Post by hoover on Mar 18, 2012 19:22:28 GMT -5
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 !
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 !
