Hunting

The Classicist: VO Guns Debuts the Falcon, World's Most Expensive Rifle, for $820,000 [EXCLUSIVE]

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist, Wealth

Swedish gun and rifle maker VO Vapen, founded in 1977 by master gunsmith Viggo Olsson, fashions the world's most exclusive handmade hunting rifles. Their newest creation, the VO Falcon Edition (above), is the world's most expensive priced at about $820,000. The VO Falcon Edition is a tribute to the deep rooted traditions of falconry in the Arabian world, covered by beautiful engravings of Peregrine and Saker falcons among other luxurious finishes.

Tags: bespoke, falconry, guns, gunsmith, hunting, luxury goods, most expensive guns, rifles, shooting, sports, Sweden, UAE, Vo guns, VO Vapen, vo+falcon+rifle, vofalconrifle, worlds most expensive

Continue reading “The Classicist: VO Guns Debuts the Falcon, World's Most Expensive Rifle, for $820,000 [EXCLUSIVE]”

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 Luxury Expedition Vehicle

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 Luxury Expedition Vehicle

If you were going on an expedition and wanted to take all your luxuries with you, what would you pick? A Range Rover? Maybe a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen? Neither of these nor any other vehicle can rival the sheer capabilities of the Zetros.

Made by Mercedes' truck division, the Zetros packs a 7.2-liter inline-six diesel engine with 326 horsepower and 960 lb-ft of torque driving all six wheels for a 16-ton cargo capacity and go-anywhere capabilities. But while these vehicles are used by militaries around the world to move cargo, a pair of Mongolian businessmen -- one runs a mining operation and the other a brewery -- have commissioned a pair for their hunting expeditions.

The specially-made models feature full bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom (complete with shower, marble tiles and under-floor heating), 46-inch flatscreen TV monitors, outdoor grilles, Bose sound systems, self-adjusting motorized satellite dishes, wireless internet... the works. Their new owners use them for hunting wolves in the Altai mountains with an eagle.

Tags: altai mountains, expedition, hunting, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz zetros, mongolia

Richard Nixon's Gold-Inlaid Browning Shotgun at Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Sports

Richard Nixon's Gold-Inlaid Browning Shotgun at Auction

In addition to Ernest Hemingway's safari hunting rifle that we wrote about on Wednesday, a rare gold-inlaid Browning 12-gauge automatic shotgun that was presented to president Richard Nixon in 1970 will be offered at James D. Julia Auctioneers' Important Firearms sale in Fairfield, Maine on March 14. The gun, estimated at $50,000 – $75,000, is also historically significant in that it was the two millionth Browning shotgun made. At one time destined for the Smithsonian, Nixon returned the gun to Browning Arms where it resided in their archives until it was given to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Gallery: Richard Nixon's Browning Shotgun

Tags: American presidents, Browning, browning+guns, browningguns, celebrity, Ernest Hemingway, firearm, gold, gun, hunting, James D. Julia, Maine, politics, presidents, Richard Nixon, rifle, shooting, shotgun

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Ernest Hemingway's African Safari Rifle Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Ernest Hemingway's African Safari Rifle Up for Auction

A remarkable double-barreled elephant gun made by London's Westley Richards in 1913 that belonged to Ernest Hemingway and was used by the famed author on safari in Africa is being offered for auction on March 14. The impressive .577-caliber Nitro Express, the starring lot at James D. Julia Auctioneers' Important Firearms sale in Fairfield, Maine, comes with the original case and accessories and is expected to fetch between $150,000 – $200,000. The 16-pound rifle, engraved with rhinos and tigers and designed to bag the biggest game, has its own chapter in the new book Hemingway's Guns: The Sporting Arms of Ernest Hemingway.

