AFBGC is priviledged to be the organising club and major custodian of the historic Aberdeen Wapinschaw.

This oddly named event (originating from "Weapon Show") has its origins in a 1424 Act of James I of Scotland compelling inhabitants of burghs and parishes to meet periodically to not only show the arms they could use to defend the realm but also that they knew how to use them. The first reference to an Aberdeen Wapinschaw is in the minutes of the Town Council from 1496, and these demonstrations of militia preparedness were regularly held throughout Scotland for over 300 years. ​ With the advent of new firearm technology such as percussion caps and breech loaded cartridges in the 19th century and the formation of the National Rifle Association in 1859 there was an increased interest in competitive rifle shooting, Queen Victoria herself firing the opening shot of the first Imperial Meeting in 1860. In 1862 the first modern Aberdeen Wapinschaw was held as a 3 day competition meeting for rifles, carbines and artillery (with 68 pounder guns firing a mile out to Aberdeen Bay!) with Queen Victoria presenting a cup in 1869, which she continued to do annually until her death. Edward VII and then George V kept on the tradition of Royal cups being awarded, and Queen Elizabeth was the Wapinschaw Patron maintaining a Royal lineage. With the exception of the years of the First and Second World Wars, and the unfortunate impossibility of conducting a meeting during Covid, the Aberdeen Wapinschaw has run annually, unbroken, since 1862.
In recent times the Wapinschaw had been supported by Highland Territorial and Volunteer Reserve Association, changed to Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (RFCA), who assumed the running of the event in 1996, and 51st (Scottish) Infantry Brigade supplied manpower, materials and infrastructure from 2004. This series of unique competition meetings at Blackdog Ranges, where civilian rifle target shooters competed alongside and against military units, privileged AFBGC with assuming the civilian organisation. However, due to financial constraints the military were unable to continue providing the same level of involvement after 2010. AFBGC, having formed a close relationship with the Wapinschaw Association, took on the responsibility of maintaining the shooting competitions and now works in partnership with the Association as custodians of the continuation of this important part of the local area’s history.
Since the shooting involvement of the military ended the meetings have continued as NRA sanctioned Open Events, and continue to draw competitors from all over the UK. The Wapinschaw has even developed to be split into 2 meetings, one a Gallery Rifle Open competition in which national records have been challenged, and the other the Full Bore event catering for competition with historic arms dating back to the start of the modern Wapinschaw as well as precision and Civilian Service Rifle matches.

As a club, we are immensely proud to be able to keep this annual event, its heritage and important history, alive for future generations. 

Wapinschaw Gallery