doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintager report

Just returned from PA, after three days at the Vintager's Cup. It was too damn hot. I thought the Vendor turnout was very good, with guns, leather, tweeds, artwork, books, shells. My pet peeve is targets that are hard to see and the small bore course had them in spades. Too close, in the woods and showing black underside. The large bore course was very fair and easily could have been shot with all but .410 and then only a few stations were out there. They had a FFL on site handling transfers and he looked fairly busy. A friend sold three guns and got his price. They had a few side events with fun targets and a 5 stand, I didn't shoot due to the heat that was described as FITASC on steroids.

I drove up Friday morning and spent abut four hours in the main tent. I didn't shoot - mostly because I couldn't figure out what shoots were going on....hammer gun, 16 ga. etc. I renewed an acquaintance with Kirby Hoyt whom I met at the Southern a couple of years ago and with Bob Nay of Macnab. I talked for awhile with Toby Barclay. . .all know of and use the Reilly date chart now. Met "tut" at the Fox owners table, who turned out to know many of my former work associates. Somehow missed 8bore, Nitrah and eeb. I enjoyed listening to the two youngish people manning the gunsmith guild table - it was heartening to know that there is an association dedicated to getting young artisans interested in the sport, hobby and career.

There was a decent turnout of dealers in all sorts of shooting paraphernalia and guns - mostly high-end (how may H&H's can you look at over a set period of time?). Some gun owners associations - Fox, Dickinson, Westley Richards, LC Smith. The only gun I was remotely interested in was the Dickson previously discussed which of course wasn't for sale. I didn't think the shoot was super well attended but could be wrong - maybe 300-500 cars, trucks and jeeps in the parking fields with easily room for another 1000.

It was a pleasant morning and afternoon- the heat didn't really build until after 2:00 PM. The drive up route 15 past Gettysburg at 8:00 AM was charming with the leaves on the mountain sides just starting to change with a hint of color in places (and somehow passing Gettysburg the ghostly roar of cannon and rattle of small arms fire that for a Southerner will always be there). (My French father-in-law upon standing on Cemetery hill said, "Dieu voulait que ce soit un champ de bataille.") Stopped for coffee at a small cafe north of Gettysburg and watched the German origin farmers - working people - come in for omelets and brew. There were early morning mists that added to the picturesque.

I took back routes back into Maryland that afternoon. Rural Pennsylvania is so different from the South architecturally - the huge barns with multiple windows and cupolas + lightning rods and silos, the towns with close packed wooden Germanesque houses and front porches - the feeling of the small settlements and farm landscape is foreign - as different as Maryland is from northern Virginia - but strangely so connected in many cultural ways. It's odd that being so close. . I haven't driven anywhere near that route in 40 years since I crashed a Honda Goldwing in 1982, sliding on fall leaves up in the Poconos on my Honeymoon.

I attended Friday am. Seemed like a good turnout. Did not shoot (I didn’t register in advance and it wasn’t apparent to me how to get in the lineup). Loved looking at all the firearms, but didn’t see anything that I couldn’t do without. Had a chance to talk with Lou from CSMC (i have an RBL and Revelation) about a Win 21. Wouldn’t mind getting a 16 ga if I could get it about 7 lb. Lou said unlikely to get it down in the 6’s.

SInce the Vintager was only minutes from my home, was happy to be able to get to it.

I attended Friday and Saturday. Had an enjoyable time.

Lots of very nice SxSs exhibited. Excellent lunches.

A few organizational concerns. Guessing next year those will be gone.

Does anyone know if they will post results anywhere?

I was asked a question about who was the engraver. I didn't get his card but blowing up the picture believe it was Geoffroy Gournet:



https://www.gournetusa.com/

That was indeed Geoffrey in the pics.

I was there Thursday and Friday, I did not shoot the main event Saturday. The exhibits/vendors and food were all very good. The club has plenty of very convenient parking and space for three shooting courses. That said Warrington Gun Club was not fully prepared because of numerous glitches experienced with check in, course logistics and the five stand. The primary reason for this is I don’t believe the club has ever put on a large shoot. I could enumerate what I saw as problems but that just enhances the negative of an otherwise enjoyable event, and isn’t necessary. The issues are all correctable and I hope Warrington will host the Vintagers next year because the location is very convenient to a large number of Middle Atlantic and NE shooters. Perhaps a call to Rick Hemingway is in order.

I was there Thursday and Friday too. I would have liked to have stayed for the main Saturday, but couldn't. We met Melanie and Ray Poudrier at the hotel we stayed in. The heat was pretty bad, especially on Thursday. Liz Delaney was working hard to put on a good event, and she did well. I shot 5 guns, 2 10's, 2 12's and a 16. I won the 10ga hammerless class with this Pittsburgh gun https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=87134&page=2
I was in a 3 way tie for the long bird last I knew, with 9x10. I used a W.W. Greener hammergun for that event. I shot the 10 Hammer class with Black Powder, in a W&C Scott. I think that was the only black powder round fired, at least I didn't hear any other boomers. I would have thought there would be more, since a good percentage of the guns in use, were from that era.
Looking forward to next year!

I've been going to the Vintage Cup since the first year at Sandanona and the Southern Side by Side since the first year. The tent display at this Vintage Cup was the best ever, in my opinion. The spread out displays at the early Vintage Cups were great, but a bit of a walk for old guys. I attended with The Lovely Linda on Thursday, but wore my feeble body out and couldn't come back on Friday or Saturday. I won't go over the serious defects in the event here, but will discuss it with the Delany's when I run into them. I hear that the Delany's have a three year contract and I couldn't be happier. As a side note, the tent displays are my first love. I love to shoot, but after winning the .410 event at the first Southern, I decided to forgo shooting for shopping after that first Southern.

Thanks to all who attended! Scores are posted here: https://vintagers.org/vintage-gunners-cup

----Matt