![iwaguns.jpg](/media/wcvbxpjo/iwaguns.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=987&height=551&rnd=132616837135800000&quality=60)
Industry Insider's Cameron Hopkins at the Nurnberg, Germany at the 2010 IWA Firearms show.
Gallery
![An Ornate Lever](/media/lemg2itd/2025white-glove-hauptmann-gun_g.jpg)
An Ornate Lever
The lever of the Karl Hauptmann "African Tribute" rifle is a hippo head. Note the ornate gold inlay and the croc's head for a safety.
![Turkish Wood Sellers](/media/eerbjlma/2025trukish-wood-seller_g.jpg)
Turkish Wood Sellers
Turkish wood sellers display at IWA, looking for both gunmakers and clients to pick out choice pieces of Circassian walnut blanks.
![A Work of Shooting Art](/media/mx4khw1j/2025peter-hofer-gun_g.jpg)
A Work of Shooting Art
A Peter Hofer single-trigger over-under rifle with classic Germanic engraving and gold inlay. Hofer's clients include Saudi sheiks, Russian oil barons, Ugo Beretta and anyone with seven-figures to spend on a work of shooting art.
![Guns from Ferlach](/media/uj0l2n4w/2025overhead-of-fine-guns_g.jpg)
Guns from Ferlach
Guns from Ferlach, Austria are the pinnacle of the gunmaker's art, but very much in the Germanic style of deep-relief engraving, Bavarian combs and Schnabel forends.
![Right Sideplate](/media/oomgsjvd/2025karl-hauptmann-rifle_g.jpg)
Right Sideplate
The right sideplate from Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute" rifle with Cape buffalo and gold inlay.
![Godfather of Ferlach](/media/1uumwtui/2025hofer-biggest-and-smallest_g.jpg)
Godfather of Ferlach
Peter Hofer, the godfather of Ferlach, showed the petite next to the massive, a 4 bore double rifle (in the white) and a .17 HMR double.
![The Underside](/media/1nshxgph/2025hauptmann-gun-underside_g.jpg)
The Underside
The underside of the Karl Hauptmann "African Tribute" rifle, again noting the deeply cut Germanic engraving.
![Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute"](/media/k1ogoaqi/2025hauptmann-gun-engraving_g.jpg)
Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute"
The right sideplate from Karl Hauptmann's "African Tribute" double rifle. Note the deeply chisled "Germanic" style of engraving of these rhino. The rifle carries a suggested retail of 450,000 Euro.
![The European Way](/media/5nsbx42h/2025guns-and-wood-in-booth_g.jpg)
The European Way
Europeans prize their wood as much as their metalwork. It's not uncommon for a customer to pick his wood separately and then order his rifle.
![Over-unders and Drillings](/media/yavpokkf/2025ferlach-over-under_g.jpg)
Over-unders and Drillings
Over-unders and drillings are popular in Europe where "driven game" is a common method of hunting. You don't know what's going to run out of the woods-- a rabbit, a wild boar, a stag-- so you need a multi-caliber firearm.
![German Tastes](/media/vielax2l/2025ferlach-gun_g.jpg)
German Tastes
German tastes in guns are evident in this single-shot with engraved sideplates and a Bavarian cheekpiece.
![Engraver with a Chasing Hammer](/media/a03hw5k2/2025engraver-tap-tapping_g.jpg)
Engraver with a Chasing Hammer
An engraver works with a chasing hammer on a fine pattern of scroll.
![Engraver at Work](/media/2n4b3rxj/2025engraver-at-work_g.jpg)
Engraver at Work
An engraver works on a Bulino pattern at one of a Ferlach gunmaker's booth.
![Trompeter-Ritchi](/media/erlltkij/2025buffalo-scrimshaw_g.jpg)
Trompeter-Ritchi
Trompeter-Ritchi of Germany specializes in gun engraving and scrimshaw (www.trompeter-ritchi.de).
![Ferlach Makers from Austria](/media/zqanjwea/2025browers-in-hall-3_g.jpg)
Ferlach Makers from Austria
IWA attendees admire one of the high-grade custom rifles in Hall 3 where the Ferlach makers from Austria are cloistered together. (NOTE: THAT'S NOT A TYPO FOR "CLUSTERED.")
![Allan Utermark](/media/riqctocr/2025allan-utermark-hh_g.jpg)
Allan Utermark
Allan Utermark from Holland & Holland with a Royal Grade shotgun. Allan says the high-end gun market is not thriving, but holding on.
![Quite a Display](/media/gokfvbo1/2025alfred-schilling-in-case_g.jpg)
Quite a Display
Ferlach gunmakers embellish their work with exhibition grade walnut and engraving. Note the typical German "claw" mount for the Zeiss scope.