Chub Eastman's Tuffpak journey

Re: Tuffpak Cases

May 27, 2002

Enclosed are a couple of pictures I thought you might be interested in.

Prior to last trip the case, with prized rifles and gear, have made three trips to Africa, two to Australia, Alaska, Northern Canada and too many trips across the U.S. to count.

This last trip to Africa was the saga from hell for a hunter. The last time I saw the case, until today was April 6, as it was going down United's baggage belt with one tag on it bound for South Africa.

Somewhere between Redmond, OR and JFK we parted company. When it did not arrive at JFK the all knowing baggage clerk assured me it would be in Kimberly, South Africa the next day. The uninformed clerk had no idea that South African customs and the local police would gratefully take possession of any firearms not claimed in person on arrival.

As a result the hunt was with camera instead of the rifle I was to do a story on. The saga got better on my return as we tried to track down the case. After almost three weeks of phone calls to United, Delta, South African Airways, U.S. customs, Johannesburg police, ect. it was finally located in the lock-up at the Johannesburg police station and returned.

As you can see by the pictures it had quite a journey home. Remember, it only had one tag on it at the start of the trip.

Upon inspection the only thing I could not find on it was tire tracks. As you can see it had been handled and mishandled by more agencies and airlines than I want to know about. I expected damage when I opened it but there was none. Both rifles with scopes came through the ordeal without a scratch as well as the other contents, some of which were a little fragile.

I'm glad I got it back when I did as a New Zealand hunt starts next week. Needless to say the case will be used again.

Congratulations on a great gun case. It is by far the toughest most reliable gun case I have ever traveled with and I've been doing this for 30 years.

Chub Eastman

V.P. Nosler, Inc.