Industry Insider's Cameron Hopkins at the Nurnberg, Germany at the 2010 IWA Firearms show.
Gallery
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An Ornate Lever
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The lever of the Karl Hauptmann "African Tribute" rifle is a hippo head. Note the ornate gold inlay and the croc's head for a safety.
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Turkish Wood Sellers
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Turkish wood sellers display at IWA, looking for both gunmakers and clients to pick out choice pieces of Circassian walnut blanks.
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A Work of Shooting Art
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A Peter Hofer single-trigger over-under rifle with classic Germanic engraving and gold inlay. Hofer's clients include Saudi sheiks, Russian oil barons, Ugo Beretta and anyone with seven-figures to spend on a work of shooting art.
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Guns from Ferlach
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Guns from Ferlach, Austria are the pinnacle of the gunmaker's art, but very much in the Germanic style of deep-relief engraving, Bavarian combs and Schnabel forends.
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Right Sideplate
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The right sideplate from Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute" rifle with Cape buffalo and gold inlay.
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Godfather of Ferlach
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Peter Hofer, the godfather of Ferlach, showed the petite next to the massive, a 4 bore double rifle (in the white) and a .17 HMR double.
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The Underside
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The underside of the Karl Hauptmann "African Tribute" rifle, again noting the deeply cut Germanic engraving.
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Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute"
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The right sideplate from Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute" double rifle. Note the deeply chisled "Germanic" style of engraving of these rhino. The rifle carries a suggested retail of 450,000 Euro.
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The European Way
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Europeans prize their wood as much as their metalwork. It's not uncommon for a customer to pick his wood separately and then order his rifle.
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Over-unders and Drillings
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Over-unders and drillings are popular in Europe where "driven game" is a common method of hunting. You don't know what's going to run out of the woods-- a rabbit, a wild boar, a stag-- so you need a multi-caliber firearm.
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German Tastes
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German tastes in guns are evident in this single-shot with engraved sideplates and a Bavarian cheekpiece.
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Engraver with a Chasing Hammer
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An engraver works with a chasing hammer on a fine pattern of scroll.
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Engraver at Work
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An engraver works on a Bulino pattern at one of a Ferlach gunmaker's booth.
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Trompeter-Ritchi
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Trompeter-Ritchi of Germany specializes in gun engraving and scrimshaw (www.trompeter-ritchi.de).
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Ferlach Makers from Austria
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IWA attendees admire one of the high-grade custom rifles in Hall 3 where the Ferlach makers from Austria are cloistered together. (NOTE: THAT'S NOT A TYPO FOR "CLUSTERED.")
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Allan Utermark
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Allan Utermark from Holland & Holland with a Royal Grade shotgun. Allan says the high-end gun market is not thriving, but holding on.
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Quite a Display
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Ferlach gunmakers embellish their work with exhibition grade walnut and engraving. Note the typical German "claw" mount for the Zeiss scope.
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