Snow Couldn’t Keep The Big Guns Away!
Originally published May 2017 · pp. 1–4
TIMONIUM, MD.—The 63rd anniversary of the Maryland Arms Collectors Association Show was held at the State Fairgrounds at Timonium, Md., on March 18 & 19. This gun show, more commonly known as “The Original Baltimore Antique Arms Show” or just “The Baltimore Show,” is acknowledged by most people as the premier antique gun show on the east coast of America and by many as the best antique gun show in the world. Whichever way you view it, you would have to admit that once again it was a great show for dealers, collectors, the general public and anyone interested in gun collecting or military history. It is a true labor of love for the collectors who make up the Show Committee.
For anyone visiting the area for the first time, Timonium is situated on the outskirts of Baltimore in the heart of American Civil War country. The nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is just forty five miles to the south and Gettysburg, the scene of the greatest battle of the Civil War, is only about fifty miles to the northwest. The area is peppered with historical battle and skirmish sites relating to the War of 1861-1865 and is a great stepping stone to explore many places of military and political interest.
Back in Timonium, the show opened to the usual rush of customers on Saturday and quickly filled the Cow Palace. Those who attended were treated to over 900 sale and display tables of antique and historic arms and arms-related items showing some of the best this country has to offer—not the least of which was the tremendous expertise found on both sides of the tables. Exhibitors came from 44 states and 10 foreign countries including Canada, The United Kingdom, Israel, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. As is usual with the show, old friends were revisited, new friends were made and treasures found new homes. The weekend seemed to fly by and all too soon it was Sunday afternoon and time to announce the awards for the show. When displays win awards at the Baltimore Show, you can be assured that they are world class.
Display Appreciation Awards went to Jeffrey L. Sipling for “Quackenbush 1871,” Daniel Hartzler for “The John Brown at Harpers Ferry,” James Schoenung for “Carronade Cannons,” Lewis Southard for “U.S. Martial Pistols Accoutrements,” Gerald Roxbury for “Presentation Grade U.S. Naval Sword,” and David Noe for “The 1842 Austrian Musket.”
Judges Choice Awards went to David Hanes for “Western PA Militia Musket,” Ken Baumann for “WWI Trench Mortars,” Chris Grazzini for “Federal Period Swords,” Brian Kowalski for “The German G/K 43 Rifles,” Paul Johnson for “Odd Ball Civil War Bayonets,” and Samuel Higginbotham for “Alterations of Maynard Tape Primer.”
The Third Place Educational Award went to Mark Tyler for “York County Screw Tip Powder Horns,” Second Place Educational to Robert Eckert for “Target Rifles Through the Ages,” and First Place Educational to Matthew Switlik for “75 MM French WWI Cannon.”
The Best Single Weapon Award was presented to David Prawdzik for “Confederate Cofer Revolver and Patent Document.”
Also featured were exhibits from the USMC Historical Company, Harpers Ferry National Park, the NRA/National Firearms Museum, USS Constellation, 4th North Carolina Regiment USA, Springfield Arsenal and The Cody Museum.
In the past, the Maryland Arms Collectors Association Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented to Norm Flayderman, George Neumann, and George Moller. They shared a passion for the study of arms and accoutrements and a desire to share their research with the collecting community. This year the Maryland Arms Collectors Association Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Peter Schmidt. His meticulous research and clear writing style have produced books that are now standard references for collectors and arms historians. Peter has been very helpful to scholars and collectors in the field. His books, Hall’s Military Breech Loaders, US Military Flintlock Muskets, and many articles in arms collecting are well known to all of us. Congratulations Peter!
We all look forward to next year’s show which will be held the weekend of March 17 & 18, 2018 at the Timonium Fairgrounds. See you there at the best antique arms show in the country. Save the date!
