Additions to the Film Library

I wrote about Rainer Joesch some time ago when he made his first movie about hunting Cape Buffalo in the mountains of Tanzania (that post can be found here).  Since then he has made three more movies regarding the subject of buffalo hunting.  They have been out for some time but I finally picked up a two of the three.  I would have purchased part two but the retailer did not have it in stock.  I also picked up an Ivan Carter film as well, Sunset in Botwana.

I've watched the two Rainer Joesch films so far and they like his previous film are amazing.  Most hunting films are, I'll admit, pretty lame.  Joesch's film are not.  They are filmed documentary style and the focus is not the kill shot, like in most films, but rather the whole hunting experience. When I have the time I'll do a full review of each film.  Stay tuned.  Check out the trailer for Part One:

Make Room On Your Bookshelf

Time to pay a visit to your local Barnes and Noble as they (at least my local store) have a true gem in the bargain aisle.  Treasures of the NRA National Firearms Museum by Jim Supica, Doug Wicklund and Phillip Schreir is a coffee table book that showcases all the jewels of the NRA collection. 

Considering my latest posts were all regarding airguns I thought it is appropriate to show some of the airguns in the NRA collection.  The most interesting is the Girardoni (often misspelled Girandoni) repeating air rifle, as carried by Lewis and Clark.  Google or youtube this airgun and you'll be impressed with it's ingenuity and history.

Other airguns include President H.W. Bush's Crosman Air rifle.  I recall reading about this gun in one of my father's airgun magazines.  Also contained in the collection is Prince Charles' Omega air rifle.

Theodore Roosevelt's gun collection is well represented including his .405 1895.  There are several other presidental guns from Eisenhower and Kennedy.

The book includes many of publisher Robert E. Petersen's collection which include the last Purdey .600NE ever produced. 

Among the 425 guns donated by the Petersen family is some fascinating odd ball guns like the Hoenig over-under double rifle with a twist action in equally odd .225 caliber round.

As a fan of Teutonic guns, there are several Nazi guns including one of my dream guns, a Luftwaffe survival drilling, a belt buckle gun and Hermann Goering's Merkel.

Obviously this is just a sampling of, the book and museum there are many guns of different eras and styles.  The NRA collection is so diverse and likely to please just about any gun nut, from those interested in ancient guns carried by pilgrims from the Mayflower to modern military guns to everything in between. If you consider yourself a gun enthusiast buy this book or better yet go visit the museums (one in Virgina at the NRA headquarters and the other in Missouri at the Bass Pro flagship store) in person.  I need check out these works of art.  Several of these guns shown on this post and many others can be seen and discussed on NRA museum's youtube page.

The Grand Opening of Pacific Sporting Arms

Today was the grand opening of John Herkowitz's Pacific Sporting Arms.  The old man and I  just got back from the new location just down the road from Perazzi's US showroom.  The store is nice with plenty of room for all the guns John wanted to stock but had no room for at this last location. 

John once told me he would like to carry more rifles but didn't have the space for it until now.  Today he had several from double rifles to repeaters mostly of Teutonic origins (Blaser, Ferlach, Sauer and Kreighoff among others) from 308 to 500NE.  The majority of guns in his old store were more competition and clay based so its nice to see John is now stocking more hunting related guns than before as well.  He had side by sides in stock including several from Grulla, Simson, and Holland and Holland among others.

Like  Jerry and Jim's store Ivory Beads (now closed), this store is a place to hang out a shoot-the-shit with the boys.  It even has a lounge to have a beer or rest your legs.  PSA is now loaded with various fine guns and all the accompaniments that go with them.  I imagine I'll probably be spending a lot of time here as John depletes my savings account. 

Krieghoff Drilling 20x20x30.06

A Fine selection of rifles

The Blaser and Perrazi reps were on hand to answer questions and help sell their guns.  I wanted to talk to the Blaser but since he was helping another customers with a F3 shotgun I had no time to talk rifles with him. 

It looked like an excellent turnout with several people filling out their DROS paperwork.  So I wish John the best of luck as he is a good man and with any luck I'll win the raffle (even though I didn't care for the gun but that's okay if its free).

Free caps to everyone who attended.  I really like the logo on this cap it's much better than their old cap.

