Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Hubertus Small Game Knife
USPS came with a special package. I just received this Hubertus Small Game Knife. The first thing I noticed is the weight of this folding knife. This thing is a tank and solidly built. The fit and finish is just excellent. The stag horn handle is stunning.
The bolsters are German Silver and the liners are brass.
I'm not sure how old this knife is but the blade is labeled "Made in West Germany." Although its in new shape its unlikely this is a recent production knife.
The blades are die forged out of German high performance stainless steel DIN 1.4109
As a hunting knife, this Hubertus has the main blade, a saw and a gut hook. The saw blade is labeled Rostfrei which literally means "rust-free" or stainless steel.
A good look at the genuine stag horn handle and the main blade's locking device.
Here is a comparison to my boker bird knife. Both are made in Solingen.
The width of the Hubertus is significant compared to the Boker.
Two fine examples of old world craftsmanship. The Boker is a nice knife but the Hubertus truly shines. Honestly the Boker is a VW and the Hubertus is a Maybach. The Boker is a nice match with my Merkel M8, while the Hubertus matches perfectly with my Merkel sidelock.
The bolsters are German Silver and the liners are brass.
I'm not sure how old this knife is but the blade is labeled "Made in West Germany." Although its in new shape its unlikely this is a recent production knife.
The blades are die forged out of German high performance stainless steel DIN 1.4109
As a hunting knife, this Hubertus has the main blade, a saw and a gut hook. The saw blade is labeled Rostfrei which literally means "rust-free" or stainless steel.
A good look at the genuine stag horn handle and the main blade's locking device.
Here is a comparison to my boker bird knife. Both are made in Solingen.
The width of the Hubertus is significant compared to the Boker.
Two fine examples of old world craftsmanship. The Boker is a nice knife but the Hubertus truly shines. Honestly the Boker is a VW and the Hubertus is a Maybach. The Boker is a nice match with my Merkel M8, while the Hubertus matches perfectly with my Merkel sidelock.
Amazing Krieghoff Drilling on sale
While I was at Ivory Beads this little prewar gem caught my attention. I'd love to have this one, if only I had $12K to blow. The info from Ivory Beads website:
#5301 - Krieghoff Neptun Drilling - Spectacular Pre-WWII High-Grade Model in Original Near-Mint Condition!, 16/16ga & 8x57 JRS cal.
Look...Priced Reduced! Was $14,995! Breathtakingly beautiful German drilling made in 1937. Barrels marked "Sempert & Krieghoff". Full sidelock action. This gun exudes high-quality European craftsmanship and is the pinnacle of technical gunmaking skill for its time! This gun has seen little use and remains in nearly new and original factory condition overall. Barrels showing 99% original blue. Front sling swivel. Flat rib with rear "Tip-Up" sight. Bores are perfect. 2 5/8" chambers. Action has sculptured sidelocks and elaborate game scene engraving. Sidelever mechanism on left side of trigger guard for cocking rifle barrel and simultaneously raising the rear rifle sight (amazing!). Cocking indicators for 16ga barrels. Sideclips. Exterior lever safety on left side of receiver. Double triggers. Front is "set" trigger and adjustable. Shotshell extractor. Trigger guard is a combination of engraved steel with a carved horn tang extending down to the horn pistol grip cap. Forend and butt stock are from highly-figured and select European Walnut with fine-line hand-checkering. Cheek piece for right handed shooter. Original horn butt plate. Rear sling swivel with attached spring-loaded and engraved cartridge trap for storing four extra rifle rounds. Weighs 7 lbs. 5 oz. A most extraordinary German masterpiece! Call us now at toll-free 888-328-0700 for more information!
Barrel Length 26"
Chokes Full/Full
Length of Pull 13 1/2"
Heel 2 3/4"
Comb. 1 5/8"
Price Price Reduced $11,995.00
I envy the person who ends up with this work of art.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Merkel Model 8
A few days ago I brought my Merkel Model 8 to Ivory Beads to remove the stupid HiViz bead that the previous owner had put on. For years I've been wanting to change it back to a brass bead but I've been too lazy to do so. Well I've finally done it and have now received it back. While at Ivory Beads I had them check the chokes as I was uncertain exactly how the barrels were choked. From the patterning boards I always knew that they were choked very tight. I had thought that they were Full/Full. Jerry checked them and let me know they are actually Full/ X-Full.
Now that I have the bead "fixed" I'm debating whether or not to open the chokes up. As this is basically my duck/chukar gun I've always liked a tighter choke for this type of shooting but these chokes are a bit much. Although I have never vaporized any of my birds I have taken with the M8, even on the occasions that I took this gun out for quail, I think its time to open them up. IC/Mod may be appropriate but I'm hesitant to do so as my Merkel 147SL and 47E are already choked in that configuration. I thought perhaps even opening it up to Cyl/SKT but I'm not quite sure as this gun is rarely used for quail.
