The pleasure of fine things

[Safari Dave]

My parents gave me a stainless Rolex Submariner when I graduated college in 1987. I have worn it nearly every day since, even today to church, then after when I was working on my tractor.

(They said they wanted to buy me something for $2,000 and that's what I wanted) (Two years later, my brother wanted them to pay off his 1979 Buick Regal) (I still have the watch!)


For a boy who's dad sold tractor parts and who's mom made zipper's for a living, my tastes have probably always outpaced our means. (I may have gotten this from my mother, who recognized "finer" things)

I saved up birthday and Christmas money (I never got an "allowance") until I could buy a Hardy LRH fly reel when I was 13 years old. I still have it today.

When I finished graduate school in 1991, I bought a Sage 890 RPLX fly rod and a Lamson 3.5 reel. Every bonefish I've ever caught has been on that rod.

My wife gave me a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .416 Rigby (not a "fine rifle," but FINE for me) for my 40th birthday present. I got to take a buffalo with it in 2021.

This was Safari Dave in 1982:

I gave $2,000 for that Land Cruiser (my only car loan). Dang, I wish I could get it back. (some hair would be nice too)

I still have the shirt and belt and still wear Danner hiking boots, but the days of wearing Medium are long gone.

Reading classic hunting and fishing books and magazines, probably influenced my propensity towards some of the "finer things."

 

[Elkeater]

I greatly admire many of the fine items many of you have collected. I enjoy the fine things that I can on my current salary with two kids at home. Someday I hope to have a few fine items (Rolex comes to mind along with a Rigby highland stalker in 7x57 and maybe a waterman fountain pen) but for now I am very happy to have two happy kids who love to hunt and an incredibly understanding wife who indulges me when I start itching to go on some adventure.

 

[fourfive8]

Kevin, agree about appreciating workmanship that is visible and obvious. Guns can really show pride of craft. I am always surprised by how good the workmanship was on many old guns. Examples I like to examine include many 150-200 year old military musket locks- both flint and percussion. They are very basic machines that didn’t and don’t at all require extreme precision of fit to work. Matter of fact, most work equally well no matter the fit and finish. Yet many are master works of quality of finish and precision of fit. I admire things that were/are made with pride. That pride of craft is obvious in many old things. Examples I study in detail include US small arms from the 1840s-1860s. Sometimes hard to visualize the dedication put forth by a military arsenal or contract factory worker in 1862, working for little pay, building hundreds of thousands of muskets of really fine quality for the war effort.

 

[Safari Dave]

Kevin can sure post some thought provoking threads.

Kudos my friend!

 

[Flbt]

I don’t know if I fit in on the finer things.
I like whiskey but to my taste cc12 and wild turkey do fine. I have tried what was supposed to be good scotch a few different brands and types. Not a one we’re to my taste. The only thing with scotch I have found passable was dram boyie yea not a scotch but a liquor.

Watch’s I like Swiss army they worked
And they were tuff. They might be fine compared to a timex?

I like a good sharp knife that works case fits the bill.
I have had coustom knifes but there blacksmith or tinker made not by a blaidsmith or artisans.

Boots I love a good pair on nocona boots but there not hand made
Stetson hats are good quality

I was brought up more for function over fashion.

Now I like good guns not nessary fine guns.
Fox shotgun pre savage owing them
A well working 98 type ext.
But nothing high art. I want them to work and function.
I had a custom 1911 built years ago. Then happened into a Eaa tanfanglo match.
The 500 $ handgun for me felt better than the 3k colt and shot for me way better.
It’s a good gun but not as (nice ) as the colt.
But sine it worked better for me I have the Eaa the colt was traided off.

The leather care post.
I like a good saddle that can do it’s job the artist version of a saddle has never interested me.
It staying together and on the horse when dally to a bull.
Was way more than looking good.

So I don’t know if I like fine things or things that work like they should.

Would my little 4 lbs chihuahua that’s won a few blue ribbons fit as a fine thing?
I think so because my daughter got it for me before she left for college.
Dad you want have your little girl around to keep you nice.
So I got bourbon for you where you can still have a little girl around.
And yes I do get looks with a little 4 lb dig around me.

 

[Datchew]

Love this thread.

