The artists of war
Jan 22, 2010 | 459 views | 0 
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SPARKS — Happiness is a warm gun show.
After a cold night of snowfall, the weather cleared up Friday for the start of the 26th annual Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers Exhibition at John Ascuaga's Nugget. The show was held at the Nugget many years ago, according to exhibition coordinator Jan Billeb, and has returned after many years at other Reno facilities.
"We’re thrilled to once again host this group," Nugget spokesman Mike Traum said. "It fits nicely with the Safari Club being in town the same weekend. Plus it adds an option for local folks to come see some of the most skilled firearms tradesman in the business. We plan to do everything we can to make sure they have a wonderful experience here in Sparks and look forward to the opportunity to earn their business for many more years to come."
"We love Reno," Billeb said.
Despite the announcement that the Safari Club International (SCI) would hold its 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Billeb said the firearms show would continue a run of more than a decade in northern Nevada, even though coinciding with SCI’s big game hunters convention helps her show draw attendees.
The firearms show will see 1,000 or so attendees from all over the world during the three-day event, which runs today and Sunday. Visitors will be able to meet and talk to more than 80 artisans who make all aspects of custom-made firearms — stockmakers, metalworkers, engravers and casemakers — as well as members of the Knifemaker's Guild who are displaying and selling their work.
One of the first vendors on display is Rachel Wells, of Prescott, Ariz., and one of the few women to make real headway in the men's world of gunsmithing. Wells is an engraver who got started in the art when she married the late Fred Wells, a well-known gunsmith. When the two married, Fred was already an established gunmaker and she helped around the shop with simple tasks. Then, they acquired a GraverMeister engraving tool and she started making her own contributions to her husband's products. That was 30 years ago.
"It's been kind of tough. I've had to prove myself," Wells said, her son Fred Jr., by her side. "I think I realized it was OK when my peers here accepted me."
Stockmaker Chuck Grace, from Trinidad, Colo., a charter member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, said this show started as a small part of a show in Las Vegas and gradually grew to its current size. Out of high school, Grace attended Trinidad State Junior College and began taking basic shop courses. He gravitated toward gun making now makes them full time while teaching at the Trinidad college part time in the college's National Rifle Association Gunsmithing program.
Grace said a complete custom gun costs in the range of $8,000 and Billeb said some buyers order all the elements of their weapon and pick it up three years later. Coordinating the work of several people can take quite a while, she said.
Among the knife artisans, perhaps the most recognizable is Knifemaker's Guild president Gil Hibben. He is personally not recognizable, but his work is: He designed the knife used by Sylvester Stallone in the "Rambo" films. The two met at a show in Southern California many years ago and Hibben made the knife Stallone used in the 1982 original film and has made them for the subsequent movies, including "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," set for release in 2011.
On sale at this weekend's show is knife 24 of 100 in a series of Rambo pieces. It can be yours for the price of $1,750.SPARKS — Happiness is a warm gun show.
After a cold night of snowfall, the weather cleared up Friday for the start of the 26th annual Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers Exhibition at John Ascuaga's Nugget. The show was held at the Nugget many years ago, according to exhibition coordinator Jan Billeb, and has returned after many years at other Reno facilities.
"We’re thrilled to once again host this group," Nugget spokesman Mike Traum said. "It fits nicely with the Safari Club being in town the same weekend. Plus it adds an option for local folks to come see some of the most skilled firearms tradesman in the business. We plan to do everything we can to make sure they have a wonderful experience here in Sparks and look forward to the opportunity to earn their business for many more years to come."
"We love Reno," Billeb said.
Despite the announcement that the Safari Club International (SCI) would hold its 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Billeb said the firearms show would continue a run of more than a decade in northern Nevada, even though coinciding with SCI’s big game hunters convention helps her show draw attendees.
The firearms show will see 1,000 or so attendees from all over the world during the three-day event, which runs today and Sunday. Visitors will be able to meet and talk to more than 80 artisans who make all aspects of custom-made firearms — stockmakers, metalworkers, engravers and casemakers — as well as members of the Knifemaker's Guild who are displaying and selling their work.
