The Countertop Chronicles

The folks who follow me on facebook may have seen this already (yeah, thats where I am these days . . . on facebook under my real name).

Anyway, I spent a most fascinating night last night. Visited a friend from East Tennessee who used to be a very active gun show dealer and is now a college professor. I had never actually seen his “collection.” I say collection cause its really like a museum.

We of course started out with his collection of fine booze. 10 different kinds of moonshine. Some other moonshine type spirits from around the world. Then about 10 kinds of Rye. He gave me a bottle of Templetons, but let me sip from a 50 year old unlabeled bottle of bootlegged Templetons (ie: before they went legit). And, he had about 25 kinds of bourbon and sour mash’s Some Pappy’s. 18 year Elijay Craig. Bookers and Bakers. Oh, and the George Dickel Special Reserve which held its own against EVERYTHING else we drank. It really is quite good. Might even become my new house whiskey.

Then, of course, after sipping and some steaks, we headed over to the guitar collection. He had some 60 or 70. Lots of old Gibsons, some Martin’s. And a bunch that I don’t know what they were. Mostly acoustics in one room, and then of course, another room full of Gibson electrics (and some early Fenders). Just what you’d expect from a good ‘ol boy from East Tennessee.

After some more bourbon, we then made it to the first safe of the evening. Which had some wonderful rifles in in – and a collection (20 or 30) of gorgeous Dan Wesson revolvers. The next safe, had a few more rifles in it, and perhaps another 20 or 30 Ruger single action revolvers of varying vintage and style. Oh, and some more rifles and a bunch of Colts and Smith and Wessons. And then of course, the assorted random calibers.

Which led to the next safe that had his collection of fine hunting rifles. Including a bunch he personally purchased from Jack O’Conner himself.

He had a bunch of fine shotguns lying outside this safe in boxes. And I thought. Wow. 250 guns (and 2 1/2 hours to look at and touch and lust over). Thats a hell of a collection. I need to get going. But no. We haven’t gotten to my vault yet.

And sure enough, there is one more. And in it he has a good 150 shotguns. All in impeccable condition. Each, nicer than the previous one. All total, about 400 guns give or take a few.

Oh yeah, and he had some knives too. They were lost on me, but all were in the $500 and up range. Which I don’t get (i have a Buck 110). And about a dozen motorcycles.

It was a drool fest.