“We wanted to present a high quality firearms show that featured fine guns and upper end historical materials,” stated co-manager Martin Faseck as the premier East Coast Fine Arms Show prepared to open to the public on Friday evening, January 6. Touting “investment quality arms from all periods,” the show did not disappoint.

“The East Coast doesn’t really have a high-end show like the one that takes place in Las Vegas,” stated co-manager Newman Chittenden, “and this one was inspired by that theme. We wanted a quality event for serious collectors and we wanted to blend the old and the new. There are a lot of small manufacturers today that are making investment-quality shotguns and knives and it is interesting to present them side-by-side with their antique counterparts in this type of venue,” he said.

The show proved a refreshing respite from the regular conceptions associated with the gun shows that routinely take place in the area. Missing from the venue were the paramilitary accessories, camouflage clothing, the NRA mindset and general zany atmosphere associated with many gun shows.

Quality offerings included a prime selection of militia items ranging from the Sixteenth through the Nineteenth Century including armor and military dress items, Native American artifacts, Revolutionary and Civil War swords, guns and gear, Nineteenth and Twentieth Century hunting shotguns, and their Twentieth Century reproduction counterparts.

A rare documented spontoon tomahawk that once belonged to Lone Wolf, a Kiowa chief, was displayed by Bloomingburg, N.Y., dealer David Kleiner. The piece was accompanied with an image of the chief with the piece. Also offered was a powder horn decorated with the name Noah Peck and dated 1766.

“The Stamford show is unique in its presentation of fine armsand accessories of all ages in a small, but very upscale settingthat is equally welcoming to dealers and viewers,” stated exhibitorCharles Thayer of Thayer Americana. The dealer offered “exclusivelyantique, mostly colonial, and all Civil War or before” materials.

“We were all impressed by things we simply do not see at most arms shows – a polite and respectful public,” stated Thayer, who attributed the difference to the “demographics of the region, the attractive up-scale setting [Sheraton Hotel], and the quality of the exhibits. It was simply the best show I’ve done in years, even though it was not a record-breaker in sales,” he said.

Dealers around the floor were reporting sales, although the general feeling was that there were not a lot of big-ticket items moving out. That was to be expected, according to one dealer at the show, who, along with others, expects to see the show become a popular destination and a serious event once the show gets a couple years under its belt.

The show was brimming with items that would make the mouths of collectors water.

Charles Thayer, Manchester Center, Vt., offered a good selection of early military items including this painted tin light infantry helmet from the 14th Regiment in Litchfield, Conn.

The fronts’ booth at the show, Scott Ferriss’s The Badge ofCourage, Southbury, Conn., featured a grand selection of Civil Warperiod items including swords, a drum with grandly painted eagledecoration and a rare portrait. The portrait of Lieutenant ColonelJohn Henry Jackson had been executed by Portsmouth, N.H., artistThomas Moses. “It is quite unusual,” stated Ferriss of theportrait, “to see one that size and also retaining the originalperiod oval frame.” One of many Civil War period swords offered inthe booth included a silver grip Staff and Field Officer’s swordpresented to Second Lieutenant David M. Perkins of the Second NewHampshire Volunteers in 1864.

Scarsdale, N.Y., dealer Michael Morris offered a good selection of early flintlocks pistols along with several interesting pieces of armor including a Japanese Edo period set of armor, Sixteenth Century Cromwellian helmet and chest plate and also a Flemish helmet. Numerous swords were also offered by the dealer including a rare First Consolar period French general’s saber from 1798, an early Twentieth Century Japanese Tachi, and a Sonn Guard sword used by Napoleon III’s personal body guards.

Native American items and fine handguns were offered by New York City dealer Martin Lane. The dealer presented a beaded saddlebag, possibly Crow, from the late 1890s, a beaded Plains hide bag, and a Sioux knife with a bone handle and beaded sheath. The dealer also offered a selection of American firearms including rare Civil War period Colts highlighted by an early government model cap and ball .44 caliber Colt dragoon made for the Massachusetts militia in 1848.

Other Native American items seen on the floor included a spontoon tomahawk that had once belonged to Kiowa Chief Lone Wolf, 1871, that was being offered by Dave Kleiner, Bloomingburg, N.Y. The dealer also offered a nice powder horn inscribed “Noah Peck’s Horn,” dated in Amity, December 27, 1766.

New York City dealer Martin Lane displayed a beaded Crow saddle bag, circa 1890.

Other horns of interest seen on the floor came from the boothof the Thayer Collection including one by the “Pointed Tree Carver”that originally had been inscribed with the British Coat of Arms,but was later altered to be more “p.c.” According to the dealer, atsome point either during or after the American Revolution, the lionin the coat of arms had been “well, lets say defaced in a way thatnot even Viagra will work.” Another horn seen in the booth wasinscribed “Phineas Wilcox” and it depicted a scene with ships inStonington harbor.

Choice sporting shotguns were seen in many of the booths. Holland and Holland offered a superb selection of new shotguns, and Connecticut Shotguns was on hand with their reproductions of the highly popular Winchester model 21 and also its newest offering, the RBL 28 gauge side-by-side. However, it was the vintage examples that were catching the eyes of enthusiasts. Millbrook, N.Y., dealer Charles Schneible offered a stellar selection that included not only cased Purdeys but also a sweet cased vintage Holland and Holland SLE Royal 20 gauge side-by-side with 28-inch barrels, choked IC and Mod, that was priced at $48,500.

Also from Millbrook was Safari Outfitters with a selection of numerous English best guns including two cased Purdeys, one of which was a rare two-barrel set.

“Dealers with whom I talked all see the blend of top-quality modern and antique merchandise, and the potential for crossover customers, as a key to successful arms shows,” stated Charles Thayer.

After a successful premier showing, look for the return of the East Coast Fine Arms Show in 2007.