One of the first vendors on display is Rachel Wells, of Prescott, Ariz., and one of the few women to make real headway in the men's world of gunsmithing. Wells is an engraver who got started in the art when she married the late Fred Wells, a well-known gunsmith. When the two married, Fred was already an established gunmaker and she helped around the shop with simple tasks. Then, they acquired a GraverMeister engraving tool and she started making her own contributions to her husband's products. That was 30 years ago.
"It's been kind of tough. I've had to prove myself," Wells said, her son Fred Jr., by her side. "I think I realized it was OK when my peers here accepted me."
Stockmaker Chuck Grace, from Trinidad, Colo., a charter member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, said this show started as a small part of a show in Las Vegas and gradually grew to its current size. Out of high school, Grace attended Trinidad State Junior College and began taking basic shop courses. He gravitated toward gun making now makes them full time while teaching at the Trinidad college part time in the college's National Rifle Association Gunsmithing program.
Grace said a complete custom gun costs in the range of $8,000 and Billeb said some buyers order all the elements of their weapon and pick it up three years later. Coordinating the work of several people can take quite a while, she said.
Among the knife artisans, perhaps the most recognizable is Knifemaker's Guild president Gil Hibben. He is personally not recognizable, but his work is: He designed the knife used by Sylvester Stallone in the "Rambo" films. The two met at a show in Southern California many years ago and Hibben made the knife Stallone used in the 1982 original film and has made them for the subsequent movies, including "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," set for release in 2011.
On sale at this weekend's show is knife 24 of 100 in a series of Rambo pieces. It can be yours for the price of $1,750.
Show hours are today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 per day. For more information, go to the Firearms Engravers Guild of America Web site at www.fega.com or the American Custom Gunmakers Guild Web site at www.acgg.org.
Show hours are today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 per day. For more information, go to the Firearms Engravers Guild of America Web site at www.fega.com or the American Custom Gunmakers Guild Web site at www.acgg.org.
After a cold night of snowfall, the weather cleared up Friday for the start of the 26th annual Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers Exhibition at John Ascuaga's Nugget. The show was held at the Nugget many years ago, according to exhibition coordinator Jan Billeb, and has returned after many years at other Reno facilities.
"We’re thrilled to once again host this group," Nugget spokesman Mike Traum said. "It fits nicely with the Safari Club being in town the same weekend. Plus it adds an option for local folks to come see some of the most skilled firearms tradesman in the business. We plan to do everything we can to make sure they have a wonderful experience here in Sparks and look forward to the opportunity to earn their business for many more years to come."
"We love Reno," Billeb said.
Despite the announcement that the Safari Club International (SCI) would hold its 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Billeb said the firearms show would continue a run of more than a decade in northern Nevada, even though coinciding with SCI’s big game hunters convention helps her show draw attendees.
The firearms show will see 1,000 or so attendees from all over the world during the three-day event, which runs today and Sunday. Visitors will be able to meet and talk to more than 80 artisans who make all aspects of custom-made firearms — stockmakers, metalworkers, engravers and casemakers — as well as members of the Knifemaker's Guild who are displaying and selling their work.
One of the first vendors on display is Rachel Wells, of Prescott, Ariz., and one of the few women to make real headway in the men's world of gunsmithing. Wells is an engraver who got started in the art when she married the late Fred Wells, a well-known gunsmith. When the two married, Fred was already an established gunmaker and she helped around the shop with simple tasks. Then, they acquired a GraverMeister engraving tool and she started making her own contributions to her husband's products. That was 30 years ago.
"It's been kind of tough. I've had to prove myself," Wells said, her son Fred Jr., by her side. "I think I realized it was OK when my peers here accepted me."
Stockmaker Chuck Grace, from Trinidad, Colo., a charter member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, said this show started as a small part of a show in Las Vegas and gradually grew to its current size. Out of high school, Grace attended Trinidad State Junior College and began taking basic shop courses. He gravitated toward gun making now makes them full time while teaching at the Trinidad college part time in the college's National Rifle Association Gunsmithing program.
