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A look back at the best of the best: SHOT Show 2009.

It was a very, very long week. All the home office guys are back in Utah and all our reps have gone back to their territories. Now . . . we’ve had some time to think about the show and decide what was hot and what was not at the Browning booth this year. I think I’ll focus first on the hot stuff. Here they are, not necessarily in any particular order, except for the first one.

1.  Maxus. After all the promotions — including the Maxus video on YouTube – most dealers had never seen a Maxus and wanted to size one up in person. The SHOT Show gave literally thousands of dealers that chance. Clearly this was one of the hit products of the entire show. A close-up look and a hands-on going over does not disappoint. The introduction of the Maxus at the Show was not a last minute smoke and mirrors affair. Numerous Maxus shotguns have already been in the hands of gunwriters, duck hunting fanatics and media gurus since last spring’s snow goose season started it off. Guns have been on midwest pheasant hunts and Candian goose hunts. They have even been on a grueling Argentina dove hunt. The Maxus has been shot a lot — we are talking hundreds of thousands of rounds in endurance and torture testing. Many shotgun companies tout their leadership in the autoloader shotgun catagory. This year only the Maxus was on center stage. Our philosophy of excellence comes in a direct linage from John Moses Browning himself. Our competition knows that. I suppose that is why every year engineers from other brands spend literally hours and hours in the Browning booth looking for ideas for their next shotgun or rifle design. Interesting. For us the proof is in the product. The Maxus is the real deal.  Click here to read more and to get a quick link to the Maxus movie. For specs click here.

Maxus

2. Browning ProSteel Tactical Gun Safe. Every so often a great product idea and a perfect point in time aligns. It happened this year at the SHOT Show. The AR-34 F Tactical gun safe is clearly the right gun safe at the right time. Every feature, every rack, every fit and finish, every detail is for the guy with tactical guns. It is not a beginners safe. If you have the goods that need protection from theft and fire, this gun safe excels. If you like the look of black guns, then this gun safe rises to the top. View the video by first clicking here then selecting “AR34 Tactical Safe.”

3. Women’s apparel. As strange as it seems, women’s clothing was moving very quickly at this year’s show. Perhaps we are getting better at it. Perhaps is it Browning’s proven expertise in down jackets. Perhaps the brand has simply become more meaningful to our customer’s entire families. Whatever the reason, this fall you will find more beautiful, stylish, good-fitting and functional Browning clothing for women than ever before.

4. Transitions Series. These were not Shot Show specials but they clearly are the hottest clothing products in the Browning catalog and the entire line for that matter. This system goes beyond layering by giving each layer extreme-technology benefits for maximum comfort, warmth and protection. Selected as the “Best of the Best” by Field and Stream magazine, this entire system raises hunting clothing to a new level. Click here if you want to read more — from an interview with the Browning Technical Clothing product manager.

5. Knives. Browning has always had some great knives for as long as I can remember. But now it seems like good hunting knives are a dime a dozen. Browning, with the help of great knife designers like Russ Kommer, have elevated this catagory to a level of unprecedented high function and high art. The Full Curl Sheep Series is a good example. The knife is extreme “The Best There Is” quality and each one comes with a matching lithograph of one of the four species. Affordable? Yes.  Heirloom quality? Yes. Highly functional? Yes. This seems to be the pattern with Browning knives. Each has added value that sets it apart from ordinary knives. You will like what you see. Check out the video taken at the SHOT Show. Choose “Full Curl Knives” after clicking here.

I will add a few more later this week.

SHOT Show 2009 in Orlando has just ended.


Calling it a day.

In a few minutes they will announce that the Show has ended. And and our internet connection will end with it.

Thank you for joining us for the last four days here at the 2009 SHOT Show. Soon this small “city” will be back in the giant wooden crates it came in. All the Browning products will be packed and loaded on a truck to go all the way back to Utah. It is an undertaking that could not be accomplished without the help of many, many people here, and many more back at Browning in Utah. To all of the team at Browning I send a huge “thank you.”

