Despite the threat of Hurricane Isabel, which never really affected New York’s Hudson Valley, the sixth Gold Medal Concours d’Elegance of Fine Guns, held at The Vintage Cup, saw record attendance and a turnout of some 75 rare, historic and collectible shotguns and rifles from the USA, England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Italy.
On Saturday morning, September 20, the NRA Foundation hosted a by-invitation breakfast for Concours participants. The featured speaker was Mr. Ken Waite, a veteran of the Remington Arms Co. and a noted firearms collector, who presented a brief history of the Parker ‘Invincible’ guns. These three ultra-rare double-barrel shotguns, which normally are behind glass at the National Firearms Museum, in Fairfax, Virginia, were on display at the Concours by special permission of their owner, Mr. Bob Petersen.
After the breakfast the panel of eight judges began their deliberations-categorizing the entries by age, country of origin, type of action and other criteria and then selecting those whose quality, condition or history made them worthy of Gold, Silver or Bronze prizes.
As a special honor, the top three guns-winners of Best in Show, the Boothroyd Award (the people’s choice, by popular ballot) and the NRA Cup-will be invited to be displayed at the National Firearms Museum. The Museum is administered by the National Rifle Association, whose Institute for Legislative Action has been the presenting sponsor of the Gold Medal Concours since its inception.
Listed below are the Concours class awards and special awards sponsored by affinity groups and publications; judges; and contacts for digital photography and more information on the event or specific guns.
GOLD MEDAL CONCOURS VI AWARDS & WINNERS
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GOLD MEDAL CONCOURS VI JUDGES |
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Chris Batha — E.J. Churchill Gunmakers; competition and game shooter, shooting instructor, former partner at Atkin, Grant & Lang and a veteran of the British gun trade. St. Albans, England
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Lewis Drake — 40 years experience dealing in antique and vintage sporting arms. Founder of Lewis Drake and Associates; co-founder of Roosevelt and Drake. Murray, Kentucky.
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Jack Dudley — Co-founder of the Order of Edwardian Gunners (the Vintagers) and producer of The Vintage Cup and World Side by Side Championships & Exhibition. Sales Manager, Rizzini USA. Henniker, New Hampshire.
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David Moore — Long-time sales manager of William Larkin Moore, dealers & importers of fine guns, primarily from Italy and Spain. Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Stephen Helsley — NRA, ret.; former law-enforcement executive; tactical shooter, shooting writer and photographer, collector of (among many other things) British rifles. El Dorado Hills, California.
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Jan Roosenburg — A game shot and gun collector from an early age. From 1991 through 2000, Manager North America and then Vice-President Sporting Weapons of Holland & Holland. Greenwich, Connecticut.
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Ray Roy — Recently retired head of quality control at Sturm, Ruger and Co.; New England representative for The NRA Foundation; lifelong shooter and connoisseur of fine guns. Enfield, New Hampshire.
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Charles Shrewsbury — The Right Honourable The Earl of Shrewsbury & Talbot DL is a sitting Member of the House of Lords. Lord Shrewsbury is Honorary President of the Gun Trade Association and Chairman of the British Shooting Sports Council. Staffordshire, England.
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Chief Judge |
Silvio Calabi — Co-founder and producer of the Gold Medal Concours. Camden, Maine.
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THE LEFEVER ARMS COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION AWARDS |
(selected by the LACA) |
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BEST FACTORY UPGRADE |
Lefever H-Grade 12-Gauge Nos. 35931/57394 (c.1902-’04) / Ken Poust |
Upgraded from damascus to fluid steel, with engraving, in 1904 |
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BEST LATE SMALL-BORE |
Lefever Optimus 20-Gauge Ejector No. 62082 (c.1909) / Frank Finch, Jr. |
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BEST EARLY SMALL-BORE |
Lefever A-Grade 16-Gauge No. 13128 (c.1890) / Ray Shotwell |
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BEST EARLY HIGH-GRADE |
Lefever Optimus 12-Gauge No. 10256 (c.1887) / Ray Shotwell |
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FINEST WORKMANSHIP |
Lefever Special Order Display Gun No. 20901 (c.1894) / Chris Schotz |
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BEST DISPLAY OF LEFEVER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT |
Ray Shotwell |
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BEST LEFEVER IN SHOW |
Lefever B-Grade Presentation 12-Gauge No. 38807 (c.1901) / Ray Shotwell |
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THE PARKER GUN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION AWARDS |
(selected by the PGCA) |
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FOR FINE-GRADE SPORTING GUNS
Parker 16-Gauge BHE-Grade No. 130128 (c.1904)
Parker 10-Gauge AH-Grade No. 83183 (c.1897)
Howard Loewensteiner
“These are two fine examples of American sporting guns of the period.” |
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FOR AN EARLY COMPETITION GUN
Parker 12-Gauge BH-Grade No. 83855 (c.1896; for Fred Gilbert)
David Trevallion
“This gun represents the period of transition in American shotgun competition and is associated with a distinguished competitor.” |
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FOR AN OUTSTANDING SMALLBORE GUN
Parker 20-Gauge GH-Grade No. 184035 (c.1919)
Paul Brook
“Early smallbore guns are rare; this one is outstanding because of its condition and original hang tags.” |
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FOR OUTSTANDING PROVENANCE AND ACCOUTREMENTS
Parker 16-Gauge A-1 Special No. 143556 (c.1907)
Jim Hall
“This gun represents a thorough search of its, and its original owner’s, history.” |
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FOR A DISTINGUISHED DISPLAY OF A LATE FIELD GUN
Parker .410-Bore GHE-Grade No. 226288 (c.1928)
Kevin McCormack
“This is a well-provenanced display, conveying substantial information on a rare sporting gun.” |
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FOR SHOTGUN EXECUTION
Parker 11-Gauge Underlifter No. 2625 (c.1874)
(built as a hammer gun, converted to a hammerless side-cocker by D. M. Lefever c. 1879)
Larry Schuknecht
“This gun represents a unique example of shotgun innovation by Dan Lefever, using a Parker mechanism.”
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