Actor, NRA Board member and avid gun collector Tom Selleck has donated seven rifles and revolvers used in his films to the NRA National Firearms Museum. Several of Mr. Selleck's guns have been displayed in the museum, most notably one of the Shiloh Sharps rifles used in the blockbuster movie Quigley Down Under. The gun was featured in "Real Guns of Reel Heroes," one of the museum's most popular exhibits ever.

Commenting on the most recent donation, Mr. Selleck told NRAnews.com, "It got to the point where I had these guns in storage, and I just wanted people to see them, to share them. And I hope people think of the National Firearms Museum if they have something special they want to share, as well as The NRA Foundation for other kinds of gifts. It's very satisfying."

"We deeply appreciate Tom Selleck's continued support of NRA and the freedoms we defend," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "Thousands upon thousands of Americans visit the museum each year, and with the opportunity to display more of Tom's personal firearms, we expect even greater public interest."

Kayne Robinson, Executive Director of NRA General Operations, added, "Tom Selleck is a very astute judge of firearms, and this is an extremely meaningful addition to the museum. The value of a gift like this is priceless."

The donations from Mr. Selleck include the following:

• Henry .44-40 reproduction rifle imported from Italy by Allen Firearms, an early retailer of Western replicas. Mr. Selleck used a Henry from Stembridge Gun Rentals, a Hollywood prophouse for the 1997 film Last Stand at Saber River. Mr. Selleck had this rifle specially engraved to match that prophouse rifle, which was damaged from overuse in other films.
  
  
• Winchester M1876 .45-60 rifle modified by Ken Howell of R&D Gunshop for use by Tom Selleck in the 2001 film Crossfire Trail. Based on an original carbine receiver made in 1879, this longarm was rebuilt for movie use.
  
  
• .45 Schofield revolver from the 2001 film Crossfire Trail. This hand-built revolver was manufactured by Ken Howell of R&D Gun Shop for the film.
  
  
• Colt Richards Conversion .44 revolver manufactured for the 1997 movie Last Stand at Saber River. Engraved with Cable on the backstrap, this ivory-stocked revolver was the one maintained to match its early presentation condition in the film.
  
  
• Colt Open Top .44 revolver manufactured from a Colt blackpowder reproduction for use in Crossfire Trail. The revolver was modified by Ken Howell of R&D Gun Shop.
  
  
• Colt Single Action Army .45 revolver used in the 2003 movie Monte Walsh. This revolver was hand-built by Ken Howell of R&D Gun Shop for the film.
  
  
• Winchester M1886 .50 Express carbine from the 2003 movie Monte Walsh. One of two carbines restored from production receivers by Ken Howell of R&D Gun Shop. Both guns letter as .50 Express carbines.
  

Nearly all of the guns in the National Firearms Museum came from private donations. For information on how you can give a gift of guns to the museum, call 1-877-NRA-GIVE. For more information on The NRA Foundation, visit www.nrafoundation.org.

National Firearms Museum Exhibits Troiani Masterwork

Entitled "The Oneidas at the Battle of Oriskany - August 6, 1777," this original 5' x 7' oil on canvas was commissioned by the Oneida Indian Nation in 2005. It was on display through the generosity of the Oneida Indian Nation during 2007 in the National Firearms Museum's Charlton Heston Gallery.

Executed by America's leading historical artist, Don Troiani, the massive canvas was delivered to the museum by representatives of the Nation when it began its one year loan. The painting depicts a scene from one of the bloodiest battles fought during the revolution.

While leading nearly 800 men of the Tryon County Militia on a relief expedition of Ft. Stanwix, General Nicholas Herkimer was ambushed by Loyalist troops and their Mohawk Indian allies. Herkimer's men, supported by 60 allied warriors of the Oneida Indian Nation, fought a spirited battle and repelled more than one concerted bayonet charge. At the end of the day, the Patriot army held their ground but at a tremendous cost.

Central in the foreground of the painting is the figure of Oneida Chief Honyery Tewahangaraghkan and his wife Senagena, who loaded his weapon while he fought on with a tomahawk between shots.

