doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Great article on George Leonard Herter

I grew up with his catalogs. I have the Bull Cook book as well as the Professional Guide's Manual, both are a hoot. I also visited the Waseca and Iowa Falls stores. (at least I think we went to Iowa Falls, it wasn't too far from Grandma's house) I mainly bought fishing tackle from him, his flies were well made and cheap. Important things for an eleven year-old. I still have quite a few of them in the fly boxes in my vest. This was in the early 1970's, long before the movie "A River Runs Through It" came out and created the resurgence in interest about Fly Fishing. At the same time, if you received the Orvis catalog, you could still buy a split-bamboo Battenkill fly rod. My dad always wanted one (as did myself), but being a family man he had to content himself with a glass Fenwick rod. (much of his other gear was Orvis) A rod which keeps company with the various Graphite, Boron, etc. rods racked in my basement nowadays. I'm hoping for grandkids (none yet) to eventually pass them on to...

In the 60s, a friend and I drove to the store during quarter break at Iowa State University. We were after fish hooks, you know, "special ones". At the store's entrance were some stuffed animals, including a huge , black, full mount wolf. It was awesome. Bigger than a deer. I made up my mind that I wanted to move to Alaska and get a wolf. I lived in Alaska for 30 years, but never shot a wolf and had only a couple of near chances. I do have, though, my Herter's shot shell loader, fly tying kit, several catalogs, loading manuals, and a rifle I stocked with a Herter's fiddleback walnut blank. That day I saw a Beretta double, was it a Silver Snipe ? I wanted one, but by the time I had enough money, my tastes had changed a bit. I remember , too, that near the end, Herter's catalogs were labeled Ruhr American and came from Fairbault , Minnesota.

A friend went to their main store several days after it suddenly closed. He said a lot of the locals were looking for George. Apparently a lot of unpaid bills

Lest we forget.......the .401 PowerMag!

http://extranosalley.com/?p=984

Yes, on the other end of the spectrum is the "Genuine French Canadian Crepe Suzette Pancake Mix" . Pretty good in the '60s with Fox Head beer for breakfast. I think the beer was made in Minnesota, too. About $2 per case.

Hey Daryl:
My 1974 catalogue lists this at .93cents a pkg!
I was always a fan of Herter's famous 5 Alarm sauce.
It purportedy "would burn the lint out of the naval of people that used it!"
Jim

James, it is fun. Wasp waist sonic bullets, black African mershon pipes, bow strings made on a Montana Indian reservation, Herter's Liege stock finish, and gunstock blanks in black walnut for rifles from $7.40-40.00. Hand checkering prices for buttstocks and for ends, up to 26 lip, no borders, for $10 each. Recipes of St. James the Apostle and Ghengis Kahn. I do see they had a showroom in the early 70s in Glenwood , Minn., and mention they are connected to Waseca. I am not sure where Fairbault fit into the history.

Their French red stock filler was great and Brownell is selling it made with the same formula they claim.Bobby

Don't forget " Model Perfect" sure miss him.

How did it all end? I've heard some interesting stories, but they sound pretty fantastic. Something about U.S. Fish & Wildlife fining him for old feathers in his warehouse?