SE NAPCA Convention...
 

Just returned from a most enjoyable and educational trip to the SE NAPCA convention in Chattanooga, TN this past weekend.

NAPCA members and fellow Luger Forum "nuts" Tom Armstrong, Derek Seltzer, and Leo Lavalle presented a world class Navy luger collection and Tom was the speaker at the dinner event; giving all after dinner quite an informed history lesson of the German Navy and their use of Navy lugers in the Imperial, Weimar, and 3rd. Reich eras.

Besides the Navy event (which was 1st. class), the highlights of the convention for me were :

1. Meeting other Luger Forum members such as Tom, Derek, and Leo for the first time; in addition to meeting Tom Beasley and Frank Houser..also LF members. Tom and I must have held and inspected every luger in the place. And the Navy Cabal sort of adopted me and let me tend their tables when they went elsewhere (which gave me quite a bit of time with each of the many Navy lugers on their tables... :D ),

2. The warm welcome to this Californian by all SE NAPCA members; especially Freddy Greer. Tom Knox, and Jim Cate.

3. Finding the SE NAPCA folks to be the most knowledgable, helpful, and trusting gun nuts around. I say trusting as you can see in the photos...all members with displays routinely left their tables unattended during the 2-day event and there was never a worry about an item "walking away"...

4. A chance for members and gun owners alike to inspect guns on the tables, even do some detailed take-downs, and even having some heated discussion about whether a gun "was right" or not...

5. Being able to see a world-class Japanese pistol collection and an equally impressive Browning HP collection.

6. Having a chance to meet NAPCA member, Bob Beers from Alabama who brought his 1910 chamber-dated Erfurt pistol. Bob was very kind and willing to let folks take detailed looks of this very unique Luger # 49.

7. Having a chance to see a 1943 SIG prototype pistol (serial # 26) made by Bern in their attempts to work out the design which finally lead to the M1949 Sig pistol that replaced the Swiss luger as Ordnance sidearm.

8. Picking up a very nice condition CZ-24 and holster...!

Here are a few photos of the convention :

1st. photo is of SE NAPCA chairmen Jim Cate on the left and Freddy Greer on the right. Notice the firearm within reach...thoses guys held down the entry door most of the time :

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More photos in the next posting...

The following 5 photos show some the combined collections of Tom, Derek, and Leo in the German Navy realm of collecting.

You cannot imagine how many German Navy Lugers and other fine accessories could fit on 32 linear feet of display tables.

Once you see some many honest and authentic Navy lugers spanning 3 Luger eras, the boosted ones pretty easily stand out like a sore thumb...

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_5.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_5.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_6.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_6.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

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<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_8.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_8.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_9.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_9.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

WOW Pete! Thanks for the armchair gun show! Really appreciate the photo's...Sure would have liked to go there. Meet all the folks and see hundreds of thousands worth of guns and accoutrements all in one place. I'm jealous! I'll get there someday. Jerry Burney

Pete,

Ditto to what Jerry said! I appreciate you taking the time to share some great insights and photos of the NAPCA convention. Like Jerry said I will make it there someday. Thanks Lloyd in Vegas

Hi Jerry...trust me you were there, examples of you craftmanship were shown and your email address was handed out many times.

Leo

Leo, That's the rumor going round! Would like to show up in person and see all that great stuff! I guess you could say my reputation precedes me....Jerry Burney

Pete....I need your email address

Leo

Hey Leo !

Here you go : "pebbink@pacbell.net"...

Speaking of need...I REALLY need to buy your beautiful BUG proofed 1906 Comm. Navy...!!! :D Since it has nothing to do with Imperial Germany, I think it a mis-fit in your otherwise wonderful collection...(kidding but not...).

Nice to meet you and the other Cabal members at the show...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Pete,

If Leo sells you that gun, then you *obviously* need the commercial Navy stock that goes with it. Hmmmmm...I think I have a spare one...

Tom A.

Just outstanding Pete!

And Tom, I'm speechless!

Oh, and can you say, "set as background" :) :D :)

Ed

Pete........it was a pleasure meeting you in person.you are a credit to the Luger collecting fraterenity..I will email you.

Leo

Ditto to all of the above! Like a kid in a candy store--WOW! I had hot flashes for the first two hours! I can't thank all of the collectors and NAPCA members enough for this once in a lifetime experience! The stuff dreams are made of--. It was a pleasure to meet everyone--just a great bunch of folks. Thanks to all!! Frank

Holy Cow!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> So that where all the navy holsters in existence went to. No wonder I can't find one. :confused: I sure do wish that people with even more pictures show them. I wish even more that I could have been there.
Big Norm <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

A real mind-blowing series of pictures, Pete. You must have seen many dry mouths from all the salivating! Did you get any pictures of that 1910 dated Erfurt?

One of the Cabal members took some detailed shots of our exhibit; I will send to one of the smart picture posting guys so they can be seen by all.

Tom A

I would be glad to post them for you Tom! Thor340@aol.com

Let's try this again.
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<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/napca_d3_b.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/napca_d3_b.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
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ADMIN: Thumbed to make a bit smaller, ebt

I obviously need help with the picture size.
How do I make them smaller?
Tom

Tom, I took care of it, you are doing great! You can change the img for thumb, but once thumbed, they get all screwed up if you go back and edit the picture.

Wonderful pictures, I wish I could have been there.

Ed