I'm not much of a watch guy, but I'm a big fan of mechanical achievement.

This is a 1964 BMW r50/2 motorcycle.
I bought it as a pile of parts in 2008 while I was still at General Electric as a lowly design engineer.

I spent 2 years sorting, selling, trading, and building in my basement.

The impressive things I loved was that the Germans measured gear tooth mesh rate on the timing gears in .002" increments with a feeler gauge and even back then, 1964, in a sand cast aluminum engine case, the spec for crankshaft runout was 0.0003"

That's 3 ten-thousandths of an inch.

That... Is not an easy measurement to take, much less machine!!

My helpers were small and eager in those days

He's much taller now and the bike still purrs like a kitten

 

[Safari Dave]

I think like you.

Some things are expensive just because they can be. (Range Rover, IMO, fills this bill)


I love fine things, if they are, truly, fine things, but:

- My most accurate rifle is a Remington Model 700.
- The best off-road vehicle I've ever owned is a 21 year old Lexus GX 470
- My "go-to" knife is a Marble's..

 

[mdwest]

My challenge with finery is that I’m very analytical and practical… which in turn often makes me “cheap”… I struggle paying $10k for a watch when $65 will get me a time piece that will work (can apply the same logic to anything… doesn’t matter if we’re talking vehicles, firearms, fishing gear, or tools)..,

Thankfully I have a wife that doesn’t have the same struggle.. she sorta likes me having nice things.. and will either push me to acquire things she knows I want, or she’ll gift things to me..

I also really love a “bargain” have have managed to bring some really nice things home from auctions and other outlets over the years for pennies on the dollar… for example, I found a brand new, in the box, Mont Blanc meisterstuck rollerball pen last month at an estate sale… retail is about $640 for this particular model / version… I picked it up for $140…

I’ve actually managed to put together a pretty nice collection of fine pens over the years that include a half dozen Mont Blanc, several nice waterman, a very nice Visconti, and a few others…

The collection of nice watches seems to keep growing as well even though I really only wear 2… a Tag Aquaracer 2000 chronograph, and a Garmin Fenix 7… neither the Rolex or the Omegs ever come out of the safe anymore…the various movado and other “mid” grade Swiss pieces haven’t been worn in 15-20 years…

While I am far from any kind of connoisseur, I have sorta of developed an appreciation for original artwork over the last several years and have acquired several commissioned pieces from a few prominent artists…

 

[MedRiver]

Not sure if these (kids, hounds and horses) count as “finer things” or if they are what keeping me from affording the “finer things”, lol. But they sure do make some great memories.

I do appreciate quality handmade tack and a nice rifle in the scabbard.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Sad to not be invited to this party. Actually, I do have a few things of value. This fountain pen may not be a Montblanc but it is easy on the eyes and probably writes just as nicely. A wheelchair bound man was selling homemade pens in the hospital lobby November 17, 2009. My son had his first seizure during the night and we didn't think he'd make it. Buying this pen seemed a nice distraction for a worthy cause. Sadly, Wesley died during the night a month later. That pen goes with me everywhere since then. Somehow I have not managed to lose it ... yet. This one was made from maple burl. It's even survived a couple trips through the laundry machine. All I can find on the shelf here is Parkers ink. Not the greatest. Any recommendations?

My priceless black Lab is in the background sleeping on the pullout in my possibly collectable 1988 19' tandem axel Terry camper trailer. The previous owner apparently had a cat that liked to attack the curtain above Ellie. At least the SOB was house trained and didn't piss on anything in the trailer. That would have made it very uncollectable!

 

[Kharn]

My original Bausch + Lomb safety glasses that I wear everyday in my manufacturing facility.
Probably the oldest thing in the whole building, cleaned weekly in fish oil.

 

[mdwest]

Sad to not be invited to this party. Actually, I do have a few things of value. This fountain pen may not be a Montblanc but it is easy on the eyes and probably writes just as nicely. A wheelchair bound man was selling homemade pens in the hospital lobby November 17, 2009. My son had his first seizure during the night and we didn't think he'd make it. Buying this pen seemed a nice distraction for a worthy cause. Sadly, Wesley died during the night a month later. That pen goes with me everywhere since then. Somehow I have not managed to lose it ... yet. This one was made from maple burl. It's even survived a couple trips through the laundry machine. All I can find on the shelf here is Parkers ink. Not the greatest. Any recommendations?
View attachment 724086
My priceless black Lab is in the background sleeping on the pullout in my possibly collectable 1988 19' tandem axel Terry camper trailer.

