(Photo by Amber Phipps) People from around Ohio visited the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors’ annual meeting and gun show Saturday and Sunday at the Lafayette Hotel.

The Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors gathered for their annual meeting and show Saturday and Sunday at the Lafayette Hotel to buy, sell and trade antique guns and celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Collectors displayed their Ohio-made rifles of the 18th and 19th century for guests to browse and learn more about over the weekend. A few of the collectors had some sales for selected rifles and weaponry.

Featured at the gun show were long rifles, pistols, powder horns, knives and fowlers. Information about the weapons could be found on the tables by the display, or some collectors would discuss the history and structure of the weapon.

Among the antique long rifles and tomahawks was a rare piece of history on display described by a few visitors as “extremely rare” and “the only one of its kind.”

The John Vincent pistol was well known amongst the collectors at the gun show. It’s believed to be the only known pistol made by Vincent, a renowned gunsmith from Washington County.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) The Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors held their annual meeting and show Saturday and Sunday at the Lafayette Hotel.

Owner Bill Reynolds is a longtime member of the association and retired historian from the Campus Martius Museum.

“I’m not related to the Vincents but this is my area of focus,” said Reynolds. “I build rifles myself, and I like the shape and the architecture and also the quality.”

Reynolds ran his fingers along the wooden barrel of one of the rifles on display and pointed out a few details that would be easily overlooked by someone unfamiliar with rifles.

“As you can see here, this is a plain piece of wood that has been painted to look like curly maple,” said Reynolds. “My speculation is that it was John Vincent’s wife Elizabeth who painted it since she was the artist.”

Each collector at the gun show displayed long rifles and weaponry from specific Ohio families. A few were descendants and inherited the antique rifles.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) The Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors celebrated their 50th anniversary Saturday and Sunday during their annual meeting at the Lafayette Hotel.

“The whole focus is to talk about and show the history of the Ohio rifle and make it shareable to the public,” said Reynolds.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Long rifles, other 18th and 19th century weapons and documents detailing family histories were on display Sunday during the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors annual meeting at the Lafayette Hotel.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Collector Bill Reynolds discusses the detailing on his antique John Vincent long rifles and one-of-a-kind John Vincent pistol Sunday during the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors annual meeting at the Lafayette Hotel.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Regarded by gun show visitors as “extremely rare,” this John Vincent pistol was well-known amongst guests and antique long rifle collectors.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Antique long rifles from the 18th and 19th century are displayed Sunday during the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors annual meeting at the Lafayette Hotel.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) An up-close view of the detail and craftsmanship on a few of the antique long rifles on display Sunday during the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors annual meeting and show at the Lafayette Hotel.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Antique rifles from Ohio-based makers Jerman Jordan, John Vincent, Abram Bear and Sam Small are displayed Sunday during the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors annual meeting at the Lafayette Hotel.