We hope you enjoyed being part of this experience. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of Show Specials and hot products — something we have not done before. We hope you enjoyed the expanded videos produced during the show: nearly five times as many as last year. We hope you feel a bit more a part of this great industry and a part of the Browning family for “virtually” having been here with us.

Take your time reading and watching. We will leave up all the SHOT Show videos and blogs so you can revisit them over the next few weeks.

Thanks again for letting us serve you this past week.

Sincerely,

Browning

The Knife and Lights section of the Browning Booth

NSSF making news.

They aren’t actually making news, it is just that the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) team was in the Browning booth this morning doing an interview and news story with Scott Grange, Browning’s Public Relations manager.  Browning is a proud supporter of the NSSF and its many programs that benefit everyone who loves the outdoor sports.

Photo at Left: David Miles (right) and Doug Painter (left) were caught without warning in the photo. They exhibit a bit of the “deer in the headlights” look. Painter was president of the NSSF for 35 years and after his retirment, continues promoting and building the growth and stability of the organization.

Photo at Right: Scott Grange, Browning PR manager (far right), being interviewed by the NSSF crew.
NSSF Crew NSSF interviewing Scott Grange

Howdy Pardner.

If you have ever been to the Browning Website you have seen the long listing of Browning partners. These are companies that work with Browning to create the best products in specialized areas of their expertise. The result is an expanded line-up of products that meet the demands of or slogan: The Best There Is.

Here are a few of them that are here at the SHOT Show . . . some are just a stones throw away from where I am sitting right now and some are a long walk away. This really is a massive convention hall.

These products can be found by going to our home page and opening the pull down menu for products on the right side. There are many others in addition to these. We think you will be pleased with what you see.

Click here to see an expanded listing.

Browning Off Road Browning Outdoor Cooking Browning Hosiery Browning Hosiery Browning Outdoor Health & Safety Products Browning Home and Lodge Browning Casual Sportswear Browning Signature Automotive Browning Casual Sportswear  

For all the gun specials click the “product” button on the left.

A full selection of the firearms SHOT Show Specials offer by Browning is just a click away. Find the button titled “Product.” It should be at the left of the page right between “Webcams” and “Video.” Then just click it. You will find all the specs and details you need to make a decision about what you may be interested in. It is important if you want one of these that you contact your Browning dealer right away and ask them to order you one now. Yes, right now, during the show. That is the best way to make sure that you get your hands on one of these very rare and interesting products.

2009 Browning SHOT Show Special firearms. Cynergy Euro Sporting Pink Camo Composite T-Bolt Digital Green

Top hats on the final day of the SHOT Show.

It is Sunday. The last day of the Show. It is usually a bit slow for the first hour or so on Sundays at SHOTS due to the number of “events” going on Saturday night. Unlike Vegas, where the SHOT Show often is, Orlando is a bit spread out, so it takes a lot of time to get places. Let’s talk about hats.

Hats usually don’t get top billing at an event like the SHOT Show, but Browning does have a couple of very good ones that you will want to watch out for. These are SHOT Show Specials called the “Grizzly Waxed Canvas Caps.” They are related to Brownings most popular hat line: the Dura-Wax caps. The difference? These caps are created from an extra heavy weight cotton duck fabric that holds its shape, is extremely durable and looks great.

 Grizzly Waxed Canvas Caps

  • Extra heavy weight cotton duck fabrication
  • Low profile six panel construction
  • Hook and loop back closure
  • 3D Buckmark embroidered on the front
  • Expect them on the shelves in April
  • Suggested retail of $15.95

 To learn more click on the “Videos” button and hunt down the video on SHOT Show Special caps presented by the product manager.

Digital Green Rifles.

Digital Green Camo heads the SHOT Show specials this year. Here are a few of the rifles with this effective camo pattern.

