http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=269455814

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This Krink kit is more than a parts kit to build with...this is a piece of World History. When Texas Representative Charlie Wilson was helping the Mujihadeen fight the Soviets in the mid 1980's he was given various guns that he brought back to the USA. Being a member of congress has its advantages and the ATF allowed Wilson to own these machine guns and register them on a Form 10 (a government owned gun). Charlie donated these guns to Texas A&M University at some point and there they remained undisplayed until the time of his recent death. At that time the University decided to have them destroyed even though they had been rendered inoperable by pouring epoxy into the barrels. I bought this Krink kit from the Class 3 dealer who destroyed them for the University

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http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=263937650

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That's right, Charlie Wison's own RPG. Here's the story: Sometime in the 1980's, Charlie Wilson brought back a number of small arms from the conflict in Afghanistan, as trophies of his efforts there. These ranged in scope from various AK's to a Galil, and also included an Egyptian RPG-7, all in fully operable condition. In 1995, shortly before leaving office (and losing his official status as a government official as far at the ATF was concerned), Rep. Wilson donated these firearms to a museum in Texas, and were transferred to the museum on a Form 10. A short time ago, the museum enlisted my assistance with demilling and parting out the live machineguns and this RPG.

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[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 1/19/2012 7:50p).]

Anyone have more info on this?

I remember seeing those in the Corps center, nobody I asked seemed to know where they came from. Just sat in a closet in the storage area.

A relative was telling me the other day about seeing a report on TV about A&Ms gun collection being destroyed. I wasn't sure if he meant the one in the Corps Center or not.

I will stop by the corps center today and ask Lt. Col Gardener if he knows anything about this.

Thanks Jock, I'll be interested in the answer. As I stated on the other thread, something about this didn't wash and I was pretty sure there was more to the story.

Lt. Col Gardener wanted me to let whoever is interested that the guns are no longer at the corps center. If you have more questions feel free to call him at the Corps Center.

Canyon, that is what Lt. Col Gardener asked me to post. If you want your questions answered please give him a call at the Corps Center

WHAT?!?! None of the guns are there anymore? Like the entire collection?

This is wrong. Has anyone called and found out what the deal is?

No, bigtruck, just the Wilson guns.

My dad and I took my "little" cousins to the Corps Center before a football game this season. Their jaws were on the floor when they saw the gun collection. They looked around for a long time and we finally had to pry them out so we could make it for kickoff. The Corps Center seemed to really set ablaze their interest in the Corps.

This makes me sad. I remember handling all of these weapons in the back room at the Corps Center back when I was on the Corps Center Guard. No one really knew the history of these weapons back then (it was always assumed that they were just donated by an anonymous old ag). But I remember them well.

Glad it's not all the guns, but still, I see no realistic reason to completely get rid of them. I mean if they were scared about having a real RPG launcher, they could just have demilled it. I hope there was a legitimate reason for this.

You know there isn't...

Y'all are silly. Do you really think that a museum that has a large room dedicated to only guns destroyed them for no reason? Did anyone notice that neither the rifle or rpg were sold on gunbroker? The reserve wasn't met on either weapon. I'm sure there had to be some legal issues that prevented the museum from keeping them.

Bop was once told by the original museum curator Joe Fenton '58, they had more stuff donated and pouring into the museum than they could possibly handle.

NO STORAGE or display space.

Actually, Sanders needs two more floors and a basement.

Bop,

I'd say that was a fairly accurate statement. I can recall the room teeming with items begging to displayed. There was always a plan to rotate the items every few months.

I have very fond memories of Joe.

96...
Joe told Bop that most of their wide variety stuff is sent in by Ag widows who just assume the Sanders Corps Museum is the best repository (and where their Ag spouse would have surely wanted it to go).

No telling how many pair of old cracked leather Senior Boots have found their way back home to C/S ?

(Bop has been to many an Aggie funeral where the widow would have those Sr. boots on display next to the casket. She knew how they were cherished by her man.)

Luckily some of the boots go to good use, as they are loaned out to people who can't afford, or don't want to purchase boots. There are also a few pairs on display.

BarnesCat11,

I am glad to hear that the boot loaning program is still in effect.

One of my buddies my zip year borrowed a pair of boots from the corps center.

I borrowed a Sam Browne my zip year.

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Actually, Sanders needs two more floors and a basement.

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This. They need to completely dig up the plaza and grassy area to the west of the Corps Center and build an underground storage and processing facility. That would give Lisa the space she needs to adequately store and catalog everything.

Or, they could buy space someplace else.

I was peripherally involved with a farm and ranch museum. It's not easy to tell donors "no, thanks" but on the other hand, the sign out front reads "M-u-s-e-u-m" not "D-u-m-p". Folks can't stand to throw old stuff away, they think SURELY a museum would want it. Never mind that the museum has 25 more, just like it.

It's hard for folks to understand that 'old' =/= 'valuable' or 'important' and that no one else knows or cares if it belonged to your great-grandaddy that no one else has ever heard of.

That being said, I can understand that the Corps Museum might not have room for the guns first mentioned in this article.

I can't understand why they did not go to another museum.

And I can't understand why LtCol Gardener wants 50 different people calling him about these weapons instead of simply issuing a statement or telling Jock11 "this is why, pass it along"

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It's not easy to tell donors "no, thanks" but on the other hand, the sign out front reads "M-u-s-e-u-m" not "D-u-m-p".

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One problem that was finally solved was the issue with items on loan. The Corps Center finally stopped allowing people to loan things, and instead began accepting permanent gifts only. My understanding is that the change slowed the flow down considerably, since it meant the Corps Center was no longer acting as a free storage unit.

Joe Fenton '58, first Sanders Corps Museum curator told Bop there were days when he arrived early and there would be a box of untouched Corps memorabilia sitting there by the door.

Did the full story on the Charlie Wilson guns ever come out?

FYI
His name is spelled Gardner

CS78 said:

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Did the full story on the Charlie Wilson guns ever come out?

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No.

This thread makes me miss BeBop ag. Definitely an odd duck but I hope he's doing well!

LTC Gardner was one of my fish.

I can crap him out if you want?


(Hi Jeff!)