I've been there at least a dozen times. You can spend a lot of time there. The collection bothers me on a couple of levels. One, Mr. Davis seemed to collect everything. Sort of a "shotgun" approach to collecting. That's kind of fun since you can see a little of everything but it is disappointing when you get into a section that you really KNOW and there are huge holes everywhere. The S&W collection is like that. Just "a little of this and a little of that" but a heck of a lot of important guns aren't there. The other thing I don't like isn't Mr. Davis's fault. He died. The collection stopped. So the real bulk of the original holdings stops in the 1970's. Think of a Ruger or S&W collection that "starts at the beginning" but then just _stops_ in the 70's. It leaves you feeling robbed or something!
Now, to be fair, there are lots and lots of guns that have been added since the collection was turned over to the state of Oklahoma for display. Many guns seized by police departments and other guns that have been donated. But that results in even more of that "a little bit of everything" kind of approach.
OK, I enjoy going but I'm always a little disappointed when I leave.
Now that's in Claremore. If you are going to be up this way to see the Davis Gun Museum then you would be seriously missing out if you didn't go up by Bartlesville and visit the former country estate of Mr. Phillips.
http://www.woolaroc.org/
A great place to spend a day with your family. The grounds are spectacular. The main museum has a lot of really nice stuff that will keep your attention. And mixed in on the main floor is a whole lot of guns. Mainly Winchesters but lots of stuff. That would be good enough to be worth going. But the real secret is in the basement! There are a couple of collections down there that are the opposite of the Davis museum. They target fairly small segments of the gun collection universe and then they cover them 100% with like NIB guns. The Colt collection is jaw dropping. The far room has a bunch of rifles that I didn't even know existed. Colt lever actions. Large frame Lightnings in rifle calibers. So beautiful. My dream would be to be allowed to handle some of them with white gloves. And then carefully position them in great backgrounds and take wonderfully detailed photos of them.
Seriously, if you like the Davis gun museum, head up to Woolaroc and check out the basement!
Gregg
