Field Gear

It's your lucky day. You've cleaned up the credit-card balance from all that holiday generosity, and the CPA says you have a tax refund coming. There are a few bucks to burn, and you've had some stuff on the wish list for a while now. Like the Filson slogan says: "Might as well have the best." So let's go for it-the top shelf.

Custom GunSafe Cabinet
I reviewed GunSafe's standard 6- and 12-gun cabinets in January/February 2006. According to owner William Schlabach, most orders that the four-year-old company receives are from discriminating clients with particular designs and styles in mind or who wish to personalize their cabinets.
The idea behind every GunSafe product is to provide a beautiful hardwood cabinet that is secure from curious children and relatively safe from thieves. Owners of prized firearms now can showcase their special guns or entire collections without undue worry.
All cabinets come with dimple-key locks-like those on casino gaming machines-that are virtually pickproof. Hidden deterrents include a pair of steel bars encased in hardwood cladding that span the barrels and stocks. The upper bar locks and unlocks with the same key that the door requires. Some owners add an optional polycarbonate shield that prevents firearm disassembly, even if someone breaks the door glass and reaches in.
Schlabach, an Amish artisan who hand-makes the cabinets in Illinois along with other craftsmen, incorporates his custom pieces into existing furniture styles and motifs in homes and offices around the country. A Florida client, for example, recently ordered a pair of 12-gun cabinets and one 6-gun cabinet for his trophy room containing more than 100 big-game mounts. The company used alder wood, which workers stained to match cypress paneling on the client's walls. Finger-tap mood lighting, leather-tucked gunstock protectors, and owner nameplates and family coats of arms are other personalized touches. Prices start at $3,499 for a standard six-gun cabinet in oak.
GunSafe, 877-448-6723.

Filson Bush Jacket
Since reading Bell of Africa as a kid, I always have wanted to hunt the Dark Continent, although now I would shoot only upland birds and waterfowl. An African hunt of any kind, though, should begin with the search for the right safari jacket. Designed for com-fort and function, this lightweight khaki-colored garment with its fabric belt and epaulettes has been around for more than 100 years. Popularized by professional hunters, writers and movie stars (think J.R. Ewing in "Dallas" and Roger Moore as James Bond), there's a lot to like about a coat with more pockets than you'll ever need. No wonder photographers the world over have fallen in love with the safari jacket. Not going to Africa? Wear it in the field or on the range and then to a cocktail party that evening.
As you might expect, Filson makes a great one: the Bush Jacket, made with 6-oz imported cotton Safari Cloth. The company treats its densely woven, long-staple cotton with a dry finish to repel water and resist stains. The garment can be machine-washed and line-dried, but because it will shrink a bit, dry cleaning is a better idea. Available in Small through 2XL sizes, the five-button jacket comes with left- and right-side cargo pockets. Gussets allow expansion for tucking away everything from gloves to granola bars, and big, button-down flaps secure contents. The left-side pocket has an interior pocket that zips shut to protect a passport or wallet.
A pair of generous breast pockets expand and come with button-down flaps. The Filson jacket has some thoughtful touches. The belt buckle, for example, is sheathed in leather to avoid scratching gunstocks or binoculars. On warm days you can roll up the sleeves and secure them with button tabs. The price is $197.50.
C.C. Filson Co., 800-624-0201; www.filson.com.

J.W. Hulme Vintage Shotgun Case
Why jam your favorite shotgun into that ratty, knife-edged sleeve when you can slip it into a roomy, handsome case that comes with both a carrying sling and a pair of rolled leather handles? J.W. Hulme designers put a lot of thought and effort into their new Vintage Shotgun Case, which comes with a side pocket of leather in two models. In the Field model the pocket lies flat; in the Range model it expands 1-3/4" to accommodate choke tubes, a small cleaning cloth or other accessories. The pocket on both models is 9-1/2" (w) x 4-1/2" (h) and comes with a flap that snaps shut to keep contents secure.
The dark-green heavyweight canvas is water- and mildew-resistant and generously trimmed with 5-oz boot leather. Although designed to float, the 50"-long case is not waterproof. A full-length zipper opens at the stock end for easy insertion and removal of guns. The detachable shoulder strap also adjusts, thanks to a sliding leather pad. A D-ring at the barrel end allows you to hang the case. The leather handles are secured with the copper rivets that are standard on most J.W. Hulme products. A personalized ID plate in silver or brass can be added to the pocket.
The new case is a good alternative to the fleece-lined cases that owners of fine guns long have relied upon for protection. There are three layers of 1/4"-thick closed-cell foam on each side of the Vintage cases. Together they provide 1-1/2" of padding to help absorb shock and resist moisture. The company then cross-stitches and glues in a lining of a woven fiber mesh called Propex-a hydrophobic, Cordura-like material-to provide a tough, scratch-free interior. Factory testing involved thousands of double rubs (a technique that employs deliberate attempts at abrasion) with no breakdown of the Propex or marring of the gunstocks and barrels. The coiled zipper is plastic for more scratch prevention.
The company, in business since 1905, makes the case in the US. The price is $290 (add $19 for the personalized ID plate).
J.W. Hulme Co., 800-442-8212; www.jwhulmeco.com.

