Good on you Chuck for you’re continued support, along with the many others.
How about some Vegas stories from the show? Anything that you had to have, or stories that you want to share? It’s been a few years since I’ve been, as I entertained the idea this year, but wasn’t able to put it into the busy schedule.
Anthony
The show never seemed to have any “buzz”… low attendance & dozens of empty tables. A few dealers left Friday afternoon. It was good to see JWA & Elliot, Chuck, Russ Day, Vinni & many other WACA members. As far as transactions, I personally, I didn’t sell much… but there were a few things that needed adopting and will soon be with me at home…when the paperwork clears. No Winchesters, but I fell in love and traded for this Griffin & Howe 1903 Custom Sporter. Cal. 30-06. 1/4 rib w/ express sights. I emailed the VP of Griffin & Howe, he verified it as a 1927 custom order gun. The scope is a later 1950’s Weaver… I will change the rings and put a Lyman Alaskan on it. The two Marble “Game Getter’s” (Model’s 1908 and 1921) required very little effort to remove the barrels before I would take custody. I had the previous care-taker ship the original barrels & receiver blocks to a machinist in South Dakota to be refit with new 18″ barrels. The original barrels will be returned with the new set, tagged and stored for safe keeping. The barrels don’t have any markings on them and they are easily changed… so “no harm/no foul” from the collector standpoint. But more importantly, it keeps things in good standing with the legal issues.
Here’s another pair that I just had re-barreled… a 1908-B (factory no-tang sight) and another 1921… there were less than 20,000 of each model produced and most had shorter barrels. There were 20 +/- produced with lower 25-20 or 32-20 rifled barrels instead of the shotgun barrel. Those bring $7,000 + when they come up for sale… there are a few prototypes out there as well w/ a list of collectors wanting to obtain one of them….
November 7, 2015

Good report, Ben. A bit troubling when tableholders leave early. I hope their concerns were addressed. What do you feel contributed to the low attendance and lack of “buzz”? I think some shows are turning into social events and I don’t have a big problem with that. I haven’t had much of anything for sale for the last few years anyway. I realize some table holders use funds from sales to cover show expenses and I need to look into doing that but the few shows I attend are mostly educational and social events for me.
I suppose the CFM is trying to reach a new demographic, I recall when I first saw their Glock exhibit several years ago. There are more M16/AR15/M4 rifles out there than Model 94’s so it’s not a demographic they can ignore. It’s hard to believe black rifles have been with us over 60 years now.
Our hobby is evolving.
Mike
Good points guy’s!
Ben thanks for the update, and congrats on the new additions, even if they weren’t Winchesters. I myself has left that show in the past without anything. Sometimes it just happens, and not for the lack of trying. I remember years ago, a model 76 Deluxe from Paul Sorell, and his wife.
I also hate to hear, that table holders left early. I remember Walter Beinfield having a policy against that, years ago.
Anthony
After talking to the show promoters it seemed as if most of the empty table “no shows” were people from CA. I had 4 empty tables next to me that belonged to a collector in CA that did not come because his house burned to the ground and destroyed most of what he was planning on bringing to Las Vegas. Other CA tables were empty because people did not want to leave their houses with the threat of wildfires still in the area.
I don’t know if that accounts for all the empty tables but probably a fair percentage of them this year. Last year there were very few empty tables (if any) in the main room.
It was great seeing everyone there! I even got to meet Ben’s beautiful wife.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
After talking to the show promoters it seemed as if most of the empty table “no shows” were people from CA. I had 4 empty tables next to me that belonged to a collector in CA that did not come because his house burned to the ground and destroyed most of what he was planning on bringing to Las Vegas. Other CA tables were empty because people did not want to leave their houses with the threat of wildfires still in the area.I don’t know if that accounts for all the empty tables but probably a fair percentage of them this year. Last year there were very few empty tables (if any) in the main room.
It was great seeing everyone there! I even got to meet Ben’s beautiful wife.
Best Regards,
Didn’t even think about that….someone else mentioned in another thread wondering about how many nice guns (and people) were lost in those fires. Terrible.
JWA said
After talking to the show promoters it seemed as if most of the empty table “no shows” were people from CA. I had 4 empty tables next to me that belonged to a collector in CA that did not come because his house burned to the ground and destroyed most of what he was planning on bringing to Las Vegas. Other CA tables were empty because people did not want to leave their houses with the threat of wildfires still in the area.I don’t know if that accounts for all the empty tables but probably a fair percentage of them this year. Last year there were very few empty tables (if any) in the main room.
It was great seeing everyone there! I even got to meet Ben’s beautiful wife.
It’s sad to think of what irreplaceable Winchester TREASURES may have been listening to in these fires.
Ed Lewis told me one of the largest collections of 1of100s, and 1of1000s in the country was in the collection of a wealthy gentleman living in California.
I just hope his collection is wrapped in a fire blanket, in a fireproof safe, in a fireproof gun room or panic room, in the concrete bunker / basement of a fire resistant constructed house. And hopefully nowhere near the fires.
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
I don’t recall the specifics, but I believe some of the firearms once owned by Teddy Roosevelt was lost during a fire.
There is a single 1of1000 that I know of that was damaged by a fire. It was found during the 1950s search was in fairly mid-level 60-80% condition, but went through a fire in the 1980s. It has noticeable fire damage to the forearm stock.
I don’t know how much of it but Lewis Yearout’s collection went through a fire.
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Maverick said
Ed Lewis told me one of the largest collections of 1of100s, and 1of1000s in the country was in the collection of a wealthy gentleman living in California.I just hope his collection is wrapped in a fire blanket, in a fireproof safe, in a fireproof gun room or panic room, in the concrete bunker / basement of a fire resistant constructed house. And hopefully nowhere near the fires.
I probably know this collection. He has passed on but his family still has his collection. Don’t really seem anxious to sell? If it is who I think it is the collection is safe from the current fire locations.
Rick Hill said
Congratulations on 42 years of marital bliss! My wife Georgia and I will be celebrating our 60th 23 days from now and I too feel lucky and well blessed!
WOW! Congrats! That is a tough milestone to achieve.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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