Now that I have the bead "fixed" I'm debating whether or not to open the chokes up. As this is basically my duck/chukar gun I've always liked a tighter choke for this type of shooting but these chokes are a bit much. Although I have never vaporized any of my birds I have taken with the M8, even on the occasions that I took this gun out for quail, I think its time to open them up. IC/Mod may be appropriate but I'm hesitant to do so as my Merkel 147SL and 47E are already choked in that configuration. I thought perhaps even opening it up to Cyl/SKT but I'm not quite sure as this gun is rarely used for quail.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Aigle Benylsport Boots
.I found a pair of Aigle Benylsport boots on sale. Believe it or not I found them on the JCrew website. This pair was $79.99 and it came out to just over $100 with tax and shipping. Its about a $30-$40 savings from other sites. These pairs fit a bit tighter than my Barbour Wellies. The rubber though is much more supple yet they hold the straight up shape of the upper portions of the boot much better than my Barbours did when they were new.
My Barbours were purchased years ago and they were found on the internet on sale as well. When I received them I was more than disapointed that they were made in China and not the UK. Since they were on sale I could not return them. I'm glad that Aigle has not moved production to China and have kept their factory in France.
The Benylsports have an adjustable tightening strap on the upper although I think its not really useful or practical. I find them very difficult to adjust, I'm not sure if it's because they are new or if its not well designed or if its just me. I'll play with it some more to find out. One useful feature though, if it works, is the self cleaning soles. I'll see when it gets wet if this is really the case.
According to my Akah catalog Aigle is the number one boot for hunters in Germany. They source a German hunting magazine, Jager, that polled subscribers. Wellies years ago were almost impossible to find, trust me I looked for years back in the late nineties and early two thousands. Now they have become fashionable and companies like Nordstroms, JCrew, Nieman Marcus are now carrying wellies (although I've never seem them in the stores they are available through their websites). Even lowbrow hunting outfitters are carrying them too. I'd never thought that would ever happen.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
My New Laguiole Knife
Yesterday I received my Lagiole knife. This Laguiole is from L'Artisan (Honoré Durand). This is a 11cm Preistige model with Snake wood handles. This is a true Laguiole knife made in France in the village of Laguiole. Although there are many manufactures in this small village, only two manufactures of handmade laguiole knives are available for export. They are La Coutellerie de Laguiole aka "Laguiole de L’Artisan" and "Les Forge de Laguiole". Unlike Champagne, Laguiole was never trademarked and therefore anyone can produce a Laguiole style knife and still be called Laguiole. As a result there are many Laguiole knives that are produced in other parts of France and elsewhere such as China and Pakistan.
These knives originated as Shepherd's knives. In those days Shepherds worked on Sundays and were unavailable to go to church. Therefore each Laguiole knife contains a cross made of six pins. While out tending their flock a shepherd could open his knife and stab it into the ground or a loaf of bread and pray to the cross. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has been debunked.*
All quality knives have hand chiseled springs with a forged Bee at the end. Inferiors ones are machine stamped.
Some say the insect at the end is a Bee others say its a fly. Local legend says it's a bee, Napoleon's imperial seal offered to the town as a token of gratitude for the courage of the locals during battles. Others disagree and state its a fly, an insect quite known to cattlemen and shepherds. Either way the controversy adds to the appeal. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has also been debunked.*
The shape of the handle is said to represent the leg of a woman.
Each knife is handmade by one knife maker from start to finish. Like a fine shotgun the fit is always excellent. The blade will always click open and shut and never shift.
Notice the spine of the blade toward the handle, its a unique signature of each individual knife maker. Durand's is 7 dimples which represents the 7 days of the week.
All Honore's knives come with a gaurantee card and certificate of authenticity.
This knife will complement my Darne quite nicely in the field.
These knives originated as Shepherd's knives. In those days Shepherds worked on Sundays and were unavailable to go to church. Therefore each Laguiole knife contains a cross made of six pins. While out tending their flock a shepherd could open his knife and stab it into the ground or a loaf of bread and pray to the cross. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has been debunked.*
All quality knives have hand chiseled springs with a forged Bee at the end. Inferiors ones are machine stamped.
Some say the insect at the end is a Bee others say its a fly. Local legend says it's a bee, Napoleon's imperial seal offered to the town as a token of gratitude for the courage of the locals during battles. Others disagree and state its a fly, an insect quite known to cattlemen and shepherds. Either way the controversy adds to the appeal. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has also been debunked.*
The shape of the handle is said to represent the leg of a woman.
Each knife is handmade by one knife maker from start to finish. Like a fine shotgun the fit is always excellent. The blade will always click open and shut and never shift.
Notice the spine of the blade toward the handle, its a unique signature of each individual knife maker. Durand's is 7 dimples which represents the 7 days of the week.
All Honore's knives come with a gaurantee card and certificate of authenticity.
This knife will complement my Darne quite nicely in the field.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Land Rover
Old School Rover Commercials:
Some of these made it stateside and I still remember watching these as a child.
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