Keeping Our Commitment

In the youth of today can be found the future of everything we hold dear, and we are pleased to announce a pledge of $15,000 to the NRA National Junior Pistol Camp held at Camp Perry, Ohio each summer.

We hope the shooters have a fantastic experience and salute the coaches and volunteers, (many of whom are OGCA members) who make it happen.

We are also proud to announce our support of another great program for youth, the NRA's unique national Y.E.S. (Youth Education Summit) Program. The Y.E.S. Summit provides a 7-day hands-on government education experience in D.C. Katelynne Baier is the ambitious high school student selected from Ohio for 2007. Look for more coverage in an upcoming edition!

OGCA Director Election Results - By Frank S. Hodges, Jr.

I am pleased to announce the results of the election for director of OGCA. A total of 511 ballots were cast.

Frank Becker, Jr.. 324
Thomas E. Bowersox 251
Jon E. Chorpenning 233
Richard Rohal 161
Sean A. McCarter 129
John DeBin 117

Frank Becker, Jr., Jon E. Chorpenning and Thomas E. Bowersox were elected to the Board of Directors for the 2009-2010-2011 term. In addition, the Board of Directors unanimously elected Cecil Parker to the office of First Vice President, Jim Tekavec to the office of Second Vice President, Tom Kyser to Treasurer and Joe Pitttenger to the office of Secretary.

Our Officers and Board members are there to help you with any concerns, so please see the tables with the orange flags. We certainly have a great team with which to move forward.

2009 Display Show to be Held May 30-31, 2008

Mark your calendar for NEXT Year's Display Show and Annual Banquet:
May 30-31, 2008 (Weekend AFTER Memorial Day) Roberts Centre, Wilmington, Ohio

The Annual 2009 Display Show will be held May 30-31, 2009. By popular request, this very special weekend is free of holiday conflicts including Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekend. When the hobby of gun collecting is coupled with the art of erecting an informational exhibit, the result is a weekend we wait all year to enjoy. As always, our Annual Banquet will be held in conjunction with this event on Saturday evening May 30 at The world-class National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. We hope you can join us.

2009 DISPLAY SHOW THEME: FIREARMS OF THE WORLD

First Place Antique* $2,000
First Place Military* $2,000
First Place Modern* $2,000
Second Overall $1,500
Third Overall $1,000
Robert Rubendunst Best Educational Award* $1,000
Member’s Choice Award $850
Best 1st Time Displayer $850
Judges Choice: Antique–Military–Modern $500 Each

*Award Includes a numbered Minuteman Freedom Bronze

If you have been a first place display winner within the last 5 years, you must
change your display at least 30% or more.

Display Show Chairman - Director Robert Ray Preston row H (orange flag)


Upcoming Featured Displays

January 10-11, 2009 S.A.S.S. Big Irons/Middletown Sportsmen's (wear your cowboy duds)
March 8-9, 2009 This date is available. Members: contact us if you are interested in doing a "Featured Display".

Wooster Site Short on Parking; Search Continues - By Director Charles Metcalf

On, Saturday, July 5th, the Site Selection Committee met at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, Ohio between Wooster and Massillon. The 62,500 sq. ft. building was almost complete and construction crews were beginning to level the site for parking.

We learned that 20% of the building would be reserved for a permanent furniture exhibit, a problem which many on the committee hoped we could overcome. Past President Virgil Holden was kind enough to produce C.A.D. floor plans to confirm that we could still accommodate 500+ tables assuming the fire code would permit reasonable aisle widths.

At that time, the number of parking spots was undetermined. We learned later that the site cannot accommodate enough parking for the needs of our members. The owners may acquire more parking down the road but nothing is on the drawing board there for the near future. For many on the committee who worked so hard this was devastating news. However, with several hundred exhibitors and several thousand members expected to attend, parking is a critical site selection issue. We need at least 2,400 spots and will run out at peak times even at that number.

We want to thank owner Sandy Miller for working so hard to try to accommodate our needs including taking the time to come to our July meeting. We will be keeping in touch with her, but meanwhile the search continues.

We have found that while there is great interest in hosting OGCA and a number of locations have been proposed, a good fit has yet to be found. All are reminded that we are looking for a “turn-key” operation, for instance, tables and chairs furnished, adequate parking available, sufficient lodging facilities and a staff experienced in operating a conference facility. It is only too obvious to comment that any shortfall in the afore mentioned will reflect poorly upon the Association. Please keep your ideas coming.

Model 54 Rifles
By Wayne R. Miller, Featured Displayer July 2008

Winchester introduced the Model 54 Bolt Action rifle in 1925 and it became their first successful bolt action centerfire rifle.

Design was obviously derived from the world famous Mauser rifles. Manufacturing of this fine rifle spanned only a ten year period. Our country suffered a depression during several of those years restricting the sales of firearms for sporting use.

