That Merkel falling block tempts me
I just don't want to work all those weekends to pay myself back for buying it LOL
I just don't want to work all those weekends to pay myself back for buying it LOL
Yeah but that's not what you said. What you said was:The customer who buys such is making a statement. “I want that experience.” Because you don’t need to spend $1.2 million on a double rifle. $15k suffices, and $350,000 would get you most of the rest of the experience too. So the 1.2 million version is more of a statement piece by the maker: “this is what we can do for the world’s most exclusive clientele.” It is advertising. It will probably be bought by a rapper. It could also, realistically be purchased by someone more in the traditional clientele of the firm who simply decides that he wants the best, period, money no object. But I highly doubt there will be (or can be) much comparison-shopping, because at this level, price hardly matters.
As if the attitude is, "what's an other million dollars".They could just as easily ask 2.2 million because the customer who will pay 1.2 will pay 2.2 without blinking.
I've owned some, and it's frustrating. I wanted to hunt with them, but I couldn't afford to, just in case I did to them like what I did to my new German Wby MK V the first time I hunted with it in 1969. I slipped on a grassy patch of snow as I was taking my last step up onto a butte, sat down on it, and slid six feet down the steep side.I have known people with guns "too pretty to shoot." I am not one of them.
Back when double express rifles were hunting guns, Elmer Keith wrote of a .500 Nitro with appreciable erosion in the right barrel from hot Cordite ammo. Hardly any in the left barrel, second shots on game had seldom been required.
Nobody’s a fool, but there are people who have so much money, that an extra million just doesn’t really matter. How do you put a price on having “the finest in the world?” What was an appropriate price for this in 2019 and what’s an appropriate price now? How many engravers or barrel regulators of that quality are still practicing vs a few years ago, or vs. tomorrow? What if I were able to contract with some world class craftsmen and make a rifle that was a cut above this one, for a production cost of a mere $191,000? How much could the Mosin77 “Best” fetch on the market vs a Purdey?Yeah but that's not what you said. What you said was:
As if the attitude is, "what's an other million dollars".
I guarantee you price matters. As I said, you don't get to that point by being idiotic with your money.
I can tell you right now it costs a lot more than that to make those bags. I can also tell you that if I had to make a handbag like that, it would cost MORE than $2900.Nobody’s a fool, but there are people who have so much money, that an extra million just doesn’t really matter. How do you put a price on having “the finest in the world?” What was an appropriate price for this in 2019 and what’s an appropriate price now? How many engravers or barrel regulators of that quality are still practicing vs a few years ago, or vs. tomorrow? What if I were able to contract with some world class craftsmen and make a rifle that was a cut above this one, for a production cost of a mere $191,000? How much could the Mosin77 “Best” fetch on the market vs a Purdey?
My point is that past a certain level, the numbers begin to reflect intangibles. A traditional customer of the firm may not care about the brand one iota. But another customer may buy the gun only because he heard it was best or most exclusive, or most expensive. And brands who want to survive, no matter how traditional, find it best to appeal to newer clientele, because the rolls of storied British gun making firms of the highest quality which are no more, are long. To this end, the concept of Veblen goods definitely applies. A LV handbag probably costs $55 to make and gets retailed for $2900. An Hermes might cost $20,000, and probably only costs a few hundred to make. And if someone is lucky enough to be deemed special enough, to purchase that bag from Hermes, that’s the status symbol -the customer doesn’t care if it’s $20k or even more. They’re buying it to show their elite status, not because the bag is really so much better in quality. (Don’t get me wrong, they’re nice, but you could pay a craftsman to make one nicer, for a lot less.) The value is in the name and the ability to purchase the item.
What is up with thaT weird reverse grip? I can promise you that you want a firm grip on the forend when shooting a heavy double.I know the man who owns this rifle here in Oklahoma and I have had the pleasure of holding it in my hands and if my memory serves me right I held it in the late 1980's. View attachment 1206941I asked George in April a year ago if he still had the rifle and he said he did. My wife and I watch the movie Out of Africa about once each year to bring back the memory. It's a Holland & Holland double rifle in 500/465 Nitro. Everything is for sale but It would take a big offer to buy this one.
It's from a movie, isn't it? It just has to look Kewl and blanks don't kick much anyhow.What is up with tha weird reverse grip? I can promise you that you want a firm grip on the forend when shooting a heavy double.
100% correct, it’s just amazing how hollyweird can distort anything and everything in the name of art.It's from a movie, isn't it? It just has to look Kewl and blanks don't kick much anyhow.
I agree. I think his thumb is on the left side of the barrel. Why he wrapped his fingers back under the forearm is strange. Maybe the photographer didn't like the look and told him to hide his fingers.I don't understand the "reverse grip" reference.
What is so "weird" about it?What is up with thaT weird reverse grip? I can promise you that you want a firm grip on the forend when shooting a heavy double.
I don't know what a pukka sahib does with an express rifle, but he swings his game gun with his off hand way out front, even on the barrels ahead of the splinter forearm. To the point that he may well have a leather hand guard clipped to the barrels for when the shooting gets hot. I have seen 3-gunners with a straight left arm, too.There isn't much stock to grip on those things.
You do not grip the wood. You grip the entire forend including the barrels. If you try to pinch the forend on even a moderately powerful medium or big bore rifle you will find it has left the chat once the trigger is pulled. It will land somewhere behind you.What is so "weird" about it?
There isn't much stock to grip on those things.
This ^^^ Bazinga.You do not grip the wood. You grip the entire forend including the barrels. If you try to pinch the forend on even a moderately powerful medium or big bore rifle you will find it has left the chat once the trigger is pulled. It will land somewhere behind you.
You wrap your hand all the way up to and as far around the barrels as possible leaving just enough room for a sight picture. And with that solid grip you pull it back firm into the shoulder. These things are not your average rifle and you cannot hold them like a 30-06. Unless you want to bounce it off your face.
I've shot a 9.3x74R and 470NE double rifle. That little 9.3 is one of my favorite rifles I've ever shot. The 470 gave me a headache after 10 or 15 rounds. Yes, the barrels get hot, so you wear a glove.
I don't understand the "reverse grip" reference.