Arms Exhibition

The most comprehensive collection of arms ever to have been assembled in New Zealand, was exhibited by the Nelson Pistol Club during the past month. For the enthusiast - and attendance figures showed there were many - the exhibition was chock full of interest. Greatest interest was shown in the firearms display, one which covered a period of four centuries. Pistols of every make, shape and size, some of them of infamous origin, came from all parts of the country. The Dominion Museum, the Police Department and collectors combined to make this exhibition the outstanding success it was. The club is to be congratulated on its enterprise and the high quality of the display.

The earliest firearm on display, the beautifully-preserved Wheellock, of 1600 vintage.

Jim Robinson is not too big for this World War 1 German antitank rifle (70 lbs of it).

Nelson M.P. Stan Whitehead, opened the exhibition with a bang when he lit small cannon, while club president Ray Mitchell, Len Hall and John Wheeler stand clear.

Sorting and cataloguing of pistols was big job, carried out by David Allen, Jim Robinson and Dominion Museum arms expert, Charlie Lindsay.

Big pistols and small. At top centre is a purse pistol. One side of purse is for coins, and the other conceals built-in pistol.

The old and new: a knight in armour rides modern steed with modern soldier to advertise exhibition.

The Army display

A swordstick and naval cutlass picked up at Tua Marina in 1845 after Wairau massacre

An innocent-appearing walking stick fires a small shotgun cartridge

A display of rifles

Ian McIntyre being dressed in suit of armour by Les Duncan and Ian Munro

Norm Hobbs was very happy to pose for us behind this Vickers

A collection of antique pistols

A "palm" or "squeeze" gun, much favoured in Al Capone's day.

The Wild West display, featuring Winchesters and other rifles, including highly-prized Colt revolving rifle, and saddle hand-worked by Len Hall.

The Terry Rifle, presented to George Dobbs, 1868, by Nelson Provincial Government, and pictures of Dobbs with rifle.

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The Nelson Photo News

No 13 : November 11, 1961

Arms Exhibition