2018 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits Gun Collector Awards Results

The 2018 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits were held in Dallas on May 4-6. A total of 19 gun collector clubs set up exhibits on Collectors’ Row and competed for the annual awards.

Here are this year’s winners: 

BEST EDUCATIONAL DISPLAY AWARDS

Antique Arms Category:

Organization: Colt Collectors Association

Display Title: A Few .44’s – Colt’s Holster Revolvers

Organization: Smith & Wesson Collectors Association

Display Title: Single Action Era – Invention, Innovation & Historical Users

Classic Arms Category:

Organization: Ohio Gun Collectors Association

Display Title: P38 Pistols and Holsters of WWII, 1940 - 1945

Organization: American Society of Arms Collectors and Maryland Arms Collectors Association

Display Title: The Rare and Limited Production Models from Smith & Wesson

Contemporary Arms Category:

Organization: Alaska Gun Collectors Association

Display Title: The Alaska Commemorative Collection

Combined Arms Category:

Organization: Miniature Arms Society

Display Title: Miniature Arms

Organization: Ruger Owners and Collectors Society

Display Title: Bill Ruger’s .22 Pistol

BEST ARMS AWARDS

A total of 10 silver medals may be awarded each year, but the committee may choose to award more or less if they so choose.

#562 – To Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, for their Smith & Wesson First Model Russian revolver belonging to John Wesley Hardin, serial number 25274.

#563 – To Virginia Gun Collectors Association, for their prototype Smith & Wesson Baby Aircrewman revolver, serial number A13933.

#564 – To Dallas Arms Collectors Association, for their Clark & Sherrard, Lancaster, Texas, Dragoon-style revolver, serial number 288.

#565 – To Winchester Arms Collectors Association, for their prototype Model 1868 rifle in .46 OWF, serial number 18.

#566 – To Colt Collectors Association, for their cased pair of Colt 1860 Army revolvers, serial numbers 181267 and 181292, with target sights.

#567 – To Texas Gun Collectors Association, for their factory engraved Colt Single Action Army Sheriff’s Model revolver, serial number 115126.

#568 – To Colt Collectors Association, for their Colt 1848 Dragoon revolver, serial number 4150.

#569 – To American Society of Arms Collectors and Maryland Arms Collectors Association, for their experimental Smith & Wesson Triple Lock revolver, serial number 9.

#570 – To Ohio Gun Collectors Association, for their German P38 Mauser-manufactured SVW45 dual-tone pistol, serial number 3535e.

#571 – To Ruger Owners & Collectors Association, for the first firearm ever shipped from the Ruger factory, a Ruger Standard pistol, serial number 3.

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION

For unique firearms-related display items. A total of 10 may be awarded each year, but the committee voted to award 12 in Dallas.

#211 – To North Carolina Arms Collectors Association, for their WWII atomic flight suit worn by Charles Albury during both atomic missions.

#212 – To Ohio Gun Collectors Association, for their P38 canvas holster made for the Crimean campaign.

#213 – To American Society of Arms Collectors and Maryland Arms Collectors Association, for their provenance documentation of Smith & Wesson Triple Lock serial number 9.

#214 – To Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, for their set of Smith & Wesson factory gauges.

#215 – To Dallas Arms Collectors Association, for their pommel holsters, circa 1847.

#216 – To Winchester Arms Collectors Association, for their prototype .46 OFW cartridge.

#217 – To Ohio Gun Collectors Association, for their Messerschmitt paperwork.

#218 – To Dallas Arms Collectors Association, for their grouping of 10 Colt Walker revolvers.

#219 – To Ruger Collectors Association, for their pair of Ruger Single-Six revolvers, serial numbers 11 and 12, and associated documentation.

#220 – To Ohio Gun Collectors Association, for their Nazi paratrooper log book.

#221 – To Alaska Gun Collectors Association, for their grouping of Alaskan WWII guns, pistols, and books.

#222 – To Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, for their holster belonging to John Wesley Hardin.

BEST MINIATURE ARMS AWARDS

A total of 3 miniature silver medals may be awarded, but the committee may choose to award more or less if they so choose.

#92 – To the Miniature Arms Society, for their ⅓ scale Lorenzoni 7-shot flintlock pistol by Peter Dyson 

#93 – To the Miniature Arms Society, for their ¼ scale Rodgers 40-blade exhibition knife

#94 – To the Miniature Arms Society, for their ½ scale AK47 by Miniart in Moscow

The National Firearms Museum “Sprit of the Game” Award was presented to the Weatherby Collectors Association, for their display, “The American Rifleman Weatherby.”

NRA GUN COLLECTORS COMMITTEE TROPHY

This is the 58^th year that the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy was awarded. It was presented to the Dallas Arms Collectors Association, for their display, “The Guns and Gunfights of the Texas Rangers.” 

This is the 4th time Dallas Arms Collectors Association has won the National Gun Collectors Committee Trophy.

We would like to thank the members of the 19 clubs who put in all of their time, hard work, and effort to present such a great group of displays. We would also like to acknowledge the dedication and time that it takes to officially judge the exhibits and extend our gratitude to Judges Jay Hansen, John Sigler, and David Hanes, and the members of the Gun Collectors Committee.

We look forward to having you join us again in Dallas on Nov. 24 and 25, 2018, for the 23rd Annual NRA National Gun Collectors Show, hosted by Dallas Arms Collectors Association. Call (972) 369-6062 for info and reservations. 

The NRA Museums system has three museums including the NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA HQ in Fairfax, VA; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM. Admission is free at all three locations.

Be sure to visit us online at www.NRAmuseums.com; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; and watch videos on our YouTube channel, NFMcurator.

If you have any questions about upcoming NRA Museums or Gun Collectors Committee events, please contact Firearms Specialist T. Logan Metesh at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 267-1603.