Judges

Gold Medal Concours judges are well-known authors, appraisers, makers and collectors, selected from the fine-gun community for their knowledge and expertise. Judges at the 7th Gold Medal Concours of Fine Guns included:
      Roger Lake — Fine-gun specialist at Bonhams & Butterfields, the San Francisco-based auction house; gun writer and well-traveled shooter. Livermore, California.
      Richard Edlund — Renowned collector of top-quality rifles and shotguns; winner of more Gold Medal Concours awards than any other entrant. Santa Monica, California.
      Bruce Farman — Member of long standing, American Custom Gunmakers Guild; stock-making specialist. Bremerton, Washington.
      David Moore — Long-time sales manager of William Larkin Moore, dealers & importers of fine guns, primarily from Italy and Spain. Scottsdale, Arizona. Note: Mr. Moore graciously recused himself from the jury in order to allow fair and impartial judging of guns entered in the GMC by his father, William Larkin Moore.
      Hans Pfingsten — Hans Pfingsten’s grandfather was Imperial Forester for Kaiser Wilhelm II; Hans is an avid collector of European sporting arms and co-author of German and Austrian Gun Making of the Golden Age. Morongo Valley, California.
      James Tucker — renowned stocker and gunmaker, most recently with John Rigby & Company. Member, American Custom Gunmakers Guild. Medford, Oregon.
      Silvio Calabi — co-founder of the Gold Medal Concours; editor-at-large, Shooting Sportsman Magazine. Camden, Maine.

THE NORMAN R. BLANK BEST IN SHOW AWARD — named in honor of the late American gun collector Norman Blank and determined by the judges
F.lli Rizzini R1E 20-Gauge SxS Shotgun No. 2231, engraved by Fracassi & Contessa
William L. Moore

THE BOOTHROYD (‘PEOPLE’S CHOICE’) AWARD — named in honor of the late British gun writer Geoffrey Boothroyd and determined by popular ballot
J. Purdey 40-Bore Hammer Double Rifle No. 8160
David Slade

THE NRA CUP — awarded to “the gun or rifle of greatest historical significance to the development of sporting firearms”
Chas. Lancaster 14-Bore Underlever SxS Rifle No. 4028 (1866) With its Jones-style underlever that cams the barrels back into the breech face, for a tight seal, this was the first successful breechloader of its type.
Kirby Hoyt

THE Shooting Sportsman MAGAZINE AWARD — for “a contemporary custom-fitted game gun that best typifies the ideal for upland hunting”
Browning Superposed P-4W .410-Bore No. P83RR1432 (1 of 7 made)
William L. Moore

THE VINTAGER AWARD — for “the vintage side-by-side that best exemplifies the standards and traditions of The Order of Edwardian Gunners.”
J. Purdey 40-Bore Hammer Double Rifle No. 8160
David Slade

THE Upland Almanac AWARD — “the ideal light-gauge upland gun”
Bentley & Playfair Hammer 20-Bore SxS Sidelever Gun No. 1610
Malcolm Weaver

THE GERMAN GUN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION AWARD — for the Best Germanic Gun
“Prussian” Charles Daly Diamond Regent 12-Bore SxS No. 25252 (made by August Shüller)
William L. Moore

THE AMERICAN CUSTOM GUNMAKERS GUILD AWARD — for the Most Outstanding Custom-Built Gun or Rifle
Griffin & Howe Springfield .30-06 Bolt-Action Rifle No. 829
William L. Moore

THE WILLIAM LARKIN MOORE AWARD — for the Most Outstanding Italian Gun
Antonio Zoli Best-Grade 12-gauge SLE No. 139818 (1984)
Craig Vallely

THE DOUBLE GUN JOURNAL AWARD — for the Best Dangerous-Game Double Rifle
Westley Richards ‘Explora’ 12-Bore Rifle No. T8778, made for the Maharajah of Holkar
Kirby Hoyt