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The “Salon de la Chasse” in Rambouillet.

I told You I was the guest of my friend the taxidermist Michel Vaillier .

The reception took place in a VIP lounge, few people but very posh. I never met so many ministers along with the most renowned PHs. I met a gentleman whose face I know but I cannot remember his name. He congratuled me about the big lion I shot last month.

In fact he shot his lion in the same place in the CAR but didn’t like the taste of lion meat. We chatted about many things concerning African game and Africa today. Michel explained me this gentleman was his lieutenant when fighting in Algeria. So I told him that at this time Michel resented badly the cruelty of letting the soldiers 6 months far from any military brothel.
In fact, this gentleman is HRH Jacques de France, Duke of Orleans, the older brother of the French King. Rare to find such a distinguished and hearty gentleman.
I wanted to see Mr Jeannot who sells doubles from Lebeau and Piotti and outstanding used doubles : not here. Ridon too.

Among the double makers I met :

Paul Demas, he had not time for me and for NitroX forum????? demas site

[image]membres.lycos.fr/jeanderunz/ blocdemas.jpg[/image]

Pierre Chapuis and his son (best craftsman (gunsmith) in France, hence the tricolour collar and the medal) . They were delighted a forum takes interest at their products.

Nice doubles lovely handmade and not expensive. What is stunning, the blueing. They know how to blue the engraved plates in lots of gradations of blue and yellow. Note they don’t make African doubles, their biggest is the classical 9.3-74R.

René Chapuis sons : always smiling and free for every customer.

They offer a wide range of S/S and O/U doubles and shotguns from the industrial basics to the bewitching custom made luxury rifles, matching British makers. They are very cheerful but sadly they don’t master the use of internet, don’t count on them to post on NitroExpress forum as yet.

Famars : luxury doubles, but no African DGRs. Nice toys but I know nothing about their solidity. If somebody on the forum can help. Was not P H Caspstick using a Famars double?

I saw many trophies. Outstanding bongo and elands, very nice Kudus and Oryx, a huge leopard. A pity many aren’t well stuffed. Many taxidermist just use standard polyurethane shapes and the trophies lack expression. Some games died once again in showing so ridiculously. I think of a reedbuck with eyes bulging like periscopes and veins striping his emaciated face, a second death.

Among the quads, I fell in love with the Yamaha Rhino.

Lucky the CAR stole all my money.

Guns novelties : the attractions were :

Blaser new F3 shotgun. Like every Blaser very technique and versatile. Sorry I don’t like Blaser, absolutely no sex appeal. The same for the Merkel double B3 displaying the common Blaser look.
Browning : the new Cynergy shotgun is beautifully modern. The know how of Browning and a stunning design.

Zeiss and

his new monster scope 6-24x72, splendid for light gathering and long distance shooting. Hard to beat.

AMMUNITION : the rage is the NOSLER ACCUBOND.
Nice dreams. jb

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"I don't want to create an encyclopedic atmosphere here when we might be having a beer instead" P H Capstick in "Safari the last adventure."