section up close

John Hamilton displayed some curious .22 slide-action rifles

Bill Myers – “Engraved Powder Horns”

Mike Edwards theme was “Seldom Seen” as he displayed a naval infantry sword

One up close

Charles Wheeler’s theme was “Some lever guns from my closet”

Ed Flanagan displayed “Some Rev. War Things”

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There was a display for every taste —

Jacque Andrews display was “Winners Nippes & Steinman”

Up close

Gerald Roxbury displayed his presentation grade Model 1852 Naval Officer’s Swords

Bob Warner display was “Colts on a diet”

Michael Carroll displayed “Revolutionary War Muskets and Bayonets”

A shot up closeChris Semancik’s display was entitled “The Point of Liberty

One up close

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Other fine Theme Displays —

Dick Labowskie displayed “Deluxe Hartford Sharps Sporting Rifles

Steve Hench’s display was entitled “We Were There”

Bob Maze displayed and spoke on “Great War Galilean Optical Sights”

Lee Bull displayed “Pistols by Thomas French”

David Prawdzik display was entitled “Fredrick Beersticker Gunsmith”

Up close

Up close

Some fine rifles

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And next we have —

Craig Nannos and “Digging History”

Ron Gabel displayed “Lehigh & Northampton County Kentucky Rifles”

John Spangler displayed “Guns to Save Lives”

Jim Shaffer displayed “Trade Name” – Double action revolvers in their own boxes

Mike Parker displayed “Two Handed Battle Swords”

A line throwing guns up close

Up close

A Hessian Fusil Miter Cap (1775-1781) dredged from the Delaware River

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And last but not least —

John Eckert display was entitled “The Luger Pistol – The Long Pistol ‘08

David Rachwal display was “Some Factory Engraved Gold Plated Pistols”

Peter Albee displayed some Hall Rifles and their bayonets

Mike Revesz display was entitled “The Other Derringers” (notice the spelling)

David Carroll theme was “Father & Son; The Colonels Jones Colt Govt. Model 45 Autos”

Rex Kessler’s display was entitled “Philadelphia Musket Repairs”

One up close

One up close

One up close

A line throwing guns up close

Up close

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Next we have our Joint Displays —

Other fine Joint Displays —

The award was won by Craig Ross and John BurgoyneRevolutionary War Officers Pistols

Beautiful craftsmanship A pair of the Earl of Eglinton’s Two-Cocked single shot pistol (to insure firing)

Two-shot super-imposed load Queen Anne Pistols

US Model 1799 North & Cheney Pistols – displayed by Lewis Southard and Frank MartinUp close

Up closeArms and Equipment of the - pre-Civil War – Vermont Militia displayed by Ralph Shepard and Ron Morgan

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Richard R. Atkinson1938 – 2017

Richard R. Atkinson was born in Broken Arrow, Okla-homa August 13, 1938. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1956. From there he attended Coffeyville Junior College and then Kansas State. After college he worked for Freeto Construction Company for nine years and then Midwest Minerals In-corporated for thirty years where he served as President before he retired in 1999. During his career he served on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Limestone As-sociation, where he served as P resident, the Missouri Limestone Association Board of Directors and the Na-tional Limestone Association Board of Directors.

Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, motorcycle riding and collecting antique arms. He was a 44 year member of the American Society of Arms Collectors having joined in July of 1973. His collecting interest were Colts – Single Action Army and long arms from 1873-1898

David A. Stewart1930 – 2017

David Arnold Stewart was born in Oneonta, New York on May 24, 1930. He was a graduate of Oneonta High School and later graduated from Tri-State College (Trine Universi-ty) in Angola, Indiana with a degree in Civil Engineering. He enjoyed his professional career working for McFarland & Johnson (Binghampton, NY and Woodbury, NJ), Kuljian Corporation (Philadelphia, PA) and Day and Zimmerman (Philadelphia, PA). David retired in 1980 and he and Mari-lou moved to Bucks County, PA to concentrate on the res-toration of their circa 1796 farmhouse. Their reconstruction of the blacksmith shop ruins earned them national architec-tural recognition.

David was an avid antique firearms collector from the age of 9. He was well known in his field of collecting where he specialized in Pennsylvania Contract Muskets and Philadelphia Derringer pistols. He was quite active in the Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collectors Association where he served as Sectary for many years. He was always seen at the PAGCA shows as well as Baltimore. He also was quite a student of history and a member of Sons of the American Revolution belonging to the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania State Society.

David joined the Society in 1986 and was quite active until his recent illness. He was a member for 32 years, traveled to almost every venue and spoke on the mus-kets he enjoyed. He enjoyed sharing and learning from others.

IN MEMORIUM

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Paul E. Weicht1939 – 2017

Paul Gene) Weicht was born in Angola, Indiana March 4, 1939. He is the 5th generation of the Weicht family to own and operate the Weicht Funeral Home which was established in 1854. He served his country in the US Army and the Army Na-tional Guard where he was on the Indiana Rifle Team. Paul was quite active and was a Lifetime member of the Angola Ameri-can Legion Post31, George Anspaugh Veterans of Foreign War Post 7205, and the Voiture 483 40 & 8.

(Gene) was a life time member and Benefactor of the NRA and a member of the Safari Club International. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends around the world. He was a life member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, Michigan Gun Collectors Association and the Colorado Gun Collectors Association.

Gene joined the Society in the fall of 2011. He truly enjoyed displaying and talking with others about his Ballard rifles and also enjoyed Remington single shot rifles and other antique arms. He was quite active until his recent illness.