Garufa

The Norris range is only 20 miles north of town. Open all week. Rifle range out to 250 yards.

There a story in Today's excuse for a paper. This sounds like something I might need to see. Gun collectors mark 50th anniversary Knoxville News Sentinel Gun collectors mark 50th anniversary Show this weekend; group displays collectibles, classics By Jim Balloch Thursday, November 12, 2009 From humble beginnings a half-century ago, the Smoky Mountain Gun Collectors Association's semiannual show grew into one of the South's premiere events of its kind and a winner of national awards. The nonprofit club used the proceeds to support Boy Scout marksmanship programs and gun safety education and contribute to a variety of community charities. But by the mid-1990s, competition from a glut of for-profit gun shows was growing and eventually forced the club's show out of business for a few years. In 2006, a smaller version was re-established. The club's 50th anniversary show will be this weekend in Lenoir City, and it will be much more like the shows of yore, said club president Mike Waggoner. There will be no more than 100 tables, he said. "It's like we have come full circle and are getting back to our roots," he said. "This is a show exclusively about guns and gun-related items, not a flea market. We emphasize collectible and classic type guns." The first few shows were held in a building in Oak Ridge that housed a dance hall, recalls Marie Wiest of Oak Ridge. Her late husband, M.C. "Red" Wiest, was a founding member of the club and a driving force in establishing the show. In those days, firearm hobbyists were commonly called "gun cranks," not "gun nuts." Gun shows were rare, occurring only once or twice a year in a few communities. Marie Wiest recalls admission to the very first show was free. The next year it was 25 cents. The show soon moved to Kerbela Temple in Knoxville, where it remained through 1982. Aisles were usually packed. In 1983, it moved to the Convention Center at World's Fair Park and often featured several hundred tables of displays. Buying, selling and trading were always part of the attraction, but displays of themed collections remained the main focus of the show, recalls Ralph Simpson. "We prided ourselves on having as many displays of historical or collectible significance as we could," said Simpson, a longtime member and fixture at gun shows. "There were awards for best display. Displays like that make the difference between a true gun show and a gun sale. If there's a price tag on everything, it's not a show, it's just a sale. In my opinion, we have too many (shows like that), too close together." "It is virtually impossible for a small collectors association such as ours to compete with people who promote gun shows for a living," Waggoner said. So, for now, the club has no plans to expand. "We are quite comfortable with where we are," Waggoner said. The show is at National Guard Armory, at the intersection of Highways 321 and 70. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6; children under 12 are free if accompanied by an adult.

This thread is killing me! I need an old Chief's Special just like that for my mom. She wants one badly. My father had one at one point, along with all this other toys, that was either my Grandfather's or he gave to Grandaddy. That thing is somewhere in the family, I hope. Need to do some "research" over the holidays and get some 'cuz to fess up.

Geek, we need a report as soon as you get out of the Principal's office (or whatever the day-care has). I often wear my Olive TGO hat. It is of the highest quality. However, I have yet to have some stranger come up and comment, admire, or say "Hey, I'm in TGO too!"

There wasn't more.

You don't want to mess with the Mossad.

Six Krystals please

Pancake Panty is must eats in Gatlinburg. Ye Old Steak is fine if you want to get in you car and drive half-way to Knoxville.

Don't mess with Triple-X.

I'm feeling the need (as usual) but Saturday is game day. Go Vols. Might try to make it out there Sunday.

Yes I'd hate to see her toes!

Dogs always blamed.

She's got HUGE thumbs.

That thing is grotesque.

There's your answer. Safety systems are disengaged when your booger-hook is on the trigger!

I'm using one of these: Bushnell - .22 Rimfire 3-9 x 32mm, Matte [762239] with Weaver See-Thru mounts. Scope around $50, mounts about $15. That's if you buy locally.

Tomorrow is Monday.

Yes. But ammo prices have not really gone down any. Then again I wasn't looking for ammo. It was another show. Deals were there to be found...depending on what you're looking for and who's walking around with it. The usual vendors are there.

I picked up a CMMG conversion kit from another TGO'er recently and have only put about 75 rounds through it but so far so good. How does the conversation kit work? Is it something you buy and talk about what it should do?

I'll second that. Caveman is the finest purveyor of spirits in the area. I'm taking all my business there from now on and recommending the same to my friends.

That is the gawd-awfulest thing I have ever seen! You're gonna have to post some pictures of that.

Your link is a failure. I know nothing about Sigma's but when all else fails read the directions.... http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_Sigma_Pistol_Manual.pdf Maybe you missed something?

Actually it's International. Over 30 countries have access to the system... eTrace: Internet-based Firearms Tracing and Analysis

The all-powerful .40 you say?