July, 2013 e Journal of the Miniature Arms Collectors/ Makers Society e Worlds Biggest Miniature Arms Publication Kucer All guns shown at 90 actual size Honored by Montreal Museum of Fine Art Also in Urso Williams Sampson This Issue 2mm 1/10 th Engraved Kolibri 9mm Minis Miniature Arms Journal - July, 2013 - Page 1 5mm Folding Trigger Pistol 5mm folding trigger pistol with Ivory grips and pipe case. Full box of 5mm cartridges included. Call Southerland 1/3 scale Remington Remington Saw Handle Dyson 1/4 scale Palm Pistol Vest Pocket Derringer. Chicago Palm Pistol in case. $650 $1,695 Dyson 1/4 scale Galuus Squeeze Pistol Galuus Squeeze Pistol $1,695 Agnoletto Knife Pistol Has Ball & Caps Knife Pistol Set Cased with accessories Baez 1/5 scale Colt Gov’t 1911 $1,495 14k solid white gold 1/5 scale Colt Government Semi Automatic Pistol. $pecial $1,950 Miniature Arms Journal - July, 2013 - Page 2 English Flintlock Pistol 1 Tap Action Pistol 1 1/4 scale 18th century, .13 cal by Stan Blashak 1/2 Scale tap action, twist barrel pistol made by D.L. Bradbury. Cased with accessories Cased with accessories and balls. $2695 $1895 Tom Weston 1/2 Scale Hopkins & Allen Parrot Beak Dewalt Jailer’s Key pistol set in display case with cleaning rod, DeWalt full size & 1/2 scale Jailer’s Key Pistols with glass display case. $2200 brush & ammo tin. $1995 Antique Rim Fire Pistol 1 Antique rim fire pistol in original case $2195 Alex Baez 1/5 Scale Alex Baez 1/5 Scale Colt Buntline Revolver. 14k White Gold with ivory grips in display case. $1995 Belgium Pin Fire Bistol 1 Belgium pin Fire Pistol $2995 Underhammer Pistol 1 1/3 scale (3.5 inch), display cased with cleaning rod and balls. $850 Miniature Arms Journal - July, 2013 - Page 3 The Miniature Society Officers 2013 President Treasurer Membership Chairman Arms Journal Wayne Driskill Alice McGinnis Ron Olsen 1707 Spring Glen Lane 2109 Spring Street PO Box 155 Pearland, TX 77581-5590 Cross Plaines, WI 53528 Closter, NJ 07624-0155 Tel. (281)485-1830 Tel. (608) 798-2860 Cell (201) 321-7366 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The Presidents Message Hello All, I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. It’s past enjoying President ..........................Wayne Driskill for me as it’s already in the mid 90’s here. Summers are usually a little Vice President .......................Gary Lowe slower for me business wise, so I take the opportunity to do some fun Secretary .............................Zavie Kucer Treasurer ....................... Alice McGinnis stuff with my family. Hope you get a chance to do the same! Directors ................................Bill Adrian It’s been a fun and interesting Spring. The Tulsa show was great as ......................................... Ken Whichard always. It was well attended with lots of buying and selling going on. ............................................ David Kucer I had a great show, visited with many friends, and did a good bit of busi- ........................................Michael Barrett ......................................Ted Campbell Jr. ness myself both buying and selling. Corporate Agent ..............James Schmidt The Denver show however was a real bust. As you probably know, Editor/Art Director ..................Bob Urso Colorado has passed a bunch of new gun laws including universal back- Western News ...................... Gil Metcalf Membership ...........................Ron Olsen ground checks. There were big signs at the entrance stating that all Exhibit Directors ..................................... fi rearms transactions had to go through a FFL dealer, and a whole host .......................... Bob & Alice McGinnes of other restrictions. As a result, as many as half of the paying public Plan Librarian .............Carmen Gianforte turned around, got in their cars, and returned home. Customer traffi c Webmaster ..................Dr. Brad Maxfi eld was very sparse, with most of the business being between dealers. Den- The Miniature Arms Journal (formerly ver is usually a very good show for me, but I didn’t do enough to pay Shooting The Breeze) is published four for my tables, much less the gas, motels, meals, etc. Unless they repeal times a year for and by the members and friends of the Miniature Arms Collec- those laws, I, and many others I have talked to, will not attend that tors/Makers Society, Ltd. show in the future. This sure does not bode well for the Denver show, and maybe for other shows around the country where states are passing The current renewal dues are: asinine gun laws, Maryland, Connecticut, etc. Please write your Con- United States $35.00/year Canada & Mexico $40.00/year gressman and Senators and ask them to vote against any further restric- All other international $55.00/year tive national gun laws, then also contact your state representatives and do the same on the state level . Think of it like this: if they pass laws, New memberships will be an ad- that for all practical purposes put an end to fi rearms collecting, then ditional $10.00 for the fi rst