The painting joins other significant artwork, both donated and on loan to the museum, by such artists as Blair Buswell, Guy Coheleach, William Davis, Dale Gallon and Harry L. Jaecks.

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Arsenal of Democracy Pays Tribute to Veterans

NRA's connection with the military can be traced back to its founding in 1871 by two Union Army veterans of the Civil War, Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate. Over the next century, NRA's unyielding commitment to freedom and patriotism would be especially evident during World War II, when the association offered its ranges to the government, developed pre-induction marksmanship training programs, and encouraged members to serve as Home Guards, which states were organizing to replace National Guard units.

Today, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of victory in the Second World War, NRA has found two new ways to pay special tribute to the American servicemen and women who fought in that conflict -- with a new museum exhibit, and the creation of a veterans' endowment.

On May 18th, at an invitation-only reception, the NRA's National Firearms Museum opened The Arsenal of Democracy, an extraordinary new exhibit created to honor WW II veterans. The title of the exhibit is based on a comment made by President Franklin Roosevelt as America drew closer to entering the war: "We must have more ships, more guns, more planes -- more of everything ... We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us this is an emergency as serious as war itself."

In the exhibit, visitors will see arms, memorabilia, uniforms and equipment used by 40 individuals who fought in World War II. Moreover, photographs of the person who actually used each object will accompany it. A few highlights of the exhibit include:

• General Joe Foss's .45 1911 A1
• A Marine uniform worn by one of four brothers who fought at Iwo Jima
• Silk invasion maps
• John Garand's M1 Rifle, SN 1,000,000
• Winston Churchill's cased Webley and Scott 9mm pistol
• A 1942 staff car
• A watch, worn by a paratrooper of the 101st Airborne, which stopped the moment he landed in Normandy on D-Day

The May 18th reception also marked the creation of The NRA Foundation's U.S. Veterans' Endowment, a permanent source of support for the gun safety and marksmanship training programs that started with NRA's founding and continue to benefit millions of Americans today.

Commenting on the display and the endowment, NRA Executive Director of General Operations Craig D. Sandler said, "One cannot view this exhibit without a profound sense of pride in our military and gratitude for the sacrifices made by American servicemen and women who helped win the Second World War. And I can think of no better way to protect the freedoms they fought for than through the U.S. Veterans' Endowment, which will permanently support NRA's important training programs."

The Arsenal of Democracy will remain open to the general public until December 31, 2006.

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Nine special firearms recently went on display in the National Firearms Museum. What sets these six Winchester rifles and three Colt handguns apart from all others is their unique presence in the nautical arsenal maintained aboard the yacht United States.

Colonel Edward Howland Robinson Green acquired the United States in 1917. As the son of Hetty Green, dubbed "the witch of Wall Street" and reputedly the richest woman in the world at the time, Colonel Green was free to indulge his wish to acquire "the largest, finest, and costliest privately owned yacht in the world." That is how Rudder magazine reviewed the United States in 1917. Green's vessel measured 256 feet long, and her original 83 compartments were transformed into nine luxurious staterooms, including a Georgian-styled master's suite for Colonel Green.

For sea-going shooting, Green ordered a pair of .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 takedown rifles, a .30 Govt. Winchester Model 1895 takedown rifle, and three Winchester Model 1890 .22 rifles. Four Colt semi-automatic pistols were also ordered. Each of these guns was engraved, Yacht United States; the six rifles were factory gold-plated and fitted with checkered birds-eye maple stocks.

Colonel Green's time to enjoy his yacht was short. Less than two years after its delivery, the United States sank at anchor after striking a rock. Shallow water made it possible for all of the yacht's valuables to be removed, including these firearms. But sadly, in later years, as the guns were transferred from the Green family to private collectors, one Colt pistol of the original 10-gun group was lost.

Donated to the National Firearms Museum by their last owner, E.J. Owens (since deceased), these nine firearms are now part of the Beretta Gallery, which recreates the arms library of Theodore Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill. The firearms of the United States are shown mounted in their custom mahogany cabinet that was built to house them aboard ship, allowing visitors to see them as Col. Green saw them on what many sailors then considered "the most perfectly fitted vessel afloat."