Gallery: Ernest Hemingway's Safari Gun

Tags: Africa, auction, author, celebrity, celebrity auction, celebrity guns, Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway Africa, Ernest Hemingway guns, Ernest Hemingway safari, ernest+hemingway+guns, ernest+hemingway+on+safari, ernesthemingwayguns, ernesthemingwayonsafari, firearms, gun, gunsmith, Hemingway, Hemingway gun, Hemingway safari, Hemingway shotgun, hemingway+rifle, hemingwayrifle, hunting, Key West, Maine, rifle, Royal Warrant, safari, shooting, shotgun, sporting, sporting style, UK, Westley Richards, writer

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Go Hunting at Julian Assange's Country House Hideout

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Sports

When not serving as a hideout for much-maligned Wikileaks frontman Julian Assange, stately Ellingham Hall (above) in the UK's bucolic Norfolk is available for sportsmen to hunt gamebirds in a classic English country house setting. The 10-bedroom Georgian mansion sited on 650 acres has been a prime shooting ground for four generations of the aristocratic Smith family's ownership. The Ellingham estate offers shooting days in season of between 150 – 200 birds at about $40 per bird, or about $6,000 – $8,000 per day. "Whether you like snap shooting over tall trees, partridges bursting over hedges, or high pheasants flying back to woods, we have something to please all," the estate's listing on the Guns on Pegs site notes. "We work very hard to deliver a smoothly-run but relaxed and friendly shoot. The shoot makes a very good day for eight guns but nine can be accommodated for teams." Ellingham provides refreshments and lunch, and participants are encouraged to bring their own Purdeys and Range Rovers; shooting at Assange is strictly prohibited.

Gallery: Ellingham Hall, the Assange Hideout

Tags: country house, current events, English country house, estates, hunting, Julian Assange, mansion, Norfolk, shotgun, sports, UK, Wikileaks

EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery and full credit info

Some people look at the colder weather as an excuse to head south for the winter; we like to think of it as an opportunity to wear lots of new clothes and find fun ways of keeping warm. In the spirit of getting ready for the season in style we took the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, some classic country clothing and ruggedly handsome accouterments on a tour through the glorious autumnal landscape of northern New England, documenting our excursion with the cool new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. We let the foliage flaunt the bright colors, keeping the clothing to an elegant, understated palette of greens, grays and earthy tones with rich leather, suede and alligator skin details and subtle tortoiseshells and tartans for contrast. Warm textures of wool, cashmere, tweed, moleskin and waxed cotton combined with equestrian and hunting elements guard against the elements and the hazards of the terrain (and local fauna), handling any activity without sacrificing anything in the way of style.

That's also an apt description of the new Cayenne Turbo, hands-down the sportiest SUV around. For 2011 it gets a sleeker and more aggressive appearance, better performance and fuel economy, garnering it the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title (they noted that "the Cayenne's driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender"). Powered by a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine generating 500 hp, it can do 0–60 mph in just 4.4 seconds if you're so inclined. Equipped with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel-drive system it can do just about anything else. Fitted with Porsche's new eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a luxurious leather interior influenced by the Panamera, it features a state-of-the-art navigation system with real-time traffic updates, a surround sound system with iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, 18-way adaptive sport seats and more – in short, all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a $105,000 SUV with a Porsche pedigree.

Gallery: Rugged Fall Style - Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Grousa sweater jacket by Fjallraven; tumbled leather boots by Ralph Lauren

Moto jacket by LINCS by David Chu; shirt, tie and pants by Ralph Lauren; boots by Hunter

Cashmere sweater by Brooks Brothers; shirt and pants by Ralph Lauren; cap by Locke & Co., London

Gentry Russell boots by Wolverine 1000 Mile; scarf by Hermes

Tags: alligator, Barbour, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, camera, cashmere, cognac, David Chu, equestrian, Fjallraven, Hunter, Hunter boots, hunting, LINCS, mens style, New England, Olympus, Panamera, Panerai, Persol, Pierre Ferrand, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SUV, tweed, UK, watches, Wolverine, Wolverine 1000 Mile

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Orvis Presents North America's Finest Hunting Lodges

