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18th Century Firearms Restorer, Retired Munitions Specialist, Project Healing Waters to Attend
(Clayton, NY – July 2014) An 18th century gun restorer and a retired army munitions expert will be at the Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show Aug. 16 and 17 at Cerow Recreation Park Arena, 615 East Line Road in Clayton.
Mathew Zabinski of Skaneateles specializes in repairing antique flintlock weapons used in the Revolutionary and French and Indian War. Most of his commissioned work is done for collectors and museums. He owns one of three rare 18th century weapons himself.
‘I bought a French and Indian War weapon that was in pieces, having been damaged from firing with the wrong kind of gun powder. I sculpt metal to crate the parts that need to be repaired,’ says Zabinski, who works only on guns that do not take bullets.
Zabinski, who has traveled to shows across the U.S., will have some of his 18th century pistols and swords on exhibit at his Clayton gun show exhibit.
When U.S. Army armament technician Robert Owens retired after 20 years of service, he decided to stay in northern New York and in 2013 started Thousand Island Armory in LaFargeville. A modern gunsmith, Owens sells, repairs, refurbishes, and builds rifles and sells the Zerust Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor gun bags.
‘I assemble Springfield-style rifles with iron sights. The Springfields have a rich American history. I gauge, function test and test fire the rifles for quality assurance and safety, and use walnut stocks to make them attractive guns,’ Owens says.
Owens specializes in NY SAFE Act-compliant rifles and military bolt action rifles, and offers family-friendly weapon safety, functioning, and maintenance classes.
‘Proper safety training is especially important for first-time gun owners,’ Owens says.
Also new at the 2014 will be a booth presented by the nonprofit Project Healing Waters, which teaches fly-tying and offers fly-fishing experiences to wounded combat veterans, active duty and retired military personnel, and veterans with non-combat injuries and conditions. The current outreach for the Fort Drum Chapter of Project Healing Waters was started in 2008.
Zabinski, Owens and Trent Myer with Project Healing Waters will be among the more than 60 exhibitors, gun, knives and outdoor gear dealers, and guides at the 2014 Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show that benefits the scholarship, community and international programs of the Clayton Rotary Club.
Show hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Aug. 16 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday Aug. 17. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for military with ID; children under 12 enter free.
For show information, contact Tom Neely, 315-482-4596, or Bud Baril, 315-686-2832.
Project Healing Waters participants at the DeBruce Fly Fishing Club in Livingston, NY. Fort Drum Chapter leader Trent Myers is third from the right. (Photo courtesy DeBruce Fly Fishing Club).
Project Healing Waters Coming to Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show
(Clayton, NY) Military families with wounded warriors and anglers with a passion for fly fishing will be able to learn more about Project Healing Waters at the Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show August 16-17, 2014 at Cerow Recreation Park Arena, 615 East Line Road in Clayton.
The nonprofit Project Healing Waters began at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC in 2005. Wounded soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan learned how to tie fishing flies and were paired with volunteers on fishing trips to promote physical and mental healing. Donations cover all the costs for fly-tying supplies, fishing gear and trips. There are no administration costs.
The project now works with active duty, retired military, combat veterans and veterans with non-combat injuries and conditions. There are more than 100 Chapters across the U.S.
Trent Myer leads the current outreach for the Project Healing Waters (PHW) Chapter started at Fort Drum in 2008. The fly-tying classes Myer offered in Afghanistan may be the first Project Healing Water learning opportunities offered at a foreign location.
“I worked with battle-stressed soldiers, teaching them fly-tying as a way to relax and focus. The fine motor skills needed to tie flies are good for traumatic brain injury recovery. The task helps you concentrate and compartmentalize your thoughts to focus on making the fly,” Myer says.
Stateside, Myer works with volunteers and angling groups across New York state to develop on-water fishing opportunities for PHW participants. Among the groups hosting PHW are the DeBruce Fly Fishing Club in Livingston, NY; Douglaston Salmon Run in Pulaski, NY, and the venerable Beaverkill Trout Club in Livingston Manor, NY. The Fort Drum Chapter sent three soldiers on a three-day tour to Montana earlier this year.
“Being in the water is good for improving balance and strength; fly casting exercises the upper body; and being on the water is good for the soul,” Myer says.
Myer and PHW participants will be available at the Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show to talk with visitors about their passion for angling and how fly-tying, building fly rods, and flyfishing can help the healing process for America’s warriors. Donations will be accepted.
“The Clayton-1000 Islands Gun & Sportsmen Show is a great opportunity to let veterans know we are available and all free and to provide the public with opportunities to support our military men and women,” Myer says.
Among the new vendors at the 2014 show will be an 18th century flintlock weapons restorer and Thousands Islands Armory which opened in LaFargeville, NY, in October 2013.
Show hours are 8:30 am-5 pm Saturday, August 16 and 9 am-4 pm Sunday, August 17. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for military with ID; children under 12 enter free.
Cerow Recreation Park is at 615 East Line Road south of the Village of Clayton. For show information, contact Tom Neely, 315-482-4596, or Bud Baril, 315-686-2832.