Just back from SCI in Reno. Without a doubt my favorite agglomeration of all a lad might wish to do or possess.
The ostensive reason for the trip was to meet up with friends and book a hunt for later this year. The real reason was to enjoy the sensory overload.
Everyone in the gun trade was there and I was reminded how blooming nice and helpful they all are. In no particular order, friends from Purdey, Holland's, Boss with some lovely things to show. The new H&H Paradox is very enticing. Marco Cavazzoni from FAMARS took the time out to tell me how he had decided on one of my gun's engravers. Paul Roberts spent a long while telling me how he had built a specific gun some thirty years ago. What a memory..."Was that the one with the stag or the leopard?" Simon Clode at Westleys helped on a rifle of mine. Griffin & Howe had a large display and some wonderful things, e.g. two trios of McKay Browns! Peer Hofer had his magnificent 22lr and 17HMR double rifles ($90K in the white, if you please). Fabbri had some Frascassi and Torcoli engraved guns that would set you back a Bentley for the engraving alone. Chapuis had a round body 9.3X74R with lovely engraving for only about $11K. Handled beautifully. Rizzini had some special guns, including a lively 500 nitro double in the white. William Asprey had both guns and jewelry. We all need a set of cape buffalo links and studs. Spent some time with Butch Searcy, whose double rifles and Hagn-type single shots are things of beauty. Hoenig was there with his unique guns. Ditto Fuchs with their bolt action double rifles. Champlin and Wm. Larkin Moore were also present with many things to handle. Speaking of which, no one minded your picking up quarter million dollar guns if you asked politely. Apologies to all those I've forgotten. Result, of course, was total inability even to think of buying anything.
In town at the same time was the Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers show with our own Setven Dodd Hughes and Barry Lee Hands.
Back to SCI, the outfitters were there in force. Every African venue, lots of old Eastern Bloc, many Aussies, South Americans and, of course, all the elk, bear, deer, antelope outfitters you could wish. All tempting except for the young man who told me, "The lions are all released and we don't permit shooting them for three months......" I wonder if they have shoot-by-date tags. Very tempted by a horseback elk hunt and Mouflon in the Czech Republic. However, we actually accomplished what we came for and booked a buffalo/leopard hunt with old friends in Zambia for late August.
Safari Press had Terry Weiland and Kevin (Perfect Shot) Robertson signing their latest books.
One sociological note: The most prominent theme of the taxidermy exhibits seemed to be leaping crocodiles ("Leapin lizards, Annie!), going after bushbucks, warties, impalas and most everything this side of elephants. BIG crocs. Just the trophy you need in your bedroom. Speaking of which, very many Rowland Ward class two-legged trophies in evidence. Much nicer that the crocs...probably. "No croc ever took the house and Mercedes
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Given what the final accomplishment was, I could probably have handled it all over the internet. On the other hand, I thoroughly recommend it for anyone wanting to see the whole realm of possibility. Please note that these observations, of neccessity, reflect my tastes. There were hunderds of other gunmakers and I haven't even commented on the knives or clothing.
