19 May 2009

In the long slow life of a great Rhodesian Teak (Baikiaea plurijuga) it had served as a shaded vantage point to a pride of lions, eager on subduing buffalo. Later its great branches gave a leopard a reclusive hideaway while rhino and elephant rubbed their rough thick hides against its enormous trunk. With the advent of the early explorers, the tree was cut and used as railway sleepers, providing the life-blood of an early African economy. The voracious appetite of industry knew no bounds and soon the majestic trees were decimated. Time moves on and the once trusty sleepers lay unclaimed in the hot dry African Savannah, almost forgotten. But in the heart of the lowly sleeper beat the proud, unrelenting heart of Africa.



With loving care the heart of the sleeper was awakened in the gentle hands of a craftsman called Andrew. He carefully constructs unique spearguns which awaken the Mythical Hunter's Spirit and embodies the courage of the African hunter. Each gun is uniquely patterned and crafted to suit the individuals' preferences. They are extremely robust and designed to give the spearfisher a significant advantage, whether pursuing dermersals on a reef or lying out in the deep blue in search of giant pelagics. A unique almost magical property of the wood is its impervious nature, giving it a rare gift of withstanding the effect of decay and the ravages of saltwater. The guns are priced favourably when compared to standard Euro-type guns and are significantly more affordable than comparable wooden guns.



I have been asked to put a 1.3m Euro-style gun through its paces. At this stage it is remarkable how resilient the gun is proving. It is quiet but above all uncannily accurate. I am sure I will have a lot more to say about this gun in the future.