Russell Signature South 40 Bird Shooter Boots
After its introduction more than 20 years ago by Russell Moccasin Co., the South 40 Bird Shooter, reviewed here in September/October 2006, has received an upgrade. It's still an all-leather waterproof boot, thanks to triple-vamp construction, but the new 9" Signature South 40 is lighter, more durable and more comfortable. The sole is now Vibram Olympic Gumlite, which knocks off 13 oz to make the boot about 20-percent lighter than the original. The hand-molded wrap that goes around the outer sole is now tough boar-hide leather. This change provides a twofold advantage: The boots offer more foot support, and they won't wear out as fast.
According to company president Ralph Fabricius, the Signature now has a gym-shoe feel, thanks to a Poron slip sole sandwiched between the leather vamps. The high-density Poron insert is designed to cushion shock, much like a high-end basketball shoe. Fabricius says the difference between the old and new Bird Shooter is noticeable: "With the Signature, it's like walking on air."
Buying Russell Moccasin footwear is like buying a car: You start with the basic model and then upgrade from a wide range of options. Signature South 40s, however, already come with plenty of extras. The collar, for example, is lined with soft leather for added comfort and to help keep out trash. Quick-lacing studs in the upper four eyelets (the boot has 11 eyelets total) are standard, as are pull-on, looped back straps. The Russell Moccasin logo is branded into the upper part of each boot for a classy look. Price is $380.
Still, options abound. Standard WeatherTuff leather is reddish brown, but the boot also is available in tan, chocolate, black or green. Add heel counters if you're hunting in rugged country and want to beef up the boot platform. Choose from among a score of different sole types, and add insulation if you want. The company has a 100-year-old reputation of building custom-fitted footwear. If you send a tracing of each foot, you might be surprised to learn-as I did when I ordered the original Bird Shooters-that you might require two different boot sizes.
Russell Moccasin Co., 920-361-2252; www.russellmoccasin.com.

Estancia Rolling Suitcase from Boyt Harness
If you want to travel in style, consider the new four-model lineup of Estancia Rolling Suitcases from Boyt Harness Co. Two sizes are available: 22" (h) x 13" (w) x 8" (d) and 28" x 20" x 10". Each model comes with extra side fabric that expands like an accordion to provide another 2" of depth, so you can pack that extra shooting coat or pair of boots. The new wheeled suitcases are made from heavyweight canvas finished with a dry wax. Canvas colors are olive green or khaki, and the canvas is handsomely trimmed with Italian leather.
A retractable handle of aluminum alloy is 16" long when extended and nicely complements a leather carrying handle. Roller-blade-style wheels contain ball bearings and are positioned a bit away from the suitcase edges to prevent snagging. You'll appreciate that when negotiating crowded airports. The smaller suitcase, incidentally, qualifies as carry-on luggage; the larger model is oversize and must be checked. Prices are $300 for the smaller suitcase and $350 for the larger.
Boyt Harness Co., 800-550-2698; www.boytharness.com.

EyeSights Shooting Glasses from Live Eyewear
If that tax refund is a tad light after all, here's a great deal to consider. Live Eyewear makes non-prescription shooting glasses that are eminently affordable. Six years ago Live Eyewear broke off from its parent company, Dioptics, to introduce a line of lightweight outdoor safety and sunglasses called Cocoons-a wraparound style that can be worn over prescription glasses. Hunters and shooters began ordering Cocoons; now they can choose either Eye Armor protection to wear over their prescription glasses, or Eye Sights for contacts or no prescription at all.
Here's the deal: With either line, you get 2mm-thick, shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses that surpass ANSI and OSHA standards for impact resistance. The lenses protect against UV rays and come with an anti-fog layer bonded to a hard coating that also protects against scuffing and scratching. Eye Armor frames come in Large, Medium-Large and Medium sizes and are available in clear, yellow or smoke with matching lens tints. The $24.95 price includes an adjustable headband, cleaning cloth and carrying pouch.
Eye Sights have interchangeable lenses of smoke, clear, yellow (to enhance contrast in low light) and orange (for maximum contrast in hazy or overcast conditions). The soft-to-the-touch flexible nylon frames are available in graphite black or camo. The $39.95 price includes a neoprene case for the frame and four sets of lenses.
Live Eyewear, 800-834-2563; www.live eyewear.com.