The Fine Things In Life

[mikecatt13]

I'm a bit of a sentimental guy so aside from a great wife that loves to hunt and fish, our "fur kids", and some truly great friends and family, I have quite a few material things that hold far more sentimental value than monetary.

But for the fine material things:

-Firearms: Custom Blaser S2 and Blaser R8 are among my favorites especially prepping for safari, but dont tell the rest of them haha. Custom and/or hand built competition guns.

-more taxidermy than wall space and the hunts they represent...even before my first safari in Africa...

-custom ordered Ranger 621 walleye boat

-prodigy mud boat

-Rolls Royce, I'm bending the rules on having to have owned one, I've rented one and WILL own one...probably would already be making payments on a used one with these interest rates if the Africa bug didnt bite me lol.

 

[Buffalo1]

As an American, upon arriving at the Atlanta airport from a hunt in Africa- enjoying a good dressed hamburger and a Starbuck's Flat White coffee.

 

[Longwalker]

I like "things" as much as anyone, but I've chosen to put my money into outdoor properties instead of a bunch of physical luxuries. For me the thing that can't be bettered is the great privilege I have of owning and living at three different wild properties.
At home its a wonderful piece of native prairie, rare undisturbed fescue grassland that is rich in iconic wildlife like mule deer, coyotes, and other prairie species. And enough room for my own shooting range and a big garden and a developing orchard. Lots of room to roam, and train my pointing dogs to hunt.
At our bush camp it's a few hundred hectares of mixed boreal forest and small marshes and beaver ponds, interspersed with small hay fields. Bordering an unlimited roadless wilderness of crown land, available for unlimited exploring and hunting. The land has a dense population of our local Manitoban strain of elk, abundant huge whitetail deer, and a healthy population of moose and bear and lots of small game, grouse and waterfowl. Elk hunter success in our province runs about 20% for most hunters. I have taken an elk every year for 26 years if I recall correctly.
And our summer home is a tiny log cabin in the remote northern British Columbia lakes district. 20 hectares surrounded by crown land, with our own beach on a big lake full of trout and a little creek coming in from the side. Nearest neighbours across the lake. My wife and I enjoy complete solitude if we want, or friends visiting by boat or over the logging roads when we crave company. Days spent fishing for trout and picking berries, chasing bears out of the yard, hiking the mountain trails or paddling a canoe.
That is the finest things in life I recon.

Banjo Patterson described my kind of "finery" best...

"And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars."

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

A trip on Rovos Rail, probably the finest train in the world. Suitably attired. Bow ties, ladies in their elegant long dresses. I have yet to go, I have to enquire whether they will allow my Courteneys with a tux.

 

[John Telford]

And a 416 by Rigby. Did Westley Richards ever have a proprietary cartridge?

Most certainly Kevin the .318 and the .425 .

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

When we were talking fountain pens I think I brought up the Purdey- Mont Blanc. I visited the shop in Johannesburg and got to handle one of the last they have, truly beautiful things, but it will have to wait a while. What I did order though was a bottle of each of their cigar ink and whiskey ink, well it is a start - like buying ammo before your double.

 

[Newboomer]

All you Silver Spoon Trust Fund Nancy Boys make me sick
View attachment 364100

If you never had to wear Army Issued tighty-whities in Ft Benning Ga. in August

I sincerely sympathise. Been there, done that, not at Benning, but on a few rocks in the Pacific.

 

[mdwest]

All you Silver Spoon Trust Fund Nancy Boys make me sick
View attachment 364100

If you never had to wear Army Issued tighty-whities in Ft Benning Ga. in August

Spent more time at the Ft. Benning school for wayward boys than I care to remember..

The tighty whiteys were neither tight nor white though…

When I went through they were about 2 sizes too big and the same shade of doo doo brown as the issued t-shirt.. (I supposed they thought they hid the stains better that color?)

Was easier just to go commando… Georgia summer heat and humidity was woefully good at causing cases of flaming monkey butt and burning balls…

 

[Tanks]

When we were talking fountain pens I think I brought up the Purdey- Mont Blanc. I visited the shop in Johannesburg and got to handle one of the last they have, truly beautiful things, but it will have to wait a while. What I did order though was a bottle of each of their cigar ink and whiskey ink, well it is a start - like buying ammo before your double.

View attachment 410658

Better hurry up and get it. Purdey web site does not list it. It might have been a limited edition run.

