So the punters want to splash some hard-saved cash on high-end items… They’ve had weeks cooped up to dream about what they might buy and suddenly they’re unleashed. What are they looking for? We allowed ourselves to dream big…
Purdey Mens Technical Tweed Field Coat
The classic Purdey field coat has been updated in newly developed technical tweed. The fabric is one third lighter than traditionally woven tweed and results in a more comfortable garment. Through a combination of yarn twist and the introduction of a very small amount of nylon, it is very hard-wearing.
The design features a high collar for protection, action back for unrestricted arm movement, and security pockets for storage. The hand warmer pockets contain a retainer strap for the flaps of the cartridge pockets to ensure you have easy access when loading and the sleeves are finished with a lycra storm cuff to keep cold air out. 95 per cent wool, 5 per cent nylon, woven in Scotland.
RRP £995.00
Purdey, 0207 499 1801
enquiries@purdey.com
Ariat Catalyst Defiant
Billed as the perfect boot for the serious outdoorsman, these premium performance boots are constructed from the finest waterproof leather and feature a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane, as well as a temperature-managing X-Static layer for odour protection.
The Vibram outsole offers superior traction and durability while the protective rubber prevents scuffs and scratches and the high rebound PU midsole dissipates impact.
Built on an anatomically contoured last for a true fit and featuring a moulded TPU heel cradle as well as a premium leather collar and tongue lining, the Catalyst Defiant is the ultimate in comfort and performance.
RRP £320
Ariat 01367 242818
customerservice@ariat.com
Blaser F3 Professional
We’re a bit spoiled for shotgun choice once we start looking for something high end. The Blaser F3 shotgun will apparently “outperform all others”. The F3’s outstanding pointability and balance will be more than a match for any sporting target and regardless of the setting. Blaser’s shotgun brings new meaning to the words “intuitive shooting” through ergonomics and advanced technology.
The F3 shown, comes with Grade 10 wood, Gold adjustable trigger, interchangeable beads, five chokes (either extended or flush), fore end and stock weights for balancing, left or right handed with palm swell, choice of fore end (English, Schnabel, Semi-Beavertail), Barrel length 28-32”, Gauge 12-20-28-410, 10 year warranty and all presented in a lockable, flight-approved ABS case.
SRP £12,150.00
Blaser, 01483 917412
blaser.de/en
ZCO ZC420
Every single Zero Compromise Optic (ZCO) riflescope is subject to extreme and intensive real-world testing such as impact and vibration prior to leaving the facility.
ZCO promise they never build products to meet a budget, they manufacture to deliver uncompromised performance: the quality and precision of ZCO riflescopes is never compromised nor sacrificed in favour of production quantity. Available in 4-20×50 or 5-27×56.
SRP starting at £3,250
RUAG Ammotec UK, 01579 362319
ruag.co.uk
Zoli Ambassador
Can there be such a thing as a ‘budget’, high-end shotgun? Whatever the answer is to that one thing we know for sure is that at its price the Zolli offers remarkable value for money.
All Ambassador models are identifiable thanks to the action and monoblock manufactured by master artisans with the chisel technique. The result is immediately recognisable: a semi-round action with perfect volumes and lines that harmoniously fit with the stock.
In line with all Z-Series guns, the Ambassador enjoys a lifetime guarantee on the silver soldering of the barrels, high performance ballistics, stainless steel firing pins, and Zoli’s iconic detachable trigger mechanism as standard.
Customers can also enjoy the experience of visiting the Zoli Factory and choosing their exhibition grade stock for their Ambassador for £350 (incl flights, 1 night accommodation, transfers, lunches*) through the ‘Your Zol, Your Way’ factory trip. The price of the trip is deducted from the final RRP of the gun.
RRP from £10,915.00
Edgar Brothers, 01625 613177
edgarbrothers.com
Longthorne ‘Hesketh’
Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, British gunmakers Longthorne’s range of luxury ‘true’ sidelock shotguns and their new range of ‘boxlocks’ continue to be made entirely at their Northampton factory by their growing and dedicated team who are all extremely passionate about what they do.
Clients wanting to purchase one of Longthorne’s bespoke guns are able to visit the factory, choose their wood, discuss and see the various options and meet the team, and then once their wood is ‘headed up’ to fit an action visit again for a personalised gun fit when the wood is shaped by hand to meet the clients requirements. The guns are steel-proofed, light and yet strong and are apparently ‘very smooth to shoot’.
The ‘true sidelock’ (luxury) range start at £24,995 inc vat.
Longthorne Guns 01772 811215
longthorneguns.com
Aya Number One ‘de Luxe’
If you want to purchase a luxury shotgun but don’t feel able to face ‘London’ prices, it is possible to get hold of something at a slightly lower level that claims to be of the same quality.
This gun is finished in England, built on the tried and tested Nº 1 action and comes into this country in the white: it is engraved, hardened, blued and polished by leading UK masters of these crafts.
Modelled closely on the classic Holland & Holland-style sidelock, the Nº 1 has every hallmark of the traditional English-style double.
RRP £27,011
ASI Ltd 01728 688555
a-s-i.co.uk
Harkila Pro Hunter Endure Jacket
The Harkila Pro Hunter Endure Jacket is an innovative, extremely hard wearing men’s shooting jacket with a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane with Cordura reinforcements on the hard wearing zones.
The Pro Hunter Endure is a beautifully constructed technical men’s Hunting coat made in a Polyamide heavy canvas and AirTech which is a unique textile combining extreme durability with great comfort.
