Stalking Equipment

HILLSLIP

Nowadays rifles come in different lengths ( sound moderators ) and with or without bipods so their slip has to be made accordingly . This is no problem as most of our slips are made to your order - just draw round the complete rifle on a two pieces of newspaper stuck together with a felt pen and we will make the slip so that your rifle will sit loosely in its own cover. I think we now know the shape of most moderated and bipodded rifles , so I try to keep some in stock , but they are popular -a bit like 32" gunslips - and they go quite quickly.

The slip itself is simple and practical with no frills, it is made from our best quality olive green canvas with ox blood leather trim ( or your choice ) it is designed to be easy to carry - it has a simple 3" wide webbing carrying strap ( no noisy buckles ) with a fool proof strap and buckle closing which is easy to open with cold, wet hands. This cover will protect your rifle and scope from the weather ( but not a hard knock ) and it is easy to dry overnight.

We emboss your initials on the closing strap tab.

Price: £145 plus VAT

SHEEPSKIN RIFLE SLIP

We also make a canvas or leather carrying slip for your rifle. I use this to carry the rifle if I am travelling any distance . To give good protection we use exactly the same construction as our famous gunslip with thick chocolate brown australian shearling lining; again we need the outline to make it. In this case the scope shape is quite important as scopes seem to be getting more expensive and fatter and longer ( thank goodness I found Novas years ago ). Again we emboss your initials on the slips oval.

BULLET POUCHES

We always have a lot of bullet pouches in stock because I like making them! It all started about 15 years ago whilst attempting to connect lead and very fast fur in a large French forest.I loved it - I remember describing it as similar to facing a black mini cooper being driven erratically through a huge wood to the sound of the trumpet voluntary. At the beginning of the day I was given a side lock Browning in 9.3 X 74R and a beautifully made bullet pouch filled with bullets the size of fountain pens and told to go and fire at a cardboard box 30 yards away. I cant remember if I hit the box, but I was hooked on pig shooting and must have done OK as I was allowed to take the bullet pouch home to copy. On subsequent french trips I gave these bullet pouches to various hosts and they all commented on their quality.

SMALL POUCH

This purse shaped pouch takes 4 bullets in calibres from .22-250 up to and including 9.3 X 74R and .375 H and H. , .243, .308. .275 .300 win mag etc all fit perfectly as they do in the large pouch. These pouches have a double back which allows you to slide them onto a belt, but I think its real place is in your pocket .

We also make make an express version of this pouch which takes .416 Rigby, .470 etc. If you are a big bore man then you will know that the Rigby bullet is the longest of the big chaps and therefore any express bullet will fit. Because the bullet retaining loops are leather they are flexible and will accommodate those larger diameter ( .577 etc ) bullets.

Materials; this is the fun part - we used to make them only in light or dark havana brown best Sedgewicks bridle hide and it is very nice to receive glowing praise for these pouches made in this very classic waxed hide. But I couldn't help myself and as I speak we have in stock pouches in Sedgewicks Light and dark havana, mid green cowhide, light weight light and dark havana grained cowhide, black elephant hide, bottle green and dark brown tejun lizard, claret ostrich thigh hide and dark brown crocodile. The only problem is that I am sure that at a Game Fair someone is going to say that there is nothing to suit him!

LARGE BULLET POUCH

This pouch is the large version of the above, double back , ring stud closing, the same range of colours and leathers as the small pouch but it holds 8 bullets.It takes exactly the same calibres.
As above we carry the same stock in the longer, express bullet version.
I think this pouch works well on a belt or in your roe sack.I hope you wont need them , but in my years as a pro roe stalker we did need them occasionally and when you do then its nice to have 9 extra rounds for the chase.

THE SAFARI POUCH

This is the pouch that fired my imagination in that French forest whilst waiting for the black mini coopers to show ( sometimes a 100 Kg pig will cross the allee making absolutely no noise which is rather embarrassing if you are admiring the beautiful french workmanship on your hosts bullet pouch ). This pouch is often given as a gift as with all these pouches it is beautifully made by Joe our Scottish/ German hippie leather worker, it folds in 3 and holds 9 bullets again in the same calibres as above. The bullets are arranged with 5 on one side and 4 on the other and when the pouch is folded over the 4 fit into the gaps between the 5 opposite. This arrangement makes the bullet heads visible on the open pouch, so the African hunter can have solids on one side and the softs on the other and it is always apparent which is which. This also applies in this country when you might carry perhaps ballistic tips on one side and regulars on the other. Of course we make safari pouches in express size and in all the varieties of leather and colour. A very handsome gift to a friend or host.

