About Us
Who We Are And What We Do
The American Society of Arms Collectors was founded in 1953 as a permanent organization for persons interested in the collection, research, study, and preservation of arms, armor, and accessories and accouterments; to establish and promote standards and ethics in research and dissemination of information pertaining to the history of arms and armor; and to promote and further the preparation, publication and distribution of scholarly literature pertaining to the development and history of arms and armor.
Our activities include
- Promoting friendship for those interested in the collection of arms, armor, and their accessories.
- Opposing legislation injurious to the legitimate possession and collection of arms, armor, and accessories by responsible collectors.
- Holding regular meetings:
- to conduct society business;
- where members may assist each other in locating items for their collections;
- where members may display pieces from their collections for the education and pleasure of other members and guests; and
- where members and selected scholars give presentations on arms-related topics.
- Promoting and upholding the highest standards of honesty among arms collectors, and to expose and take vigorous action against any faking or misrepresentation of arms.
- Publishing, on a semi-annual basis, the ASAC Bulletin, which contains articles on a wide range of arms-related subjects. You can access the entire ASAC Bulletin archive on this website.
ASAC Membership
Membership is limited to a maximum of 250 active members
Some Past Members and their Accomplishments
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Robert Abels 1903 – 1983
An early and respected arms dealer in New York City. see more ►
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Mark Aziz 1921-2015
Noted collector of revolving arms and founder of Rutgers Book Center, one of the leading suppliers of arms related books. see more ►
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Clay P. Bedford 1903-1991
Author, who assembled a great collection of early firearms of Great Britain and Ireland, exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY. see more ►
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Howard L. Blackmore 1917 – 1999
Author on British firearms history. see more ►
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LTC William S. Brophy 1915 – 1991
Marlin Firearms historian and authority on U.S. military rifles. see more ►
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Val Forgett Jr 1930 – 2002
Founder of Navy Arms Co., and the force behind the creation of replica black powder firearms. see more ►
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Claud E. Fuller 1879 – 1957
Author on Civil War and breech loading arms; donor of the Fuller Collection at Chickamauga National Park. see more ►
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Craddock Goins 1879 – 1957
Curator of the Smithsonian Institution, Division of Military History. see more ►
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S. James Gooding 1931-2012
Canadian publisher of “Arms Collecting” magazine; prolific researcher, author, and authority on early percussion primers and ignition systems. see more ►
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Thomas E. Hall
Curator of the Winchester Gun Museum, and author on Winchester arms.
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COL Berkeley R. Lewis 1904 – 1972
Career Army Ordnance officer, researcher, and author of Small Arms and Ammunition in the United States Service.
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Herschel C. Logan 1901 – 1987
Artist, historian and author on cartridges, and firearms ignition systems. see more ►
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George D. Moller 1933-2021
Author of the definitive books on American Military Shoulder Arms. see more ►
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W. Keith Neal 1925 – 2003
Amassed the 20th century's greatest collection of early British firearms, and authored or co-authored many of the core books on great English and Irish gunmakers. see more ►
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Harold L. Peterson 1922 – 1978
Head of National Park Service arms collections; author on Arms and Armor in Colonial America, and American Swords. see more ►
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Robert M. Reilly 1928 – 1996
Author on U.S. military arms through the Civil War and also socket bayonets.
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William B. Ruger 1916 – 2002
Founder of Sturm, Ruger & Co, and also an avid arms collector. see more ►
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Henry M. Stewart 1911 – 1988
Colt authority and donor of the superb collection at the Virginia Military Institute. see more ►
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Charles R. Suydam 1918-2008
Scholar, author and editor of The Gun Report”s Q&A section for decades, with a passion for blunderbusses. see more ►
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Henk Visser 1923-2006
Creator of one of the 20th century’s greatest antique arms collections, especially early Dutch and Continental arms and author of the definitive books on Dutch Firearms. see more ►
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Lewis Winant 1928 – 1996
Created the collecting area of Firearms Curiosa and its famous classic text. Wrote the pioneering and important book EARLY PERCUSSION FIREARMS and the first book on PEPPERBOX FIREARMS. see more ►