Let me add my congratulations to Jim & Judy for a magnificent display, plus a couple notes on this show:
* There were many other exceptional displays there as well, (including a great display by SWCA'ers Bruce & JoAnn Mower). To go into such an enviroment & come away "best of show" is a remarkable acheivement.
* This was the official NRA's Annual National Gun Show. Each year, a different show or club host's the NRA show, which I believe is probably the top display show in the country (other contenders would be the NRA Annual Meeting, CGCA Denver Show, and Baltimore; with KC's MVACA Summer show & OGCA's May show also in the running). Again, this accentuates the accomplishment.
(Strayshot, that probably means next year at Tulsa will probably be back to primarily Ruger displays, as Tulsa hosts the Ruger Collector Association meeting each year).
* Jim & Judy have been displaying at many shows to great accolades. Most folks who do this keep pretty much the same display everywhere they go. To their credit, Jim & Judy are constantly revising and modifying their display, making it fresh each time it's shown.
* The $500 award for Best Colt Display went begging this year, as there were no Colt displays. (I was sorely tempted to go buy a $130 renickeled Police Positive to plop on a table next to a hand letter sign "my Colt" & pick up the cash). Don't know about you guys, but I take this as a Formal Surrender by Colt Collectors.
* Kirk, there are always plenty of Model 3's on the 4,000 plus tables at the Tulsa show. As is usually the case where you find one M3 on a table full of SAA's, most had price tags that I consider very high.
That said, I have over the years picked up lots of M3's at Tulsa for resale or for my own collection. This is certainly a show & field where "knowledge is power", and if you know your M3's and shop carefully you can find bargains.
One find a couple years ago was a gray cut barrel American that was well worn, but with very full intricate engraving & nice old pearl grips. I picked it up at what I thought was a reasonable price of $1,500.
When I lettered it, it came back as "Special Engraved Exhibition Revolver ... shipped with ... gold finish, Gustave Young factory engraved, and ivory grips. This revolver has been used in 3 major world exhibitions before it was sold." This gun is also listed on page 130 of the Parsons book, noting that it had been exhibited at the San Francisco Fair of 1877.
Blind hogs & acorns. Nice finds are still out there. - Jim
