SE NAPCA Convention...

[Pete Ebbink]

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... ),

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 :

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_1.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_1.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_2.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_2.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_3.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_3.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_4.jpg.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/senapca_4.jpg.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

More photos in the next posting...