Looking for some suggestions. The local Guns Save Lives group is always looking for speakers to give presentations at their monthly meetings. I have agreed to do a presentation at the November meeting. I want to do something on pre-war custom sporting rifles. I would however like to hear some thoughts on what angle I should take on it. They said I could bring about a half dozen rifles. I have a small collection of rifles to choose from with examples of most of the better known pre-war builders. I have 30-45 minutes for the presentation. My objectives would be to educate those in the audience as well as to possibly spark an interest in those old rifles in some of them.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks much,
John

Pre-war meaning WWII or WWI or ??
Are we talking only bolt gun (WWII) or lever guns (WWI) or ??
Single shots? Cartridge or muzzle loaders?
Mike

Pre WWII, bolt guns, primarily 03's. One thought for a title was "The Custom Pre-War Bolt Action Sporting Rifle" or "The Sporting Springfield from Roosevelt to G&H" or "The Sporting Springfield". I have the JT Amber Wundhammer, so thought about the Roosevelt Safari and his 03, thru the 5 rifles that Crossman and White Commissioned, then the various custom makers that sprung up to fill the demand for the new hi performance 03 rifle.

John

John,

And you might wish to share some info from the Phillip B. Sharpe book, "The Rifle in America"
Kinda fun read starting on page 601

Mike

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4...ca&_sacat=0

Lay the guns out where people can see close up what makes these guns what they are. Point out specific features and custom touches. I would love to attend this showing.

You might point out design features of older custom rifles that are now standard.
Mike

You can sure use my story about your Adolph if it helps, Thanks Again John!

If you have access to it, the catalog called Three Centuries of Tradition gives an excellent overview of that history and includes essays by John Bivins, Wallace Gusler, and Mark Silver.This publication is by The Minneapolis Museum of the Arts and features some wonderful photos in addition to the text. I think it would be helpful in an introduction to your topic. Good luck with it.

I've done presentations before, and I always allow time for questions and answers if the format allows it. A 45 minute time frame allows me about 30 minutes to speak on the guns, and then ask for questions, and spend the next 15 minutes interacting with the audience.
It's always surprising to hear he questions, and allows me to make changes to the next presentation once I know what I might have missed.

Check your P M

I think it would be good to have one rifle out of the stock so that people could see the quality of the inletting.

Thanks for the input everyone. They will have a screen available so I'll have some pictures to put up to make it easier to see details. They have been running about 75 people at these events, so it might be hard to have that many people pick up and fondle each rifle in the time allowed.

My wife will likely record it, so if it turns out decent maybe I'll post it on youtube.

Thanks much,
John

I like the idea of bringing then and now together by pointing out that sporting arms have been based on military designs for a long time, very likely from the beginning of sporting arms history. Many anti gunners cling to the reasoning that AR style rifles are unsuitable for sporting applications. Not that we can ever get through to the closed minded...

I applaud you in your unselfish public engagements John. It's especially important to have such organizations in Illinois!