NRA Convention

[anticus]

Attended the NRA Convention here in my home town. Way too much to cover here.Lots of people, displays of very cool weapons, including a redux of the Thompson "On the Side of Law and Order" exhibit at the NRA Museum. Way cool to actually see a 1919 and a great example of everything from the 21's to even a Kahr ! I attended the Thompson seminar and throughly enjoyed it. Tracie Hill was there and the director of the D-Day museum and some other folks I recognize from the History Channel.

 

Ted Nugent and the Gunny were there too, but the line to get an autograph stretched all the way to Cleveland.

 

Overall a great convention and the first one in St. Louis in over 20 years.

[NotDeaf]

 

 

Anticus, you’re right, WAY too much to see in to little time. We did the same thing, started with the Thompson Collection and see Tracie Hill, talked to him for a few minutes and we were on our way to see all the other stuff.

 

All in all, great time, worth the 8 hours to drive to St. Louis. Next year a little closer for us Louisville, KY

 

[Eagle3]

Thought the Thompson display was fantastic, and Tracie Hill is a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the TSMG.

 

Couldn't believe the amount of interest generated around the Thompson display at the Kahr booth. It seems that they are trying to get their act together in regards to making their semis look more authentic. Small round cocking knob, removable buttstock, parkerizing, and their SBR. Perhaps they will also improve the reliability of their products.

 

Great show.

[dalbert]

All,

 

Here are some pictures I took of the TATA display at the 2007 NRA Annual Meetings in St. Louis last weekend. It was a partial re-creation of the NRA Firearms Museum display in 2004.

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Payne-EickhoffGunsClose_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Blish_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Autorifle_Receivers_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Autorifles_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Model1919s_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/GenThompson_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/GenThompsonClose_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/1923_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/British_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/BSAs_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/WWII_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/T2_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/WHs_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/DickTracy_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Kahr_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/FirstSection_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/MiddleSection_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/LastSection_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/TATA/Entire_Display_Web.JPG

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Z3BigDaddy]

WOW! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif

[gijive]

Dave,

 

Nice photos! The display looks great! I'll be sending a private email soon. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Chuck

[Melvin]

Awesome display; well presented. Too bad we all weren't able to participate as a group. What a shame personalities get in the way.

 

Chuck Klein

[aut-ord-co]

 

Beautiful display of Thompson history! David, Did it sweep the awards as usual?

[dalbert]

Bill,

 

The Ohio Gun Collectors Association display of Colt Double Action Revolvers from 1911-1941 won the overall award, and they had a great one. All of their guns looked like they just came off the Colt production line, were very well presented, and their show brochure was exceptional.

 

The TATA display won several awards, including exceptional firearm medals for 2 of the Model of 1919's, serial number 7 and number 17. The BSA Thompsons won a special recognition award, and the overall TSMG display won best educational display for classic arms. The crowd seemed to really like it, and it was fun to hear all the comments and share stories. A lot of hard work went into the effort. I know that the TSMG display will leave a lasting impression on many who saw it.

 

The American Rifleman special live session on the Thompson was presented to a full house, and it ran for over an hour and a half. I think everyone in attendance enjoyed it, also.

 

The 2007 NRA Convention was very successful overall. I'm not sure what the official headcount was, but the word on the floor was that a lot more than expected attended the show, and the local news touted it as the largest convention ever held in St. Louis.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[TD.]

Bill,

It was a bit of a disappointment not to win the overall award for the best display during the show. We started the set up on Thursday at 7:00 am and did not finish until 5:00 pm - with no break for lunch. David's pictures are fantastic but seeing the display in person was much more impressive. However, the Thompson's had been seen before in previous NRA shows so it may be a good time to give this display a rest (I think that is why we did not win).

 

It was great Model of 1919 Number 7 and 17 along with the BSA Thompson's received the individual awards - and well deserved too. The Ohio Gun Collectors Association display was superb, but I will bet if you surveyed everyone who attend the NRA Convention in St. Louis two years from now, the only display they will remember is the Thompson's!

 

[colt21a]

OUTSTANDING DISPLAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY.David "sheer class".

 

R.Ron

[dalbert]

PhilOhio,

 

I appreciate the thought, but that's a different Dave Albert than me. I still like airguns a lot, and have many, but I didn't write the article. I would be interested in seeing it.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[GUTTERRATT]

That has to be the best Thompson display I have ever seen, I'd like to have one of those B.S.A.'s The whole thing looks awsom. I like the L drum with the star shaped rotor.