Participants shot three cateogries: Trap, Skeet, and 5-Stand.
The Hunter Family visits their family’s roots in Fulton, NY. Pictured from left to right (standing) Jim Hunter and Jace Hunter, (sitting) Teri Hunter, Ally Hunter, Megan Hunter, and Evy Hunter.
The Hunter brothers.
The Best of Show display winner was awarded to Frank Finch Jr.
The detail on two deluxe guns of which only 30 of its kind were ever made.
Each display showcased L.C. Smith and Hunter Arms guns and memorabilia.
The hand-etched, intricate details were unique to each gun.
A variety of L.C. Smith guns.
Each display showcased L.C. Smith and Hunter Arms guns and memorabilia.
A variety of L.C. Smith guns.
Top three finishers in each of the three shoot categories were awarded at a finale dinner.
Each participant in the shoot and each display brought something home from the seventh annual Hunter Arms Homecoming.
FULTON, NY – The Friends of History in Fulton’s seventh annual Hunter Arms Homecoming weekend brought collectors and enthusiasts of the historic L.C. Smith guns back to the city where the once thriving factory came to be.
The Hunter Arms Company lasted for 60 years in what became known as “the city the Depression missed” as Fulton saw economic stability even through troubling times for much of the country.
The Hunter family has remained closely connected with its rich family history, even returning alongside several Hunter enthusiasts from across the nation at Fulton’s annual Hunter Arms Homecoming Weekend.
They stumbled across their history serendipitously, but the story is one that they won’t soon forget as they went on to discover they have a plentiful history with much to explore in a small city in Upstate New York.
“This is great because it’s not often you get a situation where you’ve got other people researching your family that can tell you all these things,” said Jim Hunter, the great-grandson of James Hunter, one of the original founders of the Hunter Arms Company.
And so it goes, a man by the name of L.C. Smith, a Syracuse based gun manufacturer, decided to leave the gun business to pursue his interest in the typewriter business, selling the gun portion of his business to the Hunter family of Sterling in 1890, said Les Weldin, Hunter Arms and L.C. Smith connoisseur and Friends of History in Fulton volunteer.
Having bought all of the current machinery at the time, one condition in the sale detailed that all guns manufactured remain inscribed with the L.C. Smith name, despite now being produced in Fulton by the Hunter family.
Come 1950, the first floor of the factory collapsed and thus came the end of the Hunter Arms manufacturing in Fulton, Weldin explained.
Between both the Syracuse and Fulton factories, close to 500,000 L.C. Smith guns were individually manufactured with detail and care – guns that are now sought after by L.C. Smith collectors and enthusiasts.
With more than 700 members in the L.C. Smith Collectors Association including several international members, the interest in these historic guns continues to grow.
Several of those knowledgeable enthusiasts found themselves in the Hunter Arms origin city, shooting their own L.C. Smith guns in a friendly competition or displaying their collections throughout the weekend.
“It brings people from all over the U.S. in for an enjoyable weekend of shooting the famous L.C Smith shotguns,” Weldin said, noting participants in the weekends activities stemming from coast to coast of the United States. “It’s keeping the history of the Hunter factory going.”
35 participants, a steadily growing number from years past, shot in three competitive categories including Trap, Skeet, and 5-Stand, each using their own historic L.C. Smith at the Pathfinder Fish and Game Club.
An award ceremony named the top three finishers for each category as follows:
5-Stand: First place Tom Snyder Jr. – 48; Second place Davide deFernelmont – 48; Third place Scott Janowski – 44, followed by Jent Mitchell and Dave Defernl, both 44.
Skeet: First place Scott Janowski – 50; Second place David Dempsey – 47; Third place Jent Mitchell – 46.
Trap: First place Dave deFernelmont – 49; Second place J.D. Shank – 47; Third Place Roger Domer, 45.
High gun was awarded to David deFernelmont.
Though a unique experience to shoot in a group of historic guns likely all manufactured in the same place, for participant Annie Jardin the experience was unparalleled as she was the only female participant in the shoot.
Once on pace to qualify for the Olympics before being halted by a sudden injury, Jardin now competes in events such as the Hunter Arms Homecoming shoot for fun.
“It feels amazing to know the history of these guns and to just keep learning about the company,” she said of the shoot, noting her own personal connection as her grandfather had once worked at the Fulton factory.
“I just want to carry on the tradition and learn as much as possible,” she said. “Everything about this event is great. I enjoy getting together with the folks from the association and just getting bits and pieces of information along the way.”
The award ceremony named winners for display tables set up throughout the weekend at the John Wells Pratt House Museum where gun enthusiasts and members of the public were able to cast their vote for their favorite collection.
Best of Show was awarded to Frank Finch Jr. whose collection highlighted two deluxe L.C. Smith guns of which no more than 30 were ever made.
The People’s Choice was awarded to Les Weldin, the Hunter Award was awarded to Suzy Byer, and the Mayor’s Award was awarded to Mike Harris.
The event, in its seventh year, has continued to grow in popularity and participation.
“It’s really growing more and more. It’s good to tie the whole thing into the history of Fulton because these guns were known worldwide and belonged to many famous people including presidents, movie stars, and prominent athletes like Babe Ruth,” Weldin said.
And while hundreds of people may be familiar with the story, the Hunter family will continue digging into their family legacy as avid collectors and enthusiasts of their own family history.
“It’s flattering,” Jim Hunter said. “You think, ‘wow we’re blessed’ just being able to look into our past like this. Everybody talks about looking to the future, but I always believe you’ve got to know your past before you can know your future and we can be sure to pass all of our information on to our children and their children.”
Participants shot three cateogries: Trap, Skeet, and 5-Stand.
Annie Jardin was the only female participant in the Hunter Arms Homecoming competition shoot.
The top three finishers in each category were awarded at the finale dinner.
Participants shot three cateogries: Trap, Skeet, and 5-Stand.
Participants shot three cateogries: Trap, Skeet, and 5-Stand.
The top three finishers in each category were awarded at the finale dinner.
The top three finishers in each category were awarded at the finale dinner.