Afterwards it was time for lunch and a quick drive to Rosemead for some Islamic Chinese cuisine.  Tripe, green onion bread, hand cut noodles and lamb with green onions.



Purdey Guns and Rifles

An interesting film on the historical background of one of London's best and then a nice tour of the workshop.

Spanish Best

For more that a decade my copy of Spanish Best by Terry Weiland has sat in my gun library unread collecting dust.  This weekend I decided to actually open the book and finish it.  I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read this book.  Perhaps its because I always  subconsciously thought that Spanish doubles were somehow a "lesser" gun.  Maybe that is too harsh. I have long realized that Spanish guns are nice and an excellent value for the money but always in the back of my mind I always considered them reproductions rather than the real deal.  After reading Weiland's book, I have realized that may not be a fair assessment.  The book is an excellent off season read that gave me some insight on Spanish guns and the industry.  It takes a good look at the history of Spain and how it influenced it's firearm industry as well as how English influences in banking and royalty contributed to the adoption of the English ideal of the shotgun.  Also  researched is the possible origins of poor reputation and apprehension among American shooters toward Spanish guns.  What I really enjoyed about this book is not only does Terry describe Eiber gun making trade but the actual town itself and it cultural and culinary experiences.  All in all I enjoyed this book and worthy a place in any fine gun library.

Anyone Want To Give Me $16K?

Puglisi Gun Emporium of Duluth Minnesota has a very nice example of a JP Sauer WW2 Luftwaffe Survival Drilling. Cost a mere $16K.  Other examples have fetched for far more like this one and this one.  It looks brand spanking new. I highly doubt it was issued. It even has the original case although it appears not to have the original contents such as slugs, buckshot, 9.3x74R ammo, sling, manual, and such. This is probably one of my historical dream rifles.  My father continues to beat himself up, many years ago about 25 years ago, he found one for a steal at around $2000 but did not pull the trigger (of course 25 years ago, $2K was REAL big bucks but nonetheless it was still  a steal).

From the Website:
$ 15,995

This gun has a date code of 3/41 and comes in an original Luftwaffe case.

Stock Number	1161
Make	Sauer, J P
Model	M 30 Luftwaffe Drilling
Action	SxS Shotgun over a Rifle Barrel
Barrel Chamber	2 1/2 in
Barrel Length	25.5
Barrel Chokes	.029 - .034
Barrel Proof	Nitro Proof
Barrel Rib Type	Solid Rib with 100 yd flip up rifle sight
Caliber	9.3x74
Drop At Comb	1 1/2 in
Drop At Heel	2 9/16 in
Gauge	12 ga
Grip	Capped Pistol Grip
Ejectors	Extractor
Finish	Case Colored Receiver
Forend	Checkered Forend
LOP	14 in
Serial Number	334XXX
Shotgun Type	SxS Shotgun over a Rifle Barrel
Stock	Cheek Piece Stock
Trigger	Double Triggers
Type of Butt	Sauer Buttplate
Weight	7 lbs 14 ozs

Ivory Beads To Close April 14th

Jim Thynne and Jerry Kitto, Proprietors

I just learned that Ivory Beads in Covina is closing it's doors.  What a bloody shame.  I never did purchase a gun from them although I did buy a few nick nacks here and there and used them for some gunsmithing services.  I just never found the right gun in my price range there although there were several guns that were out of my price range that I wished I had the money to buy.  For a brief time they had several Darnes that I eyeballed, a prewar Krieghoff drilling that I posted here, a G&H Mauser, among others that I desperately hoped I won the lottery so that I could buy them.  Unfortunately all were out of my price range at the time and still are til this day.

Every time I entered the store, Jim Thynne was always very courteous and helpful.  He was a wealth of information whether it was gunmakers, rifles, shotguns, hunting birds or big game, gunsmithing, he knew his stuff. I enjoyed spending an afternoon there just shooting the shit, talking guns, hunting or anything in between.  Good guys that will be missed in this small fine gun community.  I will always remember walking in and seeing some old timer sitting there in the gunroom smoking a cigar wasting a perfectly good afternoon.  I will always remember Jim offering me one of his brand new Rizzini's off the shelf to go shoot clays for an afternoon, just to try it out - by myself without supervision.  I could have just bolted with the gun!  Or worse committed a crime with it or something.  I have never received that offer from any other gun store ever and I don't really expect to either.  I never did take him up on that offer. I wish them all the best.  I will miss them.  My prays go out to Jim and his family.