.222 BULLET POUCH

Last but not least I make a 12 round pouch specifically for the .222 round, it is very similar, but smaller than the standard large pouch. I am a great fan of this wonderful accurate and comfortable calibre and I needed a pouch for myself, so .222 fans have not been left out.

BULLET RESERVE

Something new; this very simple bullet carrier is designed to carry the bullets that you refill your rifle with each time you go stalking. It is lightweight, takes 4 ,5 or 6 bullets, very flexible and takes up no room in your pocket when empty ( no awkward bullet pouch to get in the way whilst you are crawling ). We also make two reserves that press stud together end on end - to form a 6" circle - if you think you might have a parcel of hinds in a tight place then these reserves will fit over your left hand wrist and be immediately available if you are clever enough to shoot the 'auld yen' first and then need some quick reloads The reserves are made from green webbing and bound at either end with pigskin.

Price:- £25 plus VAT

BULLET SLIDES

I dont profess to be a veteran of the Dark Continent but I have taken note of what the PHs like in the way of kit and in the bullet department they want a simple looped arrangement that slips on to the belt. Not usually having to worry about rain it doesnt need to have a cover and simple is good. Our Bullet Slide has been very well received and it has a small but growing following for use in this country. Effectively it is a stiffened bullet reserve on a belt slide with the loops made to the exact diameter of the cartridge in question. They each hold 10 bullets and we block on the back the specific calibre. We make them in all calibres including the big ones .300 fl .375, .416 rigby .470, 500 nitro, .450, .475 no2 etc .

Price:- £35 plus VAT

RIFLE SLINGS

Slings are a very personal item and one mans meat is anothers poison. We make 3 types of slings all are well made and use traditional materials, you wont find any neoprene, elastic or cordura in our workshop!

The TRADITIONAL SLING

A simple 2" wide olive green webbing strap which is either plain or with an adjustable slide to alter the length; it has best quality bridle leather ends of two sorts ; either removable double headed solid brass rivets or what we call quiet ends - ends that have no metal - to secure it the leather end is doubled back and a round leather lace is plated backwards and forwards to secure it. So no lost chance when you are waiting for that buck and the sling moves and chafes the rifle.

The NO SLIP SLING

Again this is a copy of a sling made by a clients saddler years ago. It is a 3/4" leather sling encased by a soft pimply rubber sheath - it will not slip off your shoulder. I have had excellent feed back from users who tell me that they didnt realise how much effort they used to use putting the rifle back on the shoulder. I think it is particularly useful for woodland stalking when you sling the rifle forward with the muzzle up. The leather is dark brown and the sheath is either mid brown or black. You have the choice of quiet ( laced ) ends or removable riveted ends.

The LEATHER SLING

Does what it says on the tin. Dark Havana best bridle leather 1" wide or whatever width you prefer with quiet ( laced ) or riveted ends - it is so strong you can always use it as a drag rope or pull out the landrover if you get stuck. This is the classic sling and the PHs love them.

Sling Swivels,
The usual size of modern rifle sling swivels is 1" wide and we make our standard sling leather ends to this width, with the No Slip sling at ¾" wide. If you have an old rifle with narrower swivels its no problem as all are made to order and we are happy to make one offs - no extra charge. We also make short slings for double rifles and long ones for old rifles that have barrel clamped swivels. You tell us your requirements and we will make it.

Please state quiet or riveted ends.

ROE SACKS

You should only ever buy one roe sack so please buy the best. This sack is called the Sika because it will take one and also two roe. It is a professional sack with best quality waterproof lining ( as in truck sheet ) it has three pockets - two for bits and bobs and one for a telescope. The body is made from very strong rip stop material in olive colour and the straps etc are made from very heavy bridle leather. It has a hook and ring arrangement on one shoulder strap ( for loading ) and a chest strap makes it a pleasure ( almost ) to travel some distance. This sack is not cheap but it is top quality and is meant for heavy use age.

Price:- £175 plus VAT

BOLT CARRIERS

I am lucky in that we live in a thinly populated area and what we get up to goes largely unobserved; but clearly firearm 'safety' is an issue and when you go off for that well earned bacon sandwich then taking the bolt out of the rifle is an obviously sensible precaution. we make these bolt carriers from our waxed bridle leather and use brass rivets to secure the belt loop. The carrier will take the longest bolt and hold the handle securely with a brass press stud.

Price:- £25 plus VAT

BINOCULAR RAIN GUARD

This is a simple kidney shaped piece of lined leather with a rim hand stitched around it. Two small straps at each side hold the glass neck straps and allow it to slide up out of the way when the glass is in use . Simple and very effective. Almost as effective is a simple 'bib' of softish leather which hangs over the eyepieces; it has two holes on either side with the same principal as above.