UNITED STATES REVOLVER ASSOCIATION

[JB51]

Any one hear of this organization ? My brother found an old medal in my mothers back yard. suspect it has been in the ground back there for years. she has lived there since 1952.
I would post a pic if I could figure out how.

 

[Onomea]

Some relevant info here: United States Revolver Association - The Firing Line Forums

I was a member, I think, about 15 years ago or so, for a coupla years. I seem to recall their historian, Joe, a real gentleman who knew a lot about prewar Colts in particular. He thought I had a Roper hammer on a 38 OMT heavy barrel that I had for a while...

 

[dmn57]

A quick search of the web revealed it was an organization from 1900 until at least the 1980's. I found a few examples of medals as well. Pretty interesting reading.

 

[tndrfttom]

Major Julian Hatcher talks about the USRA in his book "Pistols and Revolvers and Their Use" (1927). He says the USRA was founded March 15, 1900. (From what I've read, it seems like the Association disappeared in the 1980s). Their competitions seemed to focus on 50 yard outdoor matches and 20 yard indoor matches. Medals were given for national titles in various matches in 5 levels:
1st Gold
2nd Silver and gold
3rd Silver
4th Bronze and silver
5th Bronze

There was also a system of "Percentage Medals" where you were awarded a medal for shooting a certain percentage of a perfect score.

Apparently the USRA also had legislation/political role too.

 

[Onomea]

The man I referred to in post 2 as Joe, the USRA historian, his full name was Joe Miller. This is from a 7.27.14 post by Guy Sajer on the Colt Forum:

Data collection for these "Known Survivor Files" was started in November 2002 on an Internet Group dedicated to collecting serial numbers and other pertinent information about Colts Target Revolvers.

This particular Colt Group was created by the late Joe Miller for persons interested in collecting and shooting pre-war Colt Target Revolvers and for gaining a more in-depth insight about numbers of specific models made, scarcity of various calibers, finishes, barrel lengths and other information of interest to collectors of these fine revolvers. These serial numbers were gathered from sales lists, auction catalogs, internet sales sites, gun shows and other participating members of the Colt Group.

Mr. Miller was the owner and operator of the Miller Gun Shop in Stroudsburg, PA. He was also a collector and international champion pistol target shooter for more than 35 years. He was the founder and president of the Monroe County, PA Pistol Club and also Historian for the United States Revolver Association. His knowledge acquired as a lifelong dealer, collector and competitor was willingly shared. He always had time to pass his knowledge along to anyone who sought his counsel. He will be sorely missed by the shooting and collecting community in the United States and internationally.

He was a well informed, generous guy. I have been away from Colt collecting for some years, and had not realized he had passed. RIP.