There was no Gold Medal Concours d’Elegance of Fine Guns at The Vintage Cup this year. Instead, after 10 Concours and with the support of its long-time sponsor the NRA Foundation, the Gold Medal Concours (GMC) hosted a by-invitation breakfast in order to conduct some important and long-overdue business, namely inducting the first members of its Hall of Fame. They are:

James J. (Jim) Baker, former director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, for understanding the need to build awareness of guns as works of craftsmanship and art, and for committing the NRA-ILA to the Gold Medal Concours.
Ray Roy, for his personal and professional support of the Concours both as a representative of the NRA Foundation and as a judge.

From the gun trade, Butch Searcy, for developing the only all-American double rifle and for building and donating rifles to the GMC for its fund-raisers on behalf of the NRA.
Dietrich Apel, founder of the German Gun Collectors Association and editor of its fine magazine, Der Waffenschmied, for his and his group’s enthusiastic participation in and promotion of the Concours.
Roger Lake, fine-gun expert formerly at Butterfields and now at Greg Martin Auctions, for serving as head judge at the Concours to date and for his insights into the judging process.
Ralph Stuart, editor-in-chief of Shooting Sportsman, for thoroughly and faithfully covering the GMC in wingshooting’s finest magazine.
Doug Turnbull, whose company leads the trade in restoring vintage guns to original specifications and look, and who personally has advanced the state of the restoration art.

From among the collectors who consistently share their exceptional guns with the Concours and the world: Mal MacGregor, double rifle expert and connoisseur extraordinaire; Bill Moore, head of Wm Larkin Moore & Co., veteran importers of best Italian guns; Kevin McCormack, of the Parker Gun Collectors Association; and Logan Reed. Each of these gentlemen has an eye for fine and notable guns that has earned them a disproportionate share of Concours honors over the years.

And finally, in memoriam, the late, great British gun collector and writer Geoffrey Boothroyd, whose name graces the GMC’s “People’s Choice” award; and the late Norman Blank of Pasadena, a gentleman collector and enthusiast of the old school whose name is attached to the Concours’ Best in Show award.

The GMC-NRA breakfast featured two speakers as well: Stuart Jarvis, former head gamekeeper at Glanusk, the largest working estate in Wales (and the “headquarters” for HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales), who spoke of the steady erosion of Britons’ rights to own firearms and participate in the shooting sports. And Jim Porter—conservationist, NRA board member, recent Executive Director of the NRA Foundation, former Special Assistant Attorney General for Alabama, and attorney specializing in the legal defense of gunmakers.

The Gold Medal Concours expects to resume producing its general-admission juried fine-gun displays in 2007.

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