Reenactment
Reenacting the American Civil War began even before the real fighting had ended. Civil War veterans recreated battles as a way to remember their fallen comrades and to teach others what the war was all about. The Great Reunion of 1913, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, was attended by more than 50,000 Union and Confederate veterans, and included reenactments of elements of the battle, including Pickett's Charge.
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Modern reenacting is thought to have begun during the 1961–1965 Civil War centennial commemorations. Reenacting grew in popularity during the 1980s and 1990's, due in large part to the success of the 125th Anniversary reenactment near the original Manassas battlefield, which was attended by more than 6,000 reenactors. That year, Time magazine estimated that there were more than 50,000 reenactors in the U.S.
American Civil War reenactments have drawn a fairly sizable following of enthusiastic participants, young and old, willing to brave the elements and expend money and resources in their efforts to duplicate the events down to the smallest recorded detail. Participants may even attend classes put on by event sponsors where they learn how to dress, cook, eat, and even "die" just as real Civil War soldiers would have. Most reenactments have anywhere from 100 to 1,000 participants, portraying either Union or Confederate infantry, artillery, or cavalry forces. Some people, though uncommon, may portray Engineers or Marines. The 135th anniversary Gettysburg reenactment (1998) is generally believed to be the most-attended reenactment, with attendance estimates ranging from 15,000 to over 20,000 reenactors.
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Hunting
Hunting has a long history and may well pre-date modern man. While our earliest ancestors were probably much more primative in their approach, the thrill and excite ment probably has not changed since the development of the bow over 18,000 years ago.
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Surveys show nearly 80 percent of Americans support hunting, although less than 10 percent actually participate. These 18.5 million hunters contribute more than $30 billion annually to the U.S. economy and support more than 986,000 jobs. They are the primary financiers (more than $1.5 billion per year) of conservation programs that benefit all Americans who appreciate wildlife and wild places. As the trade association for the firearms, hunting and recreational shooting industry, the National Shooting Sports Foundation supports programs designed to ensure the future of hunting.
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Competitive
The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom was founded in 1859 for the encouragement of Volunteer Rifle Corps, and the promotion of Rifle-shooting throughout Great Britain".
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For similar reasons, concerned over poor marksmanship during the American Civil War, veteran Union officers Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association of America in 1871 for the purpose of promoting and encouraging rifle marksmanship. In 1872, with financial help from New York state, a site on Long Island, the Creed Farm, was purchased for the purpose of building a rifle range. Named Creedmoor, the range opened in 1872, and became the site of the first National Matches in the United States.
The NRA began to establish rifle clubs at all major colleges, universities and military academies. By 1906, youth programs were in full swing with more than 200 boys competing in the National Matches. Today, more than one million youth participate in shooting sports events and affiliated programs through groups such as 4-H, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, U.S. Jaycees, NCAA, the Scholastic Clay Target Program, National Guard Bureau, ROTC and JROTC. These programs have all continued to thrive despite political pressures to disband. The success of these programs is often attributed to an emphasis on safety and education that has resulted in an unprecedented scholastic and collegiate athletic safety record.
French pistol champion and founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, participated in many of these early competitions. The Olympic Games continue to provide the shooting sports with its greatest public relations opportunity. The sport has always enjoyed the distinction of awarding the first medals of the Games. Internationally, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has oversight of all Olympic shooting events worldwide, while National Governing Bodies (NGBs) administer the sport within each country.
In the past 20 years interest in various firearms competitions that foster defensive skills, accuracy drills, and personal protection tactics.
Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS), also known as Western Action Shooting or Single Action Shooting, is a competitive shooting sport that originated in California, USA, in the early 1980s. Cowboy Action Shooting is now practiced world wide with several sanctioning organizations including the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), Western Action Shootists Association (WASA), and National Congress of Old West Shooters (NCOWS), as well as others in the USA and in other countries.
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Recreational
Recreational shooting & plinking has been popular because, in rural areas, one could start plinking with a minimum of preparation and expense. In hilly country with clay soil providing a safe backstop it is as simple as gathering up a few stray cans. In many rural areas, up until recent decades plinking was essentially the only way to regularly practice marksmanship. Certainly, a rural shooter might improvise a formalized paper target but even then, the rest of the shooting experience had the character of plinking.
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Handgun plinking is an informal recreational sport where a shooter can practice with various types of targets. It is noncompetitive and shooters of any skill level can practice plinking. Be sure to check local or city ordinances regarding shooting where you live. The shooting site needs to be in a safe, remote area, with a safe backstop where possible ricochets can be eliminated and where the noise will not disturb any neighbors.
Targets can be swung from strings or pinned to a cardboard backstop. Using glass objects can be dangerous and is not recommended. As in all shooting activities, shooters should wear eye and hearing protection and abide by all the standard safe gun handling rules.
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Custom Shop
Early firearms manufacturers began a heritage of elaborate embellishment and engraving of firearms that continues to this day. In the 1800's most firearm manufactures offered "Custom Shop" services where the customer could order models with custom features & engraving. Custom engraving and other decorative touches brought an aesthetic quality to a machine-made firearm that not only enhanced the appearance, but the overall value as well.
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The feeling one receives from owning a Chiappa Custom Firearm is no different from owning artwork of the great masters. Your Chiappa Custom will be a true masterpiece and instant family heirloom.
Contact the Chiappa Custom Gun Shop and we will prepare a preliminary estimate that provides an approximate cost for the project. You then refine your specifications and request a formal quotation. A 50% deposit is required on all Chiappa Custom Shop orders.
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