LAMY Shop: Ink | LAMY Shop

LAMY inks are water-based and are manufactured in Heidelberg: From colour-intensive to document-proof to erasable ink - they are

www.lamy.com

I have several lamy fountain pens thst are my “daily” users.. they’re affordable, and write really well (I think) for the price point …

I really like lamy ink as well. Crisp color, dries fast, etc… and literally 1/4 the cost of a bottle of Mont Blanc ink… I pretty much use lamy ink in all of my fountain pens these days…

 

[Ontario Hunter]

LAMY Shop: Ink | LAMY Shop

LAMY inks are water-based and are manufactured in Heidelberg: From colour-intensive to document-proof to erasable ink - they are

www.lamy.com

I have several lamy fountain pens thst are my “daily” users.. they’re affordable, and write really well (I think) for the price point …

I really like lamy ink as well. Crisp color, dries fast, etc… and literally 1/4 the cost of a bottle of Mont Blanc ink… I pretty much use lamy ink in all of my fountain pens these days…

Thanks. Must be available on line somewhere. I'll give it a shot.

Edit: Somehow I missed the link you posted. Thanks again.

 

[Zinz]

I do appreciate quality handmade tack and a nice rifle in the scabbard.

I’ve got that same Morgans saddle bags in brown. After many elk pack trips, they still serve me well.

An early Billy Cook roping saddle on my 16 hand saddle mule, Lou. She was such a great animal. That saddle will long outlive me…

Ed Z

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Not sure if these (kids, hounds and horses) count as “finer things” or if they are what keeping me from affording the “finer things”, lol. But they sure do make some great memories.

View attachment 724080
View attachment 724081


I do appreciate quality handmade tack and a nice rifle in the scabbard.

View attachment 724082

Interesting riding saddle. Obviously a roper but with such a high cantle? Beautiful tooling. Who's the maker? My roper was handmade by a long deceased rancher/saddlemaker in Rigby, Idaho whose shop I think is now a museum. Nothing fancy but it fits me like a glove. It has lower Cherokee roll style cantle which is easier to kick over for fast dismount.

 

[Franco]

Sadly, Wesley died during the night a month later.

Belated condolences, no parent should suffer the loss of a child.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My parents gave me a stainless Rolex Submariner when I graduated college in 1987. I have worn it nearly every day since, even today to church, then after when I was working on my tractor.

(They said they wanted to buy me something for $2,000 and that's what I wanted) (Two years later, my brother wanted them to pay off his 1979 Buick Regal) (I still have the watch!)


For a boy who's dad sold tractor parts and who's mom made zipper's for a living, my tastes have probably always outpaced our means. (I may have gotten this from my mother, who recognized "finer" things)

I saved up birthday and Christmas money (I never got an "allowance") until I could buy a Hardy LRH fly reel when I was 13 years old. I still have it today.

When I finished graduate school in 1991, I bought a Sage 890 RPLX fly rod and a Lamson 3.5 reel. Every bonefish I've ever caught has been on that rod.

My wife gave me a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .416 Rigby (not a "fine rifle," but FINE for me) for my 40th birthday present. I got to take a buffalo with it in 2021.

This was Safari Dave in 1982:
View attachment 724045

I gave $2,000 for that Land Cruiser (my only car loan). Dang, I wish I could get it back. (some hair would be nice too)

I still have the shirt and belt and still wear Danner hiking boots, but the days of wearing Medium are long gone.

Reading classic hunting and fishing books and magazines, probably influenced my propensity towards some of the "finer things."

Dad gave me $500 after I graduated with BA in 1979. I was pleased to have finished with only aid from my folks being three bags of groceries the final spring when I had to buy hay for my horses and not enough funds left to feed myself. I put the graduation money in the bank and I guess it's still there. Sorta. Never been overdrawn and quite sure I've never let checking drop below $500.