I was there today. Unpleasantly hot. Everybody was sweating even under cover in the shade. Seemed smaller than prior years, although my buddy who was there last year (I wasn't) said it was about the same size as last year.
Lots of nice stuff, including a spectacular pair of side-plated Guyot 16 gauges in Steve Barnett's inventory. I'm trying to decide which child I'll miss the least when I sell one in order to finance buying them.
I don't know if management cracked down, but there were far fewer non-doubles, particularly rifles, than in prior years, although there were some spectacular restorations by Turnbull, mostly Winchester lever actions. Only saw two Darnes and two Manufrance Ideals. Three Dicksons, although one was cracked through the wrist during its airplane trip and disappeared off the table by the afternoon. William Larking Moore had two David McCay Browns, one O/U and one SxS. My buddy refers to DMBs as lottery guns, as in that's what I'll buy if I ever win the lottery. Galazan's was there with a number of the new O/U in various grades. The higher grades really are spectacular. They also had a number of exhibition level Foxes, which are a bit too far over the top for my taste, but really are extremely impressive examples of engraving technique. None of the Italian ladies this year from either Fausi or A&S. Parker collectors had their own tent, L.C. Smith and Fox collectors had tables inside the large tents. Griffin & Howe had a delightful Krieghoff break action single shot sidelock rifle, with a quite spectacular $30K plus price tag. Don't need a 7x57 stalking rifle quite that much. Fair number of double rifles including some small bores. Took notes on a Peterlongo hammer gun in 9.3x72R with a folding tang adjustable peep sight and claw mount bases. Might be just the thing for Pennsylvania whitetail in the woods if it were fitted with rings and a Leupold 1.5-5x scope.
Some non-gun/hunting items, mostly jewelry or Vintager's dress-up.
Not sure it was worth the almost 3 hour drive each way, but it was a nice break from work.