From their website:
Announcement: After 10 great years in the vintage gun business Ivory Beads will be closing it's doors! We are planning on our last day to be Saturday, April 14, 2012. Our best wishes and sincere thanks to all of our Wonderful Customers and Friends!

Ivorybeads
672 Shoppers Lane
Covina CA, 91723
626.915.4022
626.915.2771

 

Argentina-Sportsman's Paradise

I know someone who just returned from Argentina on a Goldern Dorado trip and it resparked my fascination with the place.  For more than a decade now Argentina has been on my mind. Ever since Wild On The Fly wrote an article about fishing Golden Dorados in the early 2000s, I have be dreaming about going. I almost made it too. At one time Argentina was having a promotion, an all inclusive trip including airfare from LAX to Buenos Aires for $2995. You had the option of fishing, I believe 3 days, in Central Argentina for Golden Dorado or fishing in the Patagonia for trout. I almost choose to go after Dorado but I could not find anyone who wanted to go with me. Instead I used that money and went back to Costa Rica with my friend Bryan Webb and his buddies in search of my tarpon.

I still wonder, what if I went to Argentina instead...That particular deal is no longer good and as this economy sucks and my disposable income not quite what it once was I am relegated to daydreaming. So I spend my time reading articles or watching videos.  It seems Argentina is making a strong case as the world's foremost sporting paradise and pushing it pretty hard.  Years ago they came out with Mel Krieger's Patagonia.  This is a beautifully filmed movie that showcases not only Krieger's talents but Patagonia's magnificant trout.  Obviously this film is an hour long commercial for Argentina fishing but I don't care.  I would rather watch this advertisement any day to any other stupid ad that pops up before you try to watch a youtube video.  Its fun to live vicariously through the film as you watch Mel throw some amazing loops to huge trout.  The film showcases the best Patagonia has to offer, including Sea Run browns down south at Tierra Del Feugo among other locations that hold giant size trout.  RIP Mel.

I believe the hunting version came out just last year, I purchased it once I heard about it.  Again the Argentina tourist board were smart enough to hire an authority in his field, Craig Boddington, as they were to hire Mel Krieger, to come and film the excellent opportunities to hunt this large South American nation.  As with the fishing version, Big Game Argentina with Craig Boddington is beautifully put together and showcases the awesome hunting opportunites available throughout the vast landscape of Argentina.  Craig hunts it all from stags, to boar, to mouflon, to waterfowl and doves among others.  If you ever thought about traveling to Argentina to hunt or fish you should check out either one of these DVDS.  If you have no interest in doing either the movies are still worth a look.

Robert Ruark's Africa Adventure DVD

Tonight I decided to pop in one of my DVDs I haven't seen in quite a bit.

If you ever dreamed about what it was like back in the golden age of Africa, Safari Press has the right DVD for you. Filmed in 1954 Robert Ruark's Africa Adventure follows author Robert Ruark on his expedition through African in search of the Big 5. Legendary professional hunter, Harry Selby leads the hunt and guides Ruark to some very impressive species including a cape buffalo with a 49 inch spread and an elephant with 100lbs tusks.

This film begins with a disclaimer that the film is old and some footage may not up to modern standards. To me this is part of it's charm. I love this film, it reminds me of my grade school years watching films on actual film shown to us through actual film projectors. Modern kids have no ideal what I'm talking about. Watching this film reminds me of those days in class watching Jacques Cousteau or something like that. I actually wished that Safari Press would have added an optional soundtrack of the film projector noise into the dvd. It would have felt more authentic. The footage is not even cleaned up, there are parts where the slides mess up and jump just as it would it it were shown on actual film.

With exception of lion, Ruark takes all the big five on this video including a charge from a black rhino. There is also some scenes of wingshooting as Selby and Ruark's wife shoot up some guinea fowl and sand grouse for dinner. The hunting is great and edited quite nicely. Robert narrates the whole movie and does a superb job entertaining you. Again this adds the whole grade school film aspect of it that I find so endearing. If you are expecting a shoot them up movie this is not for you. The film is much more a movie encompassing the whole African experience including the hellish stops one needed to make to just get to Dark Continent. Its hard to believe how many countries Ruark rattles off before even touching the African Continent. Talk about rough. Thank god for 747s. I did find it amusing that the film shows people actually disembarking the plane in Africa with rifle in hand! Times certainly have changed.