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books

Last spring we reported that legendary Vermont-based sporting outfitters Orvis had published a great new book on fly fishing's finest destinations. Now the company has come out with an equally compelling companion volume on hunting game birds. Great Hunting Lodges of North America: Wingshooting's Finest Destinations (Rizzoli) is a lavishly illustrated look at the very best upland and waterfowl hunting destinations around. Profiles of almost 20 featured Orvis destinations celebrate the great American sporting tradition and include detailed information on the local game species and wildlife, the lodge and the surrounding countryside, along with in-depth sidebars on key game birds and sporting dogs. Even if you're merely an armchair adventurer who's never fired a shotgun the great outdoor photography is worth the price of admission in its own right. Featured lodges include the Eagle Nest Lodge in Montana, Flying B Ranch in Idaho, Greystone Castle in Texas, The High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado, Mexico's Rancho Caracol, Deer Creek Lodge in Kentucky, Harris Springs Sportsman's Preserve in South Carolina and Pine Hill Plantation in Georgia. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Great Hunting Lodges of North America

Tags: books, coffee table books, Colorado, dogs, fishing, fly fishing, Georgia, guns, hunting, hunting lodge, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Orvis, Rancho Caracol, shotgun, sporting, sports, Texas, Vermont, wildlife

Hunt with Eagles on Dunhill's Luxury Adventure Tour

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Men's Style

Famed London luxury goods firm Dunhill is collaborating with UK adventure travel firm Black Tomato on a new series of excursions replicating a famed Dunhill journey in 1930. In that year Dunhill's Clement Court traveled overland from Paris to Japan to secure the very finest Japanese lacquered goods for the firm. Dunhill and Black Tomato are now offering modern versions of Court's epic journey, with appropriately luxurious accommodations and adventuresome activities along the way. The excursions are designed to demonstrate that "luxury is something more discerning, more elusive and more unique than just a price tag", as they put it.

The concept of discovery and exploration has been a hallmark of the Dunhill brand since 1893, as reflected in its most recent collections. The luxury packages are priced from about $4,500 and include destinations such as Paris, Moscow, Mongolia and Japan. Experiences include a private tour of the Louvre in Paris while the museum is closed, a flight in a Russian fighter jet above Moscow, learning eagle hunting in Mongolia (above) and bathing in Japan's oldest mineral hot springs. Guests can also opt to recreate Court's entire journey, including 10 days in a private cabin on the Golden Eagle Trans Siberian railway, starting at about $44,000.

Source

Tags: Black Tomato, Dunhill, hunting, Japan, London, Louvre, luxury goods, luxury travel, Mongolia, Moscow, Paris, Russia, train, travel, UK

Shiekh Wheels: Rolls-Royce Debuts Bespoke Editions for Abu Dhabi

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

A regular old Rolls-Royce? Strictly for peasants, my friend. No filthy rich oil sheikh would be caught dead in one. Hence the new bespoke Phantom editions built specially for Abu Dhabi, which as we all know has the actual cash, as opposed to Dubai which thrives on flash and debt thanks to Abu Dhabi's indulgence. Inspired by the emirate's "rich culture and landscape" emphasis on rich – the new models are of course extremely vulgar and insanely expensive. The special edition Phantom Drophead Coupe (above) is called Shaheen, after the local word for the prestigious peregrine falcon used for hunting. It features a marquise-white exterior with Tudor red lines and a red and seashell leather interior, brass falcon inlays and falcon embroidered head-rests. The Phantom sedan meanwhile is named Baynunah after Abu Dhabi's sand dune covered western region. Fittingly finished in shades of brown and tan, it features hand-crafted inlay and marquetry, some of it applied with tweezers to ensure maximum precision, and a solid gold Spirit of Ecstasy on the hood. Better bring a solid gold bucket.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi Editions

Tags: Abu Dhabi, bespoke, custom cars, Dubai, hunting, oil, Rolls Royce, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, sheikh, UAE, wealth

The Classicist: London's Williams Evans & the "Affordable" Bespoke Shotgun

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Bespoke shotguns have been part of the wealthy British gentleman's essential sporting kit since the turn of the last century. They're as much a part of the English country house persona as tweeds, wellington boots and Range Rovers. Such guns are often passed down from father to son and are cared for like the precious objects they most certainly are. All these things they have long been, but up until now they have never been what one would call "affordable". Now William Evans (above), a top-drawer London gunmaker since 1883, is aiming to change all that with a new line of lower-priced bespoke shotguns that still deliver the quality one expects from a well-established London gunsmith.

