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Ruger Collectors' Association Show 2005by Bill Hamm photography by Matt Olivier Ed. Note: In March 2005, our resident Ruger collecting expert Bill Hamm attended the annual Ruger Collectors gun show in Nashville, Tennessee. The show was sponsored by Bob Pope's Gun Shows. Pope is a great American, and his gun shows are among our favorites. Bill Hamm is a regular exhibitor at Bob Pope's shows, and he took some time from his busy weekend to visit the other Ruger collectors and write brief descriptions of some of the exhibits. Our thanks also to Matt Olivier for taking pictures of the winning displays. Please let Bob Pope know that you appreciate his encouragement of Ruger collecting by emailing him at guns4you@aol.com or calling him at (615) 793-7364. He will send you a schedule of his upcoming shows for both his Nashville and Knoxville venues. Be sure to ask when the next RCA show will be, you don't want to miss one! Check out our write-ups of previous Bob Pope / RCA shows at the following links: Boge Quinn RUGER COLLECTORS DISPLAY SHOWSMYRNA, TN MARCH
18 – 20, 2005 BOB POPE’S GUN SHOW, SMYRNA, TNThis year’s annual Ruger Collectors Display show was hosted again by Mr. Bob Pope at his Smyrna, TN Expo Center. There were eight Ruger Displays at this year’s event.
As you will see in the display descriptions, they were all great displays
and included many rare and interesting guns.
We had two new displayers, Matt Olivier and Dave Whitman.
We really appreciated them working to put together their displays and the
groups of fine Rugers that they brought out for everyone to see and enjoy.
There were several other new attendees that we hope will bring out their
displays next year. There were several very nice Rugers that were purchased,
sold, and/or traded. One surprise
Ruger that showed up was from the collection of the show promoter, Mr. Bob Pope.
It was a .357 Blackhawk “Flattop”.
A rare “high polish” gun, serial number 79 !!
On Sunday morning, Mr. Pope held a silent auction among the Ruger
collectors who were interested. Congratulations
are in order for Jim Shafer who won this prize two-digit Flattop. The displays are listed below. The collector’s name and a brief description of the display is also given. We also list the top three winning displays and the Best Gun(s) of the show.
Click pictures for a larger version
RUGER BISLEYS , by Bob Nelson
Bob’s complete Bisley display has an example of all of the 16 original gun; 4 in .22 caliber, 4 in .32 Magnum, and one fluted and non-fluted roll engraved cylinder each of the .357, .41, .44, and .45 calibers. Eight special issue Bisleys which included a consecutive serial numbered pair of RCA .32 Magnums, two .32s with stainless steel grip frames, three 5-1/2” barrel stainless Bisleys in .41 Mag., .44 Mag., and .45 Colt, and the extremely rare stainless 4-5/8” barrel “Tom Ruger Shootist”, 1 of 52 produced.
.44 CALIBER RUGERS EVOLUTION , by Matt OlivierFIRST PLACE AWARD, NOVICE CLASS
Matt’s fine display depicted the evolution of several of the major variations of the .44 Magnum Flattops and Super Blackhawks. Flattops with 6-1/2”, 7-1/2” and 10” barrels were shown. The Super Blackhawks included a Mahogany boxed gun, a White boxed gun, a transition SBH, a 6-1/2” barreled SBH, the earliest known non-prefix Brass Frame SBH, and a “D” marked duplicate serial numbered Super. All of the guns had boxes displayed including the factory brass frame’s box and shipper.
THE ABCs of ALPHABET BEARCATS, by Jeanine May SECOND PLACE
AWARD, ADVANCED
CLASS Jeanine’s great Bearcat display chronicles the history of the Alphabet Bearcat series throughout its entire production period mid-1958 until late 1960. A total of 25 “Alphabet” Bearcats were displayed representing each letter of the alphabet. The letter “0” is believed to have never been produced. Examples of a Bearcat box, cardboard shipping carton, original instruction manual, period catalogs, and the first two advertisements in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine accompanied the display.
FACTORY PRODUCTION BARRELS of SINGLE ACTIONS ’53–’73By Dave Whitman SECOND PLACE
AWARD, NOVICE
CLASS Dave’s display of fine condition Rugers represented an example of the different barrel lengths of the Single Action revolvers of all calibers produced from 1953 to 1973. Examples of boxes for these guns also accompanied the display. Dave also had an innovative “spinning” Ruger Eagle logo atop his display that was certainly an eye catcher!
RUGER DOUBLE
FOUR TRIPLE
SCREW BLUES by Bill Eyring
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