Grace said a complete custom gun costs in the range of $8,000 and Billeb said some buyers order all the elements of their weapon and pick it up three years later. Coordinating the work of several people can take quite a while, she said.
Among the knife artisans, perhaps the most recognizable is Knifemaker's Guild president Gil Hibben. He is personally not recognizable, but his work is: He designed the knife used by Sylvester Stallone in the "Rambo" films. The two met at a show in Southern California many years ago and Hibben made the knife Stallone used in the 1982 original film and has made them for the subsequent movies, including "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," set for release in 2011.
On sale at this weekend's show is knife 24 of 100 in a series of Rambo pieces. It can be yours for the price of $1,750.SPARKS — Happiness is a warm gun show.
After a cold night of snowfall, the weather cleared up Friday for the start of the 26th annual Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers Exhibition at John Ascuaga's Nugget. The show was held at the Nugget many years ago, according to exhibition coordinator Jan Billeb, and has returned after many years at other Reno facilities.
"We’re thrilled to once again host this group," Nugget spokesman Mike Traum said. "It fits nicely with the Safari Club being in town the same weekend. Plus it adds an option for local folks to come see some of the most skilled firearms tradesman in the business. We plan to do everything we can to make sure they have a wonderful experience here in Sparks and look forward to the opportunity to earn their business for many more years to come."
"We love Reno," Billeb said.
Despite the announcement that the Safari Club International (SCI) would hold its 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Billeb said the firearms show would continue a run of more than a decade in northern Nevada, even though coinciding with SCI’s big game hunters convention helps her show draw attendees.
The firearms show will see 1,000 or so attendees from all over the world during the three-day event, which runs today and Sunday. Visitors will be able to meet and talk to more than 80 artisans who make all aspects of custom-made firearms — stockmakers, metalworkers, engravers and casemakers — as well as members of the Knifemaker's Guild who are displaying and selling their work.
One of the first vendors on display is Rachel Wells, of Prescott, Ariz., and one of the few women to make real headway in the men's world of gunsmithing. Wells is an engraver who got started in the art when she married the late Fred Wells, a well-known gunsmith. When the two married, Fred was already an established gunmaker and she helped around the shop with simple tasks. Then, they acquired a GraverMeister engraving tool and she started making her own contributions to her husband's products. That was 30 years ago.
"It's been kind of tough. I've had to prove myself," Wells said, her son Fred Jr., by her side. "I think I realized it was OK when my peers here accepted me."
Stockmaker Chuck Grace, from Trinidad, Colo., a charter member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, said this show started as a small part of a show in Las Vegas and gradually grew to its current size. Out of high school, Grace attended Trinidad State Junior College and began taking basic shop courses. He gravitated toward gun making now makes them full time while teaching at the Trinidad college part time in the college's National Rifle Association Gunsmithing program.
Grace said a complete custom gun costs in the range of $8,000 and Billeb said some buyers order all the elements of their weapon and pick it up three years later. Coordinating the work of several people can take quite a while, she said.
Among the knife artisans, perhaps the most recognizable is Knifemaker's Guild president Gil Hibben. He is personally not recognizable, but his work is: He designed the knife used by Sylvester Stallone in the "Rambo" films. The two met at a show in Southern California many years ago and Hibben made the knife Stallone used in the 1982 original film and has made them for the subsequent movies, including "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," set for release in 2011.
On sale at this weekend's show is knife 24 of 100 in a series of Rambo pieces. It can be yours for the price of $1,750.
Show hours are today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 per day. For more information, go to the Firearms Engravers Guild of America Web site at www.fega.com or the American Custom Gunmakers Guild Web site at www.acgg.org.
Show hours are today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 per day. For more information, go to the Firearms Engravers Guild of America Web site at www.fega.com or the American Custom Gunmakers Guild Web site at www.acgg.org.
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