Recently I sent five rifles for some gunsmithing work from Michigan to Illinois. Yep, I fit all five comfortably in the one container. Went to UPS, knowing they only hire gorillas to handle cargo.
Well, the gorillas did not prevail.
The Tuff Pak looks like it has been to Fallujah and back, a couple of times, but none of the contents suffered at the rough handling of UPS!
BTW- I bought my TP from Mims Reed who is a regular here.
Posts: 19602 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001
I bought mine many years ago.....it's been to Alaska and Africa......and seen a lot of the USA.....and still in excellent shape.....it was a lot of $$$.....and worth every nickel.
Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
Thank you Ann (and others)for the good words. Most appreciated. I have 20 more inbound tomorrow just in case Santa Clause needs some more as he flies over Texas. You can order them off the www.hunters-hq.com web site of course or just call 817 267 3700 and we will chase down the Pony Express rider. We will have them in our booth at Dallas Safari Club Convention (www.biggame.org) and at the Houston Safari Club Convention plus we will be happy to shake your hand and pick your pockets in Reno at the Tuffpak booth (202 -204).
Posts: 1529 | Location: Texas | Registered: 15 December 2003
The Tuff Pak will also hold a good size brown bear skull.
When the Penn Air ticket agent announced that the hundred plus pound bear hide alone reached the limit of weight that the airline would carry in one box I had to do something else with the skull that was packed in with the hide.
There was just 10 minutes left before boarding the plane. I couldn't pack the skull in a separate box because I had the hide box, a tuff pak and also a large backpack and that made three items - which was the airlines limit.
In a moment of inspiration I opened my tuff pak and threw the wet and dirty clothes and a pair of old tennis shoes into a trash can at the airstrip. The skull still wouldn't fit so I took the cloth gun case off my rifle and added the case to the trash can and then put the naked rifle back into the Tuff Pak.
Now the greasy and bloody bear skull slid right into the tuff pak and arrived home quite safely. After wiping a little blood off the rifle barrel I found that it was fine also.
Posts: 2251 | Location: Mo, USA | Registered: 21 April 2002
Help me out here. Having never seen one, a Tuffpak looks an awful like one of the hardsided cases for golf clubs. I have seen the golf club cases in various configurations including one like a Tuffpak that opens from the top. The key difference is that the golf club hardside cases are about 2/3 the price of a Tuffpak. What gives?
Posts: 294 | Location: Waunakee, WI USA | Registered: 10 February 2004
I recommend those of you considering buying one give Mims a personal call, he is quite a gentleman and a lot of fun to talk to.
In addition to this episode of gobs of guns to my gunsmith, last June I took this container bear hunting in Idaho, only I loaded it with my bow and plenty of delicate gear with some clothing. Again, everything transported just fine.
Allen, you sound like me, I hand carried some bear meat home.
My case will follow me back to the Dark Continent in late August of 2005 loaded with two rifles and a bow.
Posts: 19602 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001
I will be in Dallas for the Safari club weekend. I do not plan on coming back to Mississippi without a new Tuff Pak. Please make sure you have plenty for sale at the convention.
Posts: 323 | Location: Jackson, Miss | Registered: 12 October 2004
Are these cases lockable?? I guess they must be since you can check them as airtravel luggage containing firearms?? The pictures on the website look as if the case is shut with a piece of webbing and a quick-release buckle. No sign of a locking mechanism. Or is locking done with a padlock??
Would the current users of these cases trust them with heavy loads?? When travelling across the Atlantic, max weight per bag is 72 lbs. Would this case handle a load as heavy as that?? (I guess a bear skin/skull is pretty heavy?? )
- mike
Posts: 6653 | Location: Switzerland | Registered: 11 March 2002
I have been using mine since the first year of production I think, it has been around the world probably 25 times, it's a bit scuffed up but thats about it...
Mims was in knee pants when I got mine, ah no make that diapers, he is still in Knee pants.
If I ever get another I will get it from Mims as we are pretty good friends, note I said pretty good, that keeps me on guard. Same for the rest of that Dallas and AR bunch, mostly thugs of the lowest order, but then I have a lot of friends in low places....
Posts: 42209 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
Yes, they use a vending machine lock that is pretty fair. So they have both the strap with a FasTex buckle, and a lock that also keeps the top of the case attached.
Have taken mine to both Argentina and Africa. Used to take my Browning Travel Vault. The Browning is still the toughest and most durable, plus the easiest to put the locks on, but the TuffPak offers more versatility and that's what I use now.
I bought one from Harry, too. I've used it suceessfully to Africa and other trips around the US. It works. Its' downside is its' size. If you happen to have a small sedan waiting for you on the other side you may not be able to fit it in. If it's a pickup truck or a van, then you're fine.
The small size TuffPak may be better if you have a takedown rifle.
Posts: 691 | Location: UTC+8 | Registered: 21 June 2002
Quote: Yes, they use a vending machine lock that is pretty fair.....
I have heard some troubling things about the circular lock and would like to know if it can be defeated like the Kryptonite bike locks can be with a bic pen. I read on another gun board that the locks on the Stack On cabinets can be picked as well. I was wondering if someone could test theirs?
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