BAR Short and Long Trac Digital Green Features and Benefits

  • Receiver – Aircraft-grade alloy: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts; Digital green camo
  • Barrel – Hammer forged; Digital green camo
  • Action – Gas-operated autoloader; Multi-lug rotary bolt; Detachable box magazine; Composite trigger guard and floorplate; Crossbolt safety
  • Stock – Composite; Rubber gripping panels; Digital green camo with Dura Touch® Armor Coating; Shim adjustable for cast on/off and drop at comb
  • Features – Sling swivel studs installed; Interchangeable recoil pad

Digital Camo Rifles

T-Bolt Digital Green Features and Benefits (top, Sporter and Target/Varmint)

  • Receiver – Steel; Matte blued finish; Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
  • Barrel – Medium Sporter; Matte blued finish; Free floating; Semi-match chamber; Recessed crown
  • Action – Straight pull bolt-action; Top-tang safety; Adjustable trigger; Detachable Double Helix™ 10 round magazine
  • Stock – Composite; Textured gripping surfaces; Digital green camo with Dura Touch® Armor Coating; Spare magazine storage compartment in buttstock
  • Features – Sling swivel studs installed; Spare magazine included

A-Bolt Digital Green Features and Benefits

  • Receiver – Steel; Matte blued finish; Glass bedded; Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
  • Barrel – Matte blued finish; Free floating; Hand chambered; Target Crown
  • Action - Bolt-action; 60º bolt lift; Adjustable stainless trigger; Detachable box magazine; Hinged floorplate; Top-tang safety
  • Stock – Composite; Right-hand palm swell: Digital Green Camo with Dura-Touch® Armor Coating
  • Features – Sling swivel studs installed; Recoil Pad

“Reversible” is another hot one.

I was just speaking with the Browning Technical Clothing product manager. He mentioned how you can never be sure — before a show special is offered, whether it will be a huge hit that will end up in stores everywhere, or whether it might be just a bit more hard to find. Here’s one that will be easy to find.

It is the Browning Reversible Down Vest. Well there have been reversible down vests in the past, so what makes this one so special. Simply put: extreme value. You get more in this vest for much less than comparible vests. Here’s an overview of the features.

Reversible camo/blaze vest Reversible camo/blaze vest

Features and Benefits

  • Reversible from Mossy
  • Oak Break-Up to Solid Blaze
  • 550 F/P down insulation
  • High count, down proof shell fabric
  • Lycra bottom
  • Two pockets on each side
  • Stand-up zip through down filled collar
  • Cut longer in back for extra warmth

Hot Firearms Specials: Hi Power Digital Camo.

All of the new digital camo guns and cases have been very popular with dealers this week at the Show. However, one stands out — for several reasons. It is the Hi Power Mark III in Digital Green camo. Digital Green is camo like that used by our armed forces in Iraq and Afganistan. We all know it looks pretty cool. Especially on a tactical gun. On the Hi Power it looks great . . . but from a historical perspective there is something even more significant. As long as anyone can remember here at Browning (and some of the guys here go back a few years) there has never been a Hi Power done with a camo finish. Until now!

The Hi Power was John M. Browning’s last pistol design and it became the standard by which all others were judged for three quarters of a century. It is still among the elite in reliability, pointability, durability, strength and design genius.

Hi Power Digital Camo

The SHOT Show special Hi Power has these features:

  • Receiver – Steel: Digital Green Camo finish
  • Barrel – 4 5/8″; Steel slide with Digital Green Camo finish; Low profile fixed sights
  • Action – Locked breech; Single-action trigger; Ambidextrous thumb safety
  • Grips – Composite black panels; Thumb rest
  • Features – Extra magazine included
  • LIMITED QUANTITIES

That last point above is the key. Quantities are limited. If you like what you see you should contact your Browning dealer ASAP and ask him to order one right now. Tell your dealer to call his rep today and get one on the way.