year as those collectors may take up collecting miniatures, driving up prices follows: United States $45.00 and making it impossible for us to continue collecting! Canada & Mexico $50.00 I’ve been working a lot lately on my website, but still have over 100 All other international $65.00. items to add, with more arriving almost weekly. So New members will receive all I’ll be slaving over a hot keyboard throughout the available back issues in the current summer when I’m home. If there’s something volume. Dues (checks made out to the Miniature Arms Society) and you’re looking for, give me a ring, or drop me correspondence concerning mem- an email, & I’ll see if I can help you fi nd it. bership should be sent to Keep your powder dry! Alice McGinnis Regards, 2109 Spring Street Cross Plaines, WI 53528 Wayne Driskill Tel. (608) 798-2860 (281)485-1830 Offi ce/Home (281)468-7103 Cell www.waynedriskillminiatures.com Miniature Arms Journal - July, 2013 - Page 4 In this issue From Letters & email ....................................................... 6 the New Rincon Book Editor ................................................................................. 8 New Members .........................................................9 It’s always a pleasure to fea- Show News: ture the guns of David Kucer. His 90th birthday this year, and Names Show the honor of a major exhibition NRA2013 presented by his native Montre- Baltimore al Museum of Fine Arts called by Bob McGinnis and Ted Campbell ....................10 for something special. David is the only one fea- NRA Silver tured on our cover. It has been Medal Winners a while since this has happened. by Ted Campbell Jr. ............................................. 16 We are also dedicating six pag- es to show as much of his work Death of a Craftsman as I could fi nd. Eight pages if Gordon Heasman you count the piece on Roger by Robin Armstrong ..............................................16 Sampson, which features two of David’s guns which he has A Curious Little Pistol engraved. by Jimmy Thomas ................................................17 I’d like to thank Zavie Kucer for help on the article, and also Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Bob and Alice McGinnis and Honors David Kucer Ted and Betty Campbell, who by Zavie Kucer .....................................................18 sent in the news and photos for the Names, Baltimore, and Firearms Engravers Guild Journal NRA shows. Features Roger Sampson .......................................24 Also appreciation goes out An Engraved Little 45 to Charlie Williams, Antonio Rincon, Jim Webster, Jimmy by Jim Webster ......................................................26 Thomas, Robin Armstrong, and A Crottet others who contributed to this Walther G-43 Rifl e ................................................27 issue. Cartridge Corner Have a great summer, and Charlie Williams - 1mm centerfi re .......................29 keep those articles coming in. The Pinfi re Page: Bob Urso, Editor 2mm pinfi re Kolibri [email protected] by Bob Urso ......................................................... 30 tel. 360-733-4406 Websites & Wired - Members email addresses .....32 Shop or Swap ........................................................ 34 Miniature Arms Journal - July, 2013 - Page 5 I immediately knew what their to make miniature weapons after Letters problem was and sympathized. I seeing my videos on Youtube. watched for half a moment as they I accepted their orders with en- continued to look for the offending thusiasm and presumed my ability item, but without success. Bob, I to meet the deadlines for making sprang into action! I walked over them. However, I was sick several and exercised my fi nely tuned times this winter, which has greatly sense of fi nding small things that affected my production schedule. fall to the ground. After a minute As I have only my free time to or two I found the screw ( it was work on miniatures, a single grain huge, I don’t know how they could of sand (the vagaries of life) dis- have missed it!) and picked it up. rupts work progress. While handing it back I said” Here Also, I made this decision. after and Connections you go, this this what I do for a liv- completion of the current orders, I ing”, I am sure fellow miniaturists would make that unique weapons, Dear Bob’ can sympathise. top notch and exclusive. These weapons once completed I learnt the other day that Gor- Zavie Kucer will be exhibited and offered for don Heasman had sadly died. I sale. I do not want to replicate end- don’t think he was that widely Gilles Lavander lessly the same models. Everyone known as he never made it to the will win, collectors will not wait USA. I have attached a brief obit- Hello Bob, several months before receiving uary if you think it is appropriate. their orders. I am afraid I am behind with my I’m Gilles Lavandera, you pub- For my part, I could give free own writing schedule. I hope to lished an article written by Andrew rein to my imagination to produce catch up eventually.