M
Macky Locklin
Guest
It is very ironic that only last night I emailed Polly, asking her to give me a list of all the winners of each of the various ARA Project Rifles that we’ve had built and given away as part of our National Championship matches ever year since 2003. It was my intention to write an article about the rifles for the next issue of the ARA News and entitle it, “Where Are They Now”, referring to the Project Rifles.
I say it is ironic because I know of at least one rifle that was sold almost immediately after it was won at the Nationals, and tonight, I looked at the Classified Section of this very Forum and noticed that the 2007 Project Rifle was for sale. This makes me both sad and a little angry. Maybe I’m wrong on this, but it seems that when a gift drops into the lap of a lucky competitor, it shouldn’t be viewed as loot or something that can be immediately turned into cash.
Whenever I thought of the concept of building a nice, state of the art rifle to give away as a prize at our biggest competitive event, it was meant as a way of thanking our competitors for their support of ARA. Giving something back, you might say. I’m now rethinking that idea. I envisioned that these rifles would enter competition in the hands of the lucky winner and we could follow their progress as they were used in various matches across the country.
Our first gunsmith was Bill Calfee who built the 2003 ARA Project Rifle. It was won by Kirk Larson. The 2004 rifle was put together by James Messer, won by Charles Scott. Then Gene Davis smithed the 2005 rifle, won by Bob Micketts. The 2006 rifle was built by Bill Myers and won by Larry Wallace.
Already mentioned is the 2007 Randy Leger built rifle won by Fred Hampton which included a beautiful built-for-the-rifle one piece rest. And, rounding out the field, the latest Project Rifle, just given away at the 2008 ARA National Championship match, was built by Brian Voelker and won by Mike Sherrill.
I suppose the need for writing the article for the ARA News is now a moot point. In some cases, ARA received partial donations for some of the various components or discounts from their makers, and the gunsmiths who provided their services. But, in many cases, the prices we paid were straight retail for some items. There wasn’t one rifle that one could value at less than $3,000.00, considering the components and the names of the famed gunsmiths. In truth, ARA spent a bundle on these 6 rifles over the years, not to mention the efforts of the builders and ARA to put them together, only to sadly see them placed on the market and turned into cash.
These should be collector’s items, cherished and envied by all, not sold for profit. It’s like an Oscar that is given away in Hollywood and later turns up in a pawn shop.
I’d like to know the feelings of others about whether or not ARA should continue the practice of building and giving away a Project Rifle each year or if the prize is an idea whose time has come and gone.
Macky Locklin
I say it is ironic because I know of at least one rifle that was sold almost immediately after it was won at the Nationals, and tonight, I looked at the Classified Section of this very Forum and noticed that the 2007 Project Rifle was for sale. This makes me both sad and a little angry. Maybe I’m wrong on this, but it seems that when a gift drops into the lap of a lucky competitor, it shouldn’t be viewed as loot or something that can be immediately turned into cash.
Whenever I thought of the concept of building a nice, state of the art rifle to give away as a prize at our biggest competitive event, it was meant as a way of thanking our competitors for their support of ARA. Giving something back, you might say. I’m now rethinking that idea. I envisioned that these rifles would enter competition in the hands of the lucky winner and we could follow their progress as they were used in various matches across the country.
Our first gunsmith was Bill Calfee who built the 2003 ARA Project Rifle. It was won by Kirk Larson. The 2004 rifle was put together by James Messer, won by Charles Scott. Then Gene Davis smithed the 2005 rifle, won by Bob Micketts. The 2006 rifle was built by Bill Myers and won by Larry Wallace.
Already mentioned is the 2007 Randy Leger built rifle won by Fred Hampton which included a beautiful built-for-the-rifle one piece rest. And, rounding out the field, the latest Project Rifle, just given away at the 2008 ARA National Championship match, was built by Brian Voelker and won by Mike Sherrill.
I suppose the need for writing the article for the ARA News is now a moot point. In some cases, ARA received partial donations for some of the various components or discounts from their makers, and the gunsmiths who provided their services. But, in many cases, the prices we paid were straight retail for some items. There wasn’t one rifle that one could value at less than $3,000.00, considering the components and the names of the famed gunsmiths. In truth, ARA spent a bundle on these 6 rifles over the years, not to mention the efforts of the builders and ARA to put them together, only to sadly see them placed on the market and turned into cash.
These should be collector’s items, cherished and envied by all, not sold for profit. It’s like an Oscar that is given away in Hollywood and later turns up in a pawn shop.
I’d like to know the feelings of others about whether or not ARA should continue the practice of building and giving away a Project Rifle each year or if the prize is an idea whose time has come and gone.
Macky Locklin
I'd be honered to use any one of the rifles that have been given away, and I think years from now some of those that have sold theirs will regret not having them to look back at. But I don't think you should stop doing this just because some of them wind up in the classifieds. just my $.02 worth
