Bringing war history to life

Dave Cross’s collection of grenades will be at the Arms and Militaria Show. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

They were all designed to kill, maim or injure.

Now they're mounted like Christmas baubles in a red velvet-lined presentation case. But the case is labelled ‘grenades', or hand-bombs, and is a grim reminder of man's ill-will to man.

All the weapons are now defused and owned by collector Dave Cross, and will be on show at the 20th and latest annual Arms and Militaria Show at Greerton Hall tomorrow and Sunday.

The show is obviously for militaria collectors and sporting firearms shooters, and has become a ‘must be there' event on the national military collecting calendar.

The show presents attractive and educational displays of military weaponry that would otherwise be kept locked away. Many rare items will be on show and represent a tangible connection to military history.

Exhibition tables will feature everything from uniforms to collector grade firearms, and exhibitors will come from all over the North Island to buy, sell or trade items with fellow enthusiasts. The show is open to the wider public and more than a 1000 people are expected to attend.

The show is on tomorrow, between 9am-4pm at Greerton Hall, and again on Sunday between 9am-3pm. Adult entry is $5 and children under-13 attend free.

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