CENTRE — A rare and unique gun collection recently found its way to the Cherokee County Historical Museum.

Private collector and Piedmont resident Gary McCurdy unveiled a collection of several hundred guns on Saturday, Dec. 3, according to museum director Dave Crum.

McCurdy has been collecting for decades.

"What got me into collecting is when I was a little boy, at 8 years old I was intrigued by the old men who showed off their old hand guns,” McCurdy said. “I traded a marble and a yo-yo for an old broken gun, it was a spur trigger and that's the particular kind of gun I collected.”

The never-before-seen collection has a variety of rare and historic long and short arms, knives, antique items and other memorabilia. McCurdy said he didn't compile it overnight, either.

"I always loved those guns and they used to be plentiful, but after 20 years of collection they pretty much dried up from the market,” McCurdy said. “Every time somebody would find out about one they would tell me about it and I would try to find out about it and sometimes I would be able to trade for it.”

Included in McCurdy's collection is memorabilia from the world over, many so rare that the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office was on-site to provide security.

Turns out, the collection is so valuable it is headed out of state to be placed on permanent display.

"The NRA Museum in Fairfax, Va. has an Annuity Program that was put together by a group of donors, guns have to qualify for that particular museum,” McCurdy said. “They have to be really old and have a historical aspect to them, and a lot of the guns I had qualified.”

Crum told The Post over 130 people attended. He said a man from Rome, Ga. called several friends and insisted they drive to the show after he saw it.

"The museum staff and Board of Trustees were pleased with the turnout and we thank McCurdy and all those that attended,” Crum said. “This was truly a special thing for Cherokee County.”

McCurdy extended his thanks to Crum and the staff at the museum. He also encouraged citizens to continue to support the museum.

“It means a lot to people who are trying to keep it here,” McCurdy said.