The coat is soft, breathable windproof, waterproof and dirt-repellent—all valuable attributes when shooting in all terrain in harsh conditions. This elegant men’s shooting coat is in a league of its own with all the functionality you could possibly need for a successful days’ shooting. Available in EU sizes C46–64
RRP £499.99
Harkila, 01844 237944
www.harkila.com
Pulsar Thermion Series
The Thermion riflescopes from Pulsar incorporate some of the latest thermal technology, packaged in a familiar day scope format. The Thermion XM30, XM38 and XM50 units are fi tted with a 320×240 12μm thermal sensors, while the XP38 and XP50s have a 640×480 17μm thermal sensor.
Detection ranges are up to 2300m depending on the model; all models have a digital zoom capability. These fully waterproof (IPX7) devices allows for an instant start-up and have full-colour HD 1024×768 AMOLED displays, featuring eight colour palettes, picture-in-picture mode and multiple reticles in four colour options.
The Thermion series has a rechargeable B-Pack Mini combined power system, providing a long-lasting performance, built-in video and still image recording in mp4 and jpg formats, as well as 16GB of internal storage. The scopes are also Stream Vision compatible.
SRP: £2,979.95 – £4,539.95
Thomas Jacks, 01789 264100
thomasjacks.co.uk
Lintran Side Stacker and Dog Box
A treat for you and your best friend. Pimp your ride and his with a combined Side Stacker and Dog Box and now see if anyone wants to borrow your 4×4 for the supermarket run.
The basic RRP here gets you standard sizes, but these beauties can be customised to fit almost any shape you have. Get in touch for more details. And with over 30 years experience of transporting animals for Battersea Dogs Trust and other professionals you can be sure this is a top-notch, mobile dog hutch.
RRP Side Stacker £799,
Dog Box £450
Lintran Transit Box 01673 885959
lintran.co.uk
Hornady Precision Hunter
More ammunition to suit the growing number of long-range hunters here, though the ‘gimmick’ with the Hornady Precision Hunters is that they’re kind of two bullets in one, one that reacts well to high-velocity impacts at low ranges, and one that also knows to spread for high-range, low-velocity impacts. So what you have here is a bullet that will expand/mushroom at extended range (low velocity) and not over-expand or blow up at conventional (high velocity) range.
The key to this is the Heat Shield Tip, which thanks to its construction from polymers with a high heat threshold keeps its shape better than a conventional tip across the whole flight, so that short range velocity does not come at the expense of high range accuracy. The Precision Hunter comes in a large variety of sizes from .243 all the way up to a very meaty 38 magnum round and satisfyingly costs more than two quid per pop.
Starting from £41.20 for a box of 20
Edgar Brothers, 01625 613177
edgarbrothers.com
Gateway1 Pro Shooter 7mm Side Zip
Time to throw out your tatty, dog-chewed wellies and treat yourself to a new pair? Why not pick up a pair of Gateway1’s warmest wellingtons? These beauties are lined with 5mm Neoprene and then a 2mm air spacer which cuts down on dreaded condensation (the enemy of the welly wearer, creating cold feet). And they’re fleece-lined too.
The sole unit has an extra deep tread and a TPU shank for extra stability. This is complete with Lynx Ice Grip to secure optimal grip from -45C to +35C, an insole akin to a sports trainer gives maximum support and comfort.
They also feature an AYKK zip to the side and an adjustable gusset with high abrasive resistant Spandex to the rear which due to its position reduces snagging on brambles and the like.
Finally, the boots are reinforced with Japan Rubber to exposed areas which allows for 2.5 times the normal flex test results in pre-production testing. In UK sizes 7 to 14 in Olive and 8 to 15 in Mossy Oak.
RRP £199.99
Koolbox 01509 233333
www.koolbox.co.uk
Emberleaf Bran Special Editions
There are knives, and there are knives, just ask Crocodile Dundee. But what you get with a Bran can be something very special ndeed, and this version is almost mythical.
Wickedly honed blade made out of Damascus Steel? Check. Corby Rivets and Pommel Cap? Check. Handle made out of 60,000 year-old mammoth ivory? Erm, check.
Now if that isn’t the best bragging rights at the after-hunt cook up then we don’t know what is. And, of course, this classic bush knife is also reassuringly expensive.
RRP £1,500
Emberleaf Workshops, 01428 707933
www.emberleaf.com
Zeiss DTI 3/35
This is the first thermal imaging camera that Zeiss has developed specifically for the hunting market, combining a high-resolution display that delivers detailed images with a well-balanced, ergonomic design. The ambition is to make it possible for us to be able to clearly identify our prey, even in poor light.
Thoughtfully, the camera zooms in extremely fine increments, allowing for the pinpointing of quarry, and the buttons are designed to be easily used when wearing gloves.
Images can be live streamed using the Zeiss hunting app and shared with your fellow hunters on the fly. With a battery life of seven hours promised, and coming in at a not-too-hefty 450 grams, this smart piece is on many people’s treat list.
RRP from £2,650
Zeiss
01223 401 525
zeiss.co.uk/consumer-products/hunting
Swarovski STR 80 – 25-50x W MRAD
Spotting scopes allow you to make out details over long distances. This is a crucial benefit during target practice, for instance. Using the high magnification of the STR 80 spotting scope with reticle, you can confidently identify where you need to adjust the impact point and make the appropriate adjustment on the riflescope.
Thanks to its crystal-clear HD optics and 80-mm objective diameter, the STR 80 spotting scope provides impressive detail recognition, as well as bright, lifelike images, even in poor lighting conditions.
The STR 80 spotting scope’s reticle, which can be activated and deactivated, allows you to comfortably switch between accurately estimating distances and uninterrupted viewing. It is also perfect for documenting events while digiscoping.
RRP from £2,860
Swarovski Optik, 0800 3242 5056
uk.swarovskioptik.com
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