Unlike this trailer from TCM the DVD is in black and white. I apologize if you have to put up with the stupid advertisement at the begining of that trailer. If you are like me and can't stand to watch it, try and refresh your page with F5 and replay the clip. That usually brings you directly to the trailer.

In the Blood DVD

In the Blood is a hunting documentary that should be in every hunter's DVD library. If you can find it I'd suggest you buy it. I bought mine several years ago and at that time it was reasonably priced. I was just checking out Amazon and this DVD is selling for over $100 and in some cases much more.

The film follows a modern day (1986) safari and uses the Teddy Roosevelt 1909 safari as a backdrop. Some Roosevelt's descendants are also on the hunt, as well as Teddy's famed Holland and Holland he'd carried on his safari.

This movie is not a hunting film in the traditional sense. There are hunting scenes and some game is taken but the film is also explores hunting as a conservation tool. For poor African nations who do not have the economic resources to combat poachers, hunting provides an economic incentive to keep poachers at bay.

In the Blood is also a coming of age film centering around 13 year old Tyssen Butler on his first big game hunt. PH Robin Hurt acts as a mentor to Butler and the younger Roosevelt. At the end of the safari, Robin takes Tyssen on his first Cape Buffalo hunt armed with Teddy's H&H. After taking his first buff, as the emotions overcome the young man, Robin encourages Tyssen to cry and says "Let those tears come."

This film is the quintessential hunting film and it should be in any hunter's library if you can find it at a reasonable price.

As the website does not allow me to embed it, the trailer can be found here:
http://www.zimbio.com/watch/Zy2fD8b4uph/In+The+Blood/Theodore+Roosevelt

Baron Travel Gun Bag

I have noticed that Baron of Sweden has made its way onto the shores of the US. Back in 2007, before they were imported here, I ordered a very unique gun bag from shop in Scotland. This Travel Gun Bag still isn't available here. It's made to hold your broken down gun discreetly. Unless someone is familiar with this bag no one would be the wiser that you are transporting you shotgun. To me, particularly in California, that was the main reason I bought he bag.

The bag has two compartments that allow you to easily store a broken down shotgun like this Merkel 47e. If you have received a Merkel catalog in the past few years you'll notice in one of the photos a woman hunter pulling a Merkel KR1 out of this same bag.

The lower compartment holds the barrels it comes with a removable pad so that your firearm does not get damaged if someone drops the bag down. I have traveled with my prized Merkel 147 Sidelock in it without fear of damage.

Each side has a main compartment to store clothes, gear, ammo, etc. They expand and the middle buckle keeps all your gear from falling out.

Also in one main compartment there is a small zippered pocket to store your point and shoot camera, passport, wallet, bandaid, knife etc.

Each compartment also has another zip away storage section. One is made of the same cotton plaid material and the other is made of vinyl. The latter is use to carry your shoes or dirty boots.

They can be taken off so you can keep clean clothes away from your soiled clothes and boots.

The bag comes with a removable padded shoulder sling if you so chose to carry it that way.

I aways liked this Baron ad for obvious reasons. I actually thought about naming my dog Baron but went with Kaiser instead. My next drahthaar will most likely be named Baron.

Hunting as Subject for Art 3

Johann Zehme Schützen Hüte Jagdhüte by Ludwig Hohlwein (1874-1949)

Le Cellier by Frans Snyders

Chasse au sanglier by Paul De Vos

Chasse au faisan by Alexandre Gabriel Decamps

Dead Partridge Hung by One Leg Bowl with Prunes and a Basket with Pears Around 1728 by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

Huppoe Partridge Woodcock and Seville Orange 1732 by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

Chien chassant by Christophe Huet

Chasse au canard by Horace Vernet

Belgian Pheasant Hunters

Dead Hare Game Bag and Powder-Flask a Thrush and a Lark by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

Pheasant Shooting in the Forest by S.j.e. Jones

More art here and here.