As I wrote about on African Travel, my two gun cases went MIA in early August. I was heading to my African hunt in Namibia on about August 4th when I became so ill that I had to stop at Frankfurt and return home - and my gun cases did not. Of the three guns, one in particular is absolutely irreplaceable for sentimental reasons. Air Canada (which had also lost my luggage in July on the way to Oz) could not find it at all. It is easy to feel sorry for oneself when you can't keep your food down .. but to lose a rifle that has gone everywhere possible with you for 35 years - aieeeeeee!!! I mentioned it on Accuratereloadings and Todd Rather, out of Tuscon, Arizona who often posts here suggested that I contact a friend of his in Windhoek who might be able to help. His friend being the very well known Volker Grellman. I felt bad asking for a favour ... but I love that 8 Mag wildcat .. so I e mailed Volker. I'm sure that he is the busiest of fellows .. but he promptly went down to the airport with all the data that I had to find my 'musket' (s). While Air Canada could find nothing .. Volker established that they had been shipped (rush ! Ha!) on Air Namibia to Frankfurt on the 9th ...and were to go to Toronto on the 10th of August. He also gave me the name of the man in Frankfurt who is Air Namibia's rep. So I phoned Air Canada with the info (and talked to a nice girl in India who answers their telephone) and waited. A week later nothing so I phoned India again and told them to contact the representative in Frankfurt. That was last Friday. My guns arrived last night !!! I have no doubt at all that if Todd hadn't contacted me .. and if Volker Grellman hadn't gone to the airport and checked it out ... my guns would still be missing - and I expect maybe forever. It was 6 weeks in all !!! Over the years I have had so many good things happen because of Accuratereloadings .. and have met some wonderful fellows like Lorenzo of Uruguay, Canuck and Bill of British Columbia .. (I could go on and on) ... Hopefully some day I can repay Volker and Todd ... (I'll start with some great smoked salmon ... but hopefully someday a safari !!!) Hurray for Todd and Volker !! Hurray for AR ... Hell, Hurray for me !!!

Good on you mate!
- mike

Good thing you recover that ol' musket
I have use that rifle and is one of the greatest calibers I have ever seen...

Take care my friend and thanks for your words
L

Scruffy

Thank you for your kind words. It was my pleasure to help a fellow hunter.

I am looking forward to the salmon!

Good hunting!!!

Todd

Like the old saying, if you need something done ask a busy man for Volker!!!

They are good folks!

I don't know Scruffy, but I wish I did! I do know Volker, and he is top of the heap IMO! In this case Scruffy seems up there too!

Glad you got your rifles back! Congratulations, and I hope your illness is subsideing some!

quote:

Scruffy seems up there too!

He is.

Scruff...I missed all this before I took off to Tanz. I am sorry to hear you were ill and missed your trip, but am ecstatic to hear that you got your rifles back. I did a lot of research into what would happen if my rifles went missing at any point during my journey and the only part that was worrisome were the legs involving Air Canada (they don't have an agreement with KLM so if my rifles were delayed getting into Toronto they would sit there until I came back at the end of my safari!). Fortunately I didn't have any incidents...but I sure understand the feeling towards Air Canada.

Glad it all worked out. Will really have to get together for a brew sometime soon. Would love to hear about OZ and have lots of photos of Tanz to show you.

Cheers,
Canuck

Hey Scrufy,
I believe you should bring Canuck someday down here to show him how to shoot zig zag tatoos

L

This is why the hunting community in general is one of the best of breed! Gentlemen, I salute you.

Lorenzo, that tatoo still makes me laugh ... if buffs came at us like that - we'd be playing harps about now ...