The Norfolk Liar

Cruise the aisles at Safari Club International, The Vintage Cup or the Gold Medal Concours with one of these trinkets on a lanyard around your neck, and you're guaranteed of conversation. The Americans will ask "What is it?" and the Brits will say, "A Norfolk Liar! Where'd you find that?" The answers: It's a game counter; it's not an antique, it's new; and you get 'em at Lewis Drake's booth, which is always stocked not only with eye-popping guns but also lately with an assortment of pukka-sahib, days-of-Empire Victoriana and Edwardiana that beggars description. This game counter is only the latest in an inventory that includes hatchet-headed walking sticks, Damascus-steel arrowheads from the Raj, buffalo-horn dog whistles and gun-cleaning cabinets full of intriguingly arcane tools and bits, all new reproductions hand-made for Drake on the Sub-Continent.

The game counter has four numerical dials, each with a pointer that can be clicked from zero up to 30 and each marked for a different game species. This one counts pheasants, partridge, hares and rabbits. Because we don't usually shoot ground game here in the Colonies, Drake is having some struck differently.

These pleasingly weighty replicas, 27/16" long by 11/4" across and a quarter-inch thick, are beautifully done in brass and German silver, and they seem to be better quality than the antique versions. Even at $300, they are somewhat less expensive, too. And if these aren't posh enough for you, Drake plans to render a few in sterling silver and even in gold and will stamp on them whatever name you wish-your shooting club, your estate, your paramour.

For more information, contact Roosevelt & Drake, 418 Main St., Murray, KY 42071; 270-753-7200; www.rooseveltanddrake.com.