How About Some SOS Reports.
 

I'm surprised that no one has seen fit to post any SOS reports.

Even the threads/posts on Still's forum are pretty sparse. :(

Maybe I let them all drink too much.

Here goes George.
The great thing about the SOS is that one gets to meet in person all those "virtual friends" one makes on the forums. In my case I got to apologize to all the people I insulted in the previous year. George always arranges for a comfortable room in the hotel where we can meet up at the end of the day for a few drinks and a show and tell. This year we were privileged to see not one, but two absolutely pristine 1904 Navy Lugers. To understand how rare and desirable these guns are, the most recent one to go up for auction fetched over $135,000.00!
Louisville is located in the heart of the Bourbon belt and I drank my share, maybe more than my share. Fortunately my room was just down the hall so I made it back safely.
Norm

I was also at the show and as usual had one heck of a good time. I really enjoyed seeing the two 04 Navy Lugers, realizing it was an opportunity of a lifetime to see such rare items together and in such beautiful condition. George's hospitality was the usual first rate accommodation and to be together with Forum friends was especially nice. George sold me some stuff he has set aside for me and so I spent more than I should have, but it was well worth it as I filled some holes in my small collection. A fantastic week, for sure, in all respects.

Firstly I just want to thank George, Norme, Ron, and everyone else there who invited me down to the show and hosted me at their table. I really can’t thank you all enough. I had a fantastic time at the show, it was my first time making it there and I was blown away. I was a little sad that I could only be there on Friday instead of the whole weekend. That I got to see the 2 rare navies was icing on the cake and I’m glad to have witnessed it. Now if only my purchase would hurry up and arrive at my FFL so I can go pick it up, probably won’t for another 2 weeks though.

I hope we all take Retired Squid's idea from the other board and wear name tags with our
aliases and aka's and "real" names.

I'm sure I was at the table when Herr Kaiser was there, but my name badge said "Member" and "George Anderson" . :) Covered up was George's wifes name; thanks George for the use of the badge, and the hospitality suite!

Great to see those who I remembered and a few new guys too.

For those who don't read all the threads, here is a link to a luger I "found" at SOS:
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...579#post323579

Originally I had not planned to go this year. Thursday was my 50th wedding anniversary and this weekend I'm moving to Berlin for five months. But when the possibility of seeing two high condition and ultra rare P.04s came up I just had to participate. My wife cheerfully encouraged me to go.

As usual, the show was great. But in truth, my main reason for attending is the evening get togethers in George's hospitality suite. It's wonderful to have the chance to hang with so many fellow collectors that I mostly just know by their usernames.

A hearty thanks to George for yet another good time for all who came.

A few photos of the liars' den after the show hours.

Geo, I would love to have gone - but too many things happening here, and its a long drive.

The get together and sharing is a lot of fun and nice to have the specific time from friends and new friends.

The encouraging part is that some of George's visitors were young enough to still have their hair and that's a positive sign for the continued existence of our hobby. A friend of mine here in Arizona had 3 tables of Militaria at the show and he felt that attendance was down and that many of the old guard hadn't made it this year.
Lyn

Gentlemen,
A someone who only knows the regulars on the board "virtually" it would be helpful to identify those in the pictures above unless, of course, there is senstivity to doing so. As I currently reside in California, my ability to travel east for SOS is a challenge.

Regards,
Foxdoublegunner

Ok, maybe its early or just my inexperience with this site, but I just can't decipher this. What does SOS stand for in the context of this post?

SOS stands for Show of Shows, the yearly outstanding display/sale of military items and guns in Louisville, Kentucky. An annual event in February we all aspire to attend and anxiously await its arrival each year.

I had a fantastic time, but I always do. George’s hospitality really sets the tone, and the great friends I’ve made here just push the weekend over the top for me. It was great to see George, John and Mike, Mike, Don, Tim, Jerry, Neil and the rest of “the usual suspects.” I enjoyed meeting Ron and so many others, I got to see and handle some rare guns, came away with a nice clean 1916 DWM, an Erfurt LP.08 (searching fir that takedown lever now!), a 1910 Bergmann (thanks Tim), and a couple of bayonets. All in all, an excellent time and one I can’t wait to repeat next year.

I don't think the photographer has signed "model" releases from those handsome guys in the pictures. :p

I'm the guy in profile on the right in the last picture; I'll let any others who are not CIA, wanted, or shy post their own ID. :)

thank you for decoding SOS for me. Its odd that I have never heard of this event. Of course I have been living in Washington state for the last 30 years and mainly go to the regional shows. It sounds like a good event. Maybe one year I will attend.

I am in the first picture on the far left in the flannel jacket

I'm in the back left of the first and last photos wearing an Imperial Marine hat.

The pistol laying on the table in the second photo is one of two extremely rare 1904 Navies on the table.
I skipped out on my 50th wedding anniversary to be able to see them together.