William Evans first learnt his craft by working for famed gunsmiths James Purdey & Son and Holland & Holland. In 1883 he founded his own gunmaking business near Buckingham Palace and by 1888 his reputation had grown enough for him to move to more prestigious premises in Pall Mall, opposite St. James's Palace. By this time the core of William Evans' client list was firmly established, notably with military officers in the Guards Regiments who ordered sporting guns and rifles before being posted to various parts of the Empire. The move to St. James's, the heart of London's gentlemen's club district, further strengthened his client list and the company attracted the patronage of members of several prestigious clubs such as White's, Boodles and Brooks.

Gallery: William Evans Gunsmith

Tags: bespoke, bespoke+guns, bespokeguns, British style, guns, hunting, London, men, mens style, Range Rover, shotgun, sporting, sports, UK, William Evans, william+evans+london, williamevanslondon

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The Classicist: E. Tautz, A Sartorial Star Reborn on Savile Row

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

E. Tautz & Sons, the venerable fine men's tailoring firm founded by Edward Tautz in London in 1867, has been resurrected by Savile Row's Norton & Sons to carry on its impeccable sartorial standards in a new century. Tautz began as a sporting tailor and introduced many innovations such as waterproof tweeds and knickerbocker breeches for the hunting set. By 1897 Tautz had been granted a Royal Warrant from the King of Italy, The King and Queen of Spain and The Emperor of Austria. Winston Churchill placed his first order with the firm in 1895 and continued to be a valued customer for the next 20 years; later on Tautz dressed such natty notables as David Niven and Cary Grant, and in 1968 the company was incorporated into the larger Savile Row firm of Norton & Sons and ceased to be a standalone label.

As Norton's owner Patrick Grant explained to Style Salvage, though quality on the level of Tautz's offerings doesn't come cheap, fine tailoring in the bespoke tradition pays for itself in the long run. "Tailoring is an incredibly efficient way of buying clothes cost wise and you really get what you pay for," he notes. "You are getting tremendous value for money if you go to a tailor and it just so happens that [Tautz is] in the middle of a community of the best tailors in the world. 'The only name in your suit should be your own' is the old adage and that is a nice way of thinking about it." Of course, custom made isn't for everyone, but Tautz is the next best thing as it shares many of the same tailoring methods with Norton's Savile Row workshops.

"We champion the notion of dressing properly and of men taking pride in what they wear," reads Tautz's mission statement. "We adhere to the age old belief that how you dress reflects your respect for the event and for your host. Edward VIII said it best. 'Be always well and suitably dressed for every conceivable occasion." FIne fabrics including the world's best wools and cashmere are a cornerstone of the Tautz style. Prices for Tautz's new ready-to-wear collection start at $300 for cotton sport shirts, $600 for knitwear, $1,500 for outerwear and $1,700 for sport coats. To begin with the collection will be sold in the U.S. exclusively through Barneys New York.

Gallery: The Return of E. Tautz

Tags: Barneys, Barneys New York, bespoke, Cary Grant, cashmere, David Niven, E. Tautz, E. Tautz Sons, hunting, London, Norton Sons, Royal Warrant, Savile Row, tailoring, Winston Churchill

Bespoke Safari Boots from Frosdick of London

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Shoes, Men's Style

In recent months we've written about the resurgence of luxury expeditions to Africa and the New Safari Style. Now newly-minted British design firm Frosdick of London is launching its first line of bespoke, vintage-inspired safari-style boots called the "Out of Africa" collection. Taking design cues from the British Colonial "great white hunter's" classic attire, the boots are made entirely by hand in Northamptonshire, UK, using only the finest leather from Italian tanneries combined with pure cotton 20-ounce canvas woven in Scotland's Dundee. The boots, available for both men and women, are lined with the softest calf leather for comfort and durability and trimmed with elegant, Italian solid brass buckle fastenings. The canvas uppers can also be finished in genuine Burchell's zebra skin and ostrich leather, both ethically sourced in Africa.

