Fine Guns Raise Funds at GMC X

By Silvio Calabi

The 10th Gold Medal Concours d'Elegance of Fine Guns, proudly presented by the NRA, will take place at The Vintage Cup at Orvis Sandanona on September 24. Along with a considerable array of high-interest, collectible or historic guns to be publicly displayed and judged, the Concours has added a new benefit: a silent auction, with proceeds to go to The NRA Foundation National Firearms Museum Endowment. Two special lots are being offered:

- Pair of Ruger Gold Label shotguns Nos. 460-2108/9. Twelve-gauge, single selective-trigger, round-body side-by-side game guns [img 1 right caption=The first matched pair of Gold Labels will be auctioned this fall.]with ejectors and pinless boxlock actions; 28-inch barrels with thin-wall chokes. Straight stocks of hand-checkered, upgraded American walnut. Gold-inlaid "NRAF No. 1" and "NRAF No. 2" and scroll-engraved trigger guards. In a leather-covered double-gun case with a pair of leather hand guards. This is the first matched pair of Gold Labels with consecutive numbers. Fair market value: $7,500. Donated by Sturm, Ruger & Co. (see Gun Review, Sept/Oct '04).

- Winchester Model 1873 rifle No. 356188B, caliber .38-40. With a 28-inch octagonal barrel and a full magazine; straight-hand stock of exhibition-grade walnut, hand-checkered; crescent buttplate with trapdoor compartment containing a five-piece cleaning rod. Completely rebuilt and significantly upgraded with historically accurate engraving and inlays, color case hardening and rust-, nitre- and charcoal-bluing by Doug Turnbull Restoration. Fair market value: $8,000. Donated by the Thomas W. Sefton Trust and Doug Turnbull Restoration.

There are no reserves and no minimum bids on these unique guns. Because The NRA Foundation is a 501(C)3 charitable nonprofit, the amount of the winning bids over fair market value is a tax deduction to the buyers. These guns were first displayed at GMC IX, in Illinois, on May 14, when the bidding opened.

Bidding closes and the auction will end at 6:30 pm (Eastern Time) on Saturday, September 24. Winning bids will be announced that evening at the Vintage Cup banquet. Bids may be placed with the Concours' Jeff Dodge by telephone (207-594-9544) or e-mail (jdodge@downeast.com) and at The Vintage Cup beginning September 22. For more information on the auction, including details on the guns and bidding instructions, please visit www.goldmedalconcours.com.

- The Concours Sweepstakes for the Searcy .470 double rifle (May/June, p. 16, or "Searcy Sweepstakes" at the above Website) to benefit the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action also will wrap up at the Vintage Cup banquet, when the winning ticket is pulled. Tickets are still available at press time.

The Concours itself is likely to be the biggest yet, with a stellar turnout of guns to be viewed by the public and judged by a jury of experts. Once again the owners of the top three guns-winners of the NRA Cup, the Boothroyd "People's Choice" and the Norman Blank "Best in Show" awards-will be invited to display the guns at the National Firearms Museum, in Fairfax, Virginia. A host of other Gold, Silver and Bronze class and special awards will be up for grabs as well.

For registration forms to display your guns at the tenth Concours, please contact Jeff Dodge (above) or visit the GMC Website. Concours participants will be invited to the private GMC/NRA Foundation breakfast at The Vintage Cup as well.

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