 

[sambarhunter]

I suppose if Scotch is mentioned we should hit the top shelf.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2019/the-ultimate-whisky-collection/the-macallan-fine-rare-60-year-old-42-6-abv-1926

 

[Ruan Bouwer]

This thread is slightly different from 'some things can never be bettered', this time the theme is extreme quality. This may not appeal to all. Some are die hard practicalists to whom adequacy is right on, no problem with that either. But to some of us, the quest for quality is a driver. Let me say from the outset that this is not necessarily to do with money. Indeed half the fun is finding something exquisite in an antique shop, or at a boot sale. Or it may be consciously saving up over time for an expensive item, as was the case with my Verney Carron, its a basic model that is nevertheless top quality and what I could achieve.
So here is my opening:
Cut glass crystal that rings when you toast
Hand made knives with ivory bolsters
Top quality shirts
Courteney boots
Patrick Mavros silver cuff links, buffalo is the favourite.
Single malt Scotches

Pre '64 Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H.
Toyota Land Cruiser VX 200 on the road, Toyota Hilux 3.0 D4D on the ranch and Toyota Land Cruiser 79 in the bush.
Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 on a .270 Win.
Vanguard Bino Strap.
A packet of Camel Filters.
Original Zippo lighters.
Jack Daniels whiskey on the rocks.
My Rogue "vellies".
Original German Parka jacket.
Ray Ban shades.
Norma African PH 300gr rounds in .375 H&H.

 

[IvW]

And a 416 by Rigby. Did Westley Richards ever have a proprietary cartridge?

Yes .318 and .425 Westley Richards...

 

[Doug3006]

A Doc Watson guitar solo. Sunset off the pier in Key West. Rare prime rib with freshly ground horseradish. Buckling up for the first flight enroute to Africa.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Pre '64 Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H.
Toyota Land Cruiser VX 200 on the road, Toyota Hilux 3.0 D4D on the ranch and Toyota Land Cruiser 79 in the bush.
Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 on a .270 Win.
Vanguard Bino Strap.
A packet of Camel Filters.
Original Zippo lighters.
Jack Daniels whiskey on the rocks.
My Rogue "vellies".
Original German Parka jacket.
Ray Ban shades.
Norma African PH 300gr rounds in .375 H&H.

And the Norma African PH in 375 Flanged Magnum - almost too beautiful to shoot.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I like "things" as much as anyone, but I've chosen to put my money into outdoor properties instead of a bunch of physical luxuries. For me the thing that can't be bettered is the great privilege I have of owning and living at three different wild properties.
At home its a wonderful piece of native prairie, rare undisturbed fescue grassland that is rich in iconic wildlife like mule deer, coyotes, and other prairie species. And enough room for my own shooting range and a big garden and a developing orchard. Lots of room to roam, and train my pointing dogs to hunt.
At our bush camp it's a few hundred hectares of mixed boreal forest and small marshes and beaver ponds, interspersed with small hay fields. Bordering an unlimited roadless wilderness of crown land, available for unlimited exploring and hunting. The land has a dense population of our local Manitoban strain of elk, abundant huge whitetail deer, and a healthy population of moose and bear and lots of small game, grouse and waterfowl. Elk hunter success in our province runs about 20% for most hunters. I have taken an elk every year for 26 years if I recall correctly.
And our summer home is a tiny log cabin in the remote northern British Columbia lakes district. 20 hectares surrounded by crown land, with our own beach on a big lake full of trout and a little creek coming in from the side. Nearest neighbours across the lake. My wife and I enjoy complete solitude if we want, or friends visiting by boat or over the logging roads when we crave company. Days spent fishing for trout and picking berries, chasing bears out of the yard, hiking the mountain trails or paddling a canoe.
That is the finest things in life I recon.

Banjo Patterson described my kind of "finery" best...

"And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars."

Wow Longwalker, you live in a heaven.

 

[Joker12]

A big Ryman type English Setter that I trained myself and a crisp cool October day in Michigan's upper peninsula hunting for ruffs and woodcock. It doesn't get any better!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Late to this thread...

Time spent with my daughters, particularly outdoors.

My cabin.

A Harrington and Richardson 922 revolver. You couldn't get 75 bucks for it on GunBroker. It's from the first year of production. My grandfather bought it as a teen, with money from his trapline, and it's what I learned to shoot with. I'd give up every gun I own before I gave up it.

A Buck 105 knife. I have had it since HS and it's been a part of every North American big game animal I've ever skinned.

Bogey's... a local burger joint in Salina, KS. Burgers, curly fries, and shakes. There is no place in earth I'd rather eat, and that goes back 40 years to my HS days. No, I don't own it - someone mentioned that being a part of this. But I've bought enough burgers to feel like I own stock.

A 1976 Dodge D100 brown pick up. I have had it since HS. Soooo many memories...

I could probably list more, but I'll stop. Maybe you see a pattern. I place way more value on the sentimental aspect of objects than I do on monetary considerations. And if I like something I tend to hang onto it. A line from Lonesome Dove comes to mind: "Well, you know Deets. He ain't one to give up on a garment just because it's got a little age on it." (I have stuff from HS) I am at heart a very simple guy; I got that from my grandpa. At 54 I don't reckon that's likely to change.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Better hurry up and get it. Purdey web site does not list it. It might have been a limited edition run.

Will look on ebay too, nearly double the price in SA as in London.

 

[Tanks]

Will look on ebay too, nearly double the price in SA as in London.

eBay price is cheaper. Though it is more than I am willing to pay. I was done with fountain pens once I got out of boarding school.

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