In addition the firm is offering a range of made-to-order ladies' bags finished in exotic Kudu and Springbok hides. The authentic skins feature the natural markings that only a life in the wilds of Africa can bestow. One of the longest-horned antelopes, greater Kudu can have impressive spiral horns measuring six feet long. Each bag is lined with brightly colored pure linen and features a useful choice of straps and finest quality Italian brass fittings. The bespoke products will be available starting this summer with prices expected to begin at about $6,000 for boots and $4,000 for bags. Other items can be custom made and are limited only by your imagination. Contact davfro@btinternet.com for more info.

Gallery: Frosdick of London

Tags: Africa, boots, canvas, exotic leather, Frosdick of London, hunting, leather, London, ostrich, ostrich skin, safari, UK, zebra, zebra skin

August Heckscher's Winter Cottage, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Who, you might ask, is August Hecksher? Newsday reports that Hecksher was an industrialist, real estate developer and philanthropist. His legacy includes both the Hecksher State Park in East Islip, New York and Heckscher Park in Huntington, New York as well as Huntington's Hecksher Museum of Art. Hi former winter cottage is a 1902 cedar shake Dutch colonial on 1.05 acre in the Huntington community of Wincoma.

It has a beautiful wide porch, a kitchen and butlers pantry and six bedrooms total, two of which were likely used as servants' rooms at one point. The bathrooms have been remodeled. The property has a pool, greenhouse and a hot tub. The listing says that there is a pool complex and underground spa and waterfall but it's not in the listing pics. This home is listed at $2.5 million.

Gallery: August Heckscher's Winter Cottage

Tags: august hecksher, dutch colonial, estate of the day, hunting, new york

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The Ultimate Gentleman's Shooting Companion from Viscount Linley

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Spirits, Sports, Men's Style

Shooting grouse at one's country estate in England is a time-honored tradition, and every sporting gentleman worthy of the name owns a pair of fine bespoke shotguns from Purdey or Holland & Holland. Of course it's thirsty work, and so Viscount David Linley has come up with the perfect accessory to put in the back of the Range Rover when setting off for a day's sport. The Linley Shooting Companion (above), priced at about $5,600, is a traveling case constructed of oiled walnut with saddle leather handles and an inlaid engravable, hallmarked sterling silver plaque. The case contains two lead crystal decanters with sterling silver plaques laid onto square rosewood stoppers, a cigar cutter and a walnut box to hold eight Corona No. 5's. A removable walnut rack walnut holds eight pewter tumblers, numbered 1 to 8 to reference the shooting pegs given to sportsmen denoting their gun positions.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: David Linley, DavidLinley, English country house, EnglishCountryHouse, hunting, luggage, shooting, shotgun, sporting, UK

The Classicist: Highland Living at Scotland's Storied Cawdor Castle

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Sports, Books, The Classicist

Cawdor Castle, one of Scotland's greatest estates which dates back to 1380, is the centerpiece of a beautiful new book focusing on the very best of Scottish style. Highland Living: Landscape, Style, and Traditions of Scotland (Flammarion, $39.95) by Stéphane Bern and Franck Ferrand with photographs by Guillaume de Laubier opens with a foreword by the castle's formidable mistress, Angelika, the Dowager Countess Cawdor (above). Born in Bohemia and raised in Africa, the exotic beauty was a fashion editor at Vogue and directed a marketing company in Paris before marrying the late Hugh, 6th Earl Cawdor and 24th Thane, and falling in love with the Scottish Highlands. In 30 years at Cawdor she has given new life to the legendary estate while preserving its historic heritage and way of Highland living.

At the heart of Scotland lies the legendary Cawdor Castle, best known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, the title character of which was made Thane of Cawdor. With its rich history, vibrant grounds and deep lochs, ancient, stony ruins, stewardship of revered traditions, and completely sustainable existence, the Cawdor estate, occupying over 49,000 acres, exemplifies the essence of the Highlands. Its magnificent interiors are filled with glorious antiques and handcrafted furniture, tartan accessories, hunting trophies and painted landscapes. Kilts and bagpipes, salmon and fly fishing, grouse shooting, hunting dogs, Land Rovers, shotguns and Barbour jackets, the shady realm of the Big Wood, thematic gardens, windswept moors, haggis and Scotch whisky are all part of life at the storied Castle.

Gallery: Highland Living at Cawdor