Harrisburg Gun Show & Ruger Collectors Assoc.

[Jeff Hoover]

This past weekend the Harrisburg,PA. Gun show was held at the Farmers Agricultural Complex. A big part of the show is the display of collections from the members of the Ruger Collectors Assoc.(RCA). Good friend Mike "Doc" Barranti had been summoned to make a holster for the RCA, by President Matt Olivier,aka bigbore45. A Ruger .44 Spc. FT with 5.5" barrel, case hardened and tuned by Doug Turnbull, along with a set of beautiful walnut stocks, was to be auctioned off. A shuck was needed, for a fine sixshooter of this quality, and Doc got the nod. He answered the call, above and beyond the call of duty, and produced a floral carved #5 shuck, which he donated to the cause of the RCA.

Doc had been given ample warning, and a plan was hatched to go to the show. Doc resides in Pittsburgh, PA. and Harrisburg is over 4 hrs. away. By some geographical oddity, I'm only about an hour and a half away, tho' I reside in MD. Doc would come to my house Friday night, after work and we would drive to Harrisburg Saturday morning.

Doc arrived as scheduled, another oddity, and a jug of Henry Mckenna had its seal broken for a customary toast to Elmer, Skeeter, and just getting together. Doc brought along a little surprise for me, one of his Barranti #1 shucks, which he designed years ago, and is his first design. It was made for a Ruger 4 5/8ths Flat top .44 spc. WOW ! As Dick Thompson is fond of saying, it fit like a condom , tho Mikes sheaths are good for alot more than one "USE".

Saturday morning arrived, and we loaded up to go. A stop at McDonalds was in store for coffee and biscuits. I ordered a sausage w/ egg biscuit, and Doc ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese. Of course the order got messed up ! I took a bite of my biscuit, and had bacon, cheese and egg. I told Doc of the mix up, and he said his was wrong too, he got a sausage biscuit with egg. I gave Doc his half eaten biscuit back, and got mine back from him, before he fully unwrapped it :lol: .

We arrived in good time, and was met by RCA president, Matt Olivier. While walking the first aisle, Doc hears someone call his name. Doc stops, and there is Contender, standing by his display. It was like an old home reunion. Tyrone (contender) and I had met 3 years earlier, in Idaho, on an Elk hunt sponsored by Dick Thompson. Tyrone was introduced to the quality of Mikes work by the shoulder rig Dick wore. It was Mikes Signature Series NW Hunter rig, and it is a beaut ! Tyrone, being the savy gun show guru asked Mike if he had anything for sale. As a matter of fact Mike did. A fish scale #5 shuck was quickly bought by Tyrone, without hesitation. He knew Mikes wares would not last an hour here.

Mike and I enjoyed the show and were really impressed with the quality, and cool collectibles displayed.

Here is Tyrones display

Mike and I really enjoyed ourselves !We were invited to the RCA Banquet by Matt, and had a wonderful meal. We also got to meet the cast of characters of the RCA, and put faces to names, on this Forum. Radicalrod, Coogs, RoninPA, Bigbore45, 41nut, and I'm sure I missed a few others. No pictures were taken of these members as the witness protection program, the statute of limitations, and any active warrants which are still unserved, want to stay that way. The auction was a hoot ! Alot of comaraderie, and good natured teasing, harrassing, and straight out ball busting took place. Everyone left in good spirits, as I'm sure more "spirits" were consumed into the night. I think I now know the reason certain venders may be a touch grouchy Sunday morning on the floor. If you get the chance, go to one of these shows in which the RCA is also showing their displays, do yourself a favor, and go. You'll have alot of fun, and you will probably learn a bunch !

 

[BlkHawk73]

Nice pics, thank you for posting. I SO wish I could make at least one of these shows but they're always on dates that just don't out for me/us.

 

[Sheriff]

Nice report, Jeff. Going to have to make the Tulsa show one of these days.

 

[callshot]

Looks like fun! With all you heavy weights there, do you think a guy in bibs could attend?

 

[tookalisten]

Looks like fun! With all you heavy weights there, do you think a guy in bibs could attend?

I don't know, I see they made Ty wear shoes

 

[2 dogs]

Standing together those guys look like a double meat double cheese hamburger and a couple of french fries.....

 

[gatling]

Awesome shots and awesome weapons. Thanks for taking the time to post these.

 

[cubrock]

Looks like fun! With all you heavy weights there, do you think a guy in bibs could attend?

I don't know, I see they made Ty wear shoes

I noticed that, too! I think I've seen him in shoes only one other time since I've known him.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Jeff,
Glad you and Mike had a great time! :wink:
Terry

 

[rugerguy]

NEVER say to 'contender"..." you gonna fish or cut bait...." :shock: 8) :wink:

so I don;t say NOTHIN about his lack of footwear........ :roll:

 

[sixshot]

I mentioned on another forum that it must have been a high class affair if Tyrone was wearing shoes :shock: . Tank must have bought another wall tent & had Barranti make him a nice vest!

Dick

 

[Coogs]

Well, I am here to tell you that that when Tyrone, not to be confused with Billy the X-terminator, showed up for set up on Friday, HE WAS BAREFOOT!!! :shock: :shock: We made him throw his shoes on for the banquet, tom jam was not suppose to be on the dessert cart :!: :!: Coogs

 

[Stoots]

Great pics and write-up Jeff!

Thanks for posting!

 

[americal]

GREAT pictures,rugers and people :!:

 

[radicalrod]

I don't know how he sneaks up on the critters......I could smell those feet coming in the door :shock: :shock: :shock: RR.

 

[rsi705]

Wow, great efforts went into those displays. Well done and thank you for sharing the pictures with us.

 

[Coogs]

Junkman............ :? :? :? , I mean RR........I think they smelt you/us comin' both Saturday AND Sunday mornin'.........love ya RR, Remember, what happens in Harrisburg, stays in Harrisburg....... :shock: :shock: :shock: Coogs. PS, my wife can't wait until November/Tulsa.!!!

 

[Robb Barnes]

Would you look at the size of Hoovers meathook hands? I bet he had to wrap 8" ball of tape around the grips of his bike just so he could get his fingers something to hang on to! Ty has no idea how close he is to getting THE CLAW!

 

[2 dogs]

Gee Tyrone. Seems like all these boys are claiming you're on the high smelling side of funky. You don't look so stinky to me. I mean you may be a possum but that's still a couple of notches above skunk!

 

[contender]

Gosh, with all the love here, it makes my poor old eyes water up. (Or maybe it's that skunk juice I handle.)
Yep, H'burg was a grand old time as usual. But to me, it was especially good in that I finally got to meet Doc, and a reunion with an old friend, Tank. And yes, I knew if that holster got spotted down the line, someone else would own it.
Little did I realize I'd be rescuing it from the junk handler's paws!

If y'all miss a show like this, you are truly missing a good time.

(And for those who question things, I do wash my feet often!)
Yep, I arrived barefoot, and have been that way as much as I can get away with. But a RCA show is a big deal, and I honor them by wearing my sneakers. (That's how I get them critters, I use sneakers!)
Gee 2 dogs, I've sunk from coon wrangler to possum now? Maybe it's because I'm a grinnin from snagging another fine Barranti shuck!