Approximately 51,000 rifles were assembled during this time period in ten calibers. Quite interesting is that there were three in metric configurations not readily accepted by the American sportsman at that early period. Following are just a few of the examples included in the display.

9 X 57 Mauser - The 9 X 57 MM Mauser caliber was introduced to the Winchester Model 54 in 1929. This caliber, strange to American sportsmen, sold in very limited quantities and is possibly the rarest of the Model 54’s. The rather odd bullet diameter of .356 creates problems for handloaders. Extremely rare, especially in this condition.

.25-35 Winchester - This early style standard grade rifle is chambered in the super rare .25-35 Winchester caliber, a special order only. Less than six are known to exist. This caliber is simply the .30-30 Winchester necked to .25 caliber. It originated in the model 94 Winchester. This rifle has a unique hunting history. The original owner took a blacktail deer in California. The second owner a mule deer in Oregon, and I added a whitetail in Pennsylvania.

.30-06 Sniper’s Match - One of the very rarest of the Model 54 variations. Chambered only in .30-06 with a 26” heavy barrel. Since Model 54’s were manufactured between WWI and WWII, little interest was shown by the military, so obviously only a handful were produced. Unlike the first Model 54 target rifles, the redesigned stock was essentially the same as the later Model 70 target rifles.

.38-55 Winchester - Although a fairly popular caliber in the Model 94 Winchester at one time, a bolt action rifle is almost unheard of. No records are available as to how many Model 54’s were special ordered in this caliber but most collectors agree that production numbers were probably less than 10. An extremely rare rifle that I feel very fortunate and privileged to own.

.250-3000 Savage Carbine - This variation of the Model 54 was produced in limited numbers in .30-06, .270, and .30-30 calibers. Any other caliber in this 20” carbine version is quite rare. Only this one style was offered with plain uncheckered stock and no sling swivels. This carbine is the extremely rare .250-3000 caliber. Only very recently has the word “carbine” been attached to bolt action rifles even though Winchester had the foresight to offer it in the 1920’s.

.30-06 Bull Gun - Bull guns were never offered for sale by Winchester in the Model 54. This rifle is a prototype indicating that Winchester was seriously thinking about presenting it. But the decision was obviously made to wait until the Model 70 made its appearance in 1937 to make the bull gun a catalog item. Perhaps one of the rarest Model 54 Winchesters in existence.

.22 Hornet Target Rifle - Winchester’s announcement of the .22 Hornet chambering in the Model 54 was a breaking out event in the field of varmit hunting. The mild muzzle report and virtually no recoil was welcomed by hunters and the .22 Hornet quickly gained a following among the shooting fraternity. Only a very few were produced in this target variation with a 24” heavy barrel.

.30-30 Winchester - The .30-30 Winchester caliber, of course, needs no introduction. Many find it strange, nevertheless, that Winchester chose to add it to the Model 54 in 1928. The Model 54 Winchester in .30-30 sold reasonably well and was exceeded in sales by only three other calibers. With this rifle, I bagged a rare female antlered whitetail deer in 1985.

7 X 57 MM Mauser -One of three metric calibers introduced by Winchester in the Model 54 in 1929. This caliber is world famous and the foresight by Winchester proved correct as it was accepted by American riflemen. This rifle is an excellent example of the later style stock design on the Model 54 Winchester.

Wayne R. Miller has been a member for 36 years and is a wealth of knowledge on Winchester firearms. He was one of our Featured Displayer in July, and we hope to see him back soon with another display from his collection. If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact the business office.

Dues Statement to Mail with November Mailing - Note Changes Effecting Active Duty Military and Veterans

Your ANNUAL DUES STATEMENT will be enclosed in the same envelope as this November 8-9 newsletter which will mail to members in mid October. Please read it to see if your dues are due. We have been able to avoid a dues increase for the 7th year in a row despite rising costs.

Most importantly, as a small token of respect and appreciation for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, we will extend the current memberships of all uniformed active duty military personnel for one year at no cost. To be eligible, return the annual dues statement (or send correspondence) with a notation of current rank, branch of service and duty station (if not classified.)

For our honored veterans, upon written request to the Board of Directors, OGCA will also forgive any re-enrollment penalty for any membership which lapsed during a member's overseas deployment.

Dues payment will be gladly accepted at meetings or by mail. However, we encourage you to pay by mail to avoid the possibility of a line at the meeting. A return envelope will be enclosed for your convenience.
If you mail your payment without the statement, please include your member number on the check.

One Year $30.00
One Year - Active Duty Military FREE
Three Years $85.00
Five Years $140.00
Life $600.00
Senior Life (65+ years) $300.00
 

Your previous years badge can be used for admission into the January 10-11 meeting. Please pay by December 31, 2008. Allow 3-5 weeks for processing. We need and appreciate your support. With your help we will remain the oldest and largest private gun collecting group in the world.