GunFreedomRadio EP223 The Illustrated History of Firearms with Jim Supica
Our guest today is Jim Supica. Jim recently retired as Director of the NRA Museums Division, where he co-authored the just-released Illustrated History of Firearms, 2nd Edition, with NRA Museum Senior Curators Phil Schreier and Doug Wicklund. The 1st Edition of this book was the best-selling firearms book of all time. Topics: #1) Firearms curiosa – The new book has some new sections on oddities – trap guns, knife/sword guns, unusual configurations, etc. Terrible ideas, like the cemetery gun is an especially interesting, if macabre, example. #2) Evolution of repeating arms – The defining features of those guns have been in a constant state of development and evolution for centuries. There are interesting, early, and little-known milestones. Like that 16th century full-auto 16-shooter. #3) Firearms values – in conjunction with Jim's work on Standard Catalog of Firearms. #4) What determines a gun’s value? - Condition – how do you evaluate a gun’s condition? - Trends in collectable firearms. - Solicit input for the book from your audience. - How to research gun values - Interesting guns that are under-collected. #5)Gun shows – How they work. Gun show etiquette.