DS was not quite eight years old when WWII broke out. I suppose that the panic and concern heard in adult voices was common during this period, but particularly to an 8-year-old child. Who knows? Perhaps those cautionary words said casually such as 'you better save your ammunition' made such an impression that DS set his mind to saving any cartridge he could find. 

To collect cartridges was a lonely endeavor, knowing no other collectors around. His collection began in a stick-match box but soon graduated into a jewelry box, expanded into a cigar box, and by age 20 it was kept in a 2 cubic foot size box.

DS’s first attempt at exhibiting cartridges happened at the county fair, where a small 18 X 24-inch shadow box containing a hodgepodge of cartridges was awarded a blue ribbon. To this young collector the recognition seemed to lend credence to the legitimacy of ammunition collecting. At the time, DS did not know anyone else on earth collected cartridges as a hobby.

It was not until adulthood that DS even knew that cartridge dealers existed. Then, he came to know such dealers as Frank Davis, Frank Wheeler, Ed Howe, Jack Brickell, Peter Biegler, Jim Tillinghast and others. These dealers shipped their orders in small wooden boxes, via railway express since the time pre-dated UPS.

Each cartridge had a unique character and DS’s fascination has continued for over 80 years, as of this writing. At first, specialization was out of the question, since he loved them all. DS was naturally intrigued with patent ignition rounds in all their crazy shapes. He was amazed at the number of Winchester sizes that existed. This awareness nudged him toward favoring both patent ignition and Winchesters. Of course, Winchester's long continuously marketed trademark keeps one watching for new additions to the line even today.

DS first became aware of the cartridge collector club in 1955 formed by Don Amesbury in Tucson, Arizona. The club publication, The Cartridge Trader, contained information from letters sent in by the members. Publications were dittoed, and distributed to the members who exchanged both ignorance and valid information over the next fifteen years. It was a beginning, and this club is what has evolved into today's International Ammunition Association.

Since maturing as a cartridge collector, DS has found one of his greatest joys is to assemble an exhibit, and then to observe the people who appreciate looking at it. He has improved the scope of his exhibitions to include more of the manufacturer's history and the people behind the company. Today, DS’s collection is a masterclass in ammunition throughout history.