When did you first take a weapon?
Pavel Gusev: "I was sixteen years old. With one of the relatives, I went to hunt - still not having the right to my weapon. But I was allowed to shoot in ducks. Naturally, I missed, but the gun felt. It was the usual Soviet "Tulka" - there were a lot of such then ".
What emotions are the person when it takes the trunk for the first time?
Gusev: "Understanding that the" length "of your opportunities is increasing to the shot. And in general, the feeling that you hold in your hands seemingly just a metal combined with a tree, but it instantly makes you different from other people. You seem to enter a new cast. "
And when did the desire to collect your own collection?
Gusev: "I even had no thought. And now there is no. I am not engaged in collecting weapons in the sense of how professional collectors do: they are interested in historical, ancient rifles, they choose them in brand or by the owners. For example, the rifles of the royal family, the rifle of Stalin or former members of the Politburo ... Such exhibits are a certain artistic value: have a beautiful chasing, unique trunks or buttons, interesting engraving, but it is often impossible to shoot something. And I only keep the guns that I really apply on the hunt. "
"At least once in three months weapons must be inspected, clean and lubricate. Naturally, I do it only myself. " Photo: Vladimir Chistyakov.
So why did it all start?
Gusev: "I bought my first rifle after the geological practice of the year in 1968, where he earned open rubles two hundred and fifty - at the time a lot of money. I dreamed of finding something unusual. And in the commission store, where used guns were sold, I saw what I wanted - the twelfth caliber Winchester model of 1897. The model is very old, but rather reliable by the standards of that time. I was terribly proud of this rifle, it accompanied me for decades. "
How many "combat units" in your arsenal?
Gusev: "I think about twenty."
Tell about the most interesting.
Gusev: "There are the most interesting no, there are the most beloved. Once upon a time I bought the Holland & Holland's most respected Holland and Holland weapon companies in the world, this is a British brand, producing truly unique works of the highest quality armory. So, I was lucky to buy individual Holland & Holland caliber seven millimeters Remington Magnum. In my opinion, the best caliber for brutal hunting. I take this carbine practically for every hunt, he walked fire and water. He almost does not part with him. "
Photo: Anton Zhuravkov.
It was like the weapon to bring you?
Gusev:
"Probably not. Is that my first hard drive - it is still very old, over time, certain details were extended there. Plus, when using reinforced cartridges (which are required, for example, for a goose hunt), he began to behave very well. From the power of cartridges, the mechanism was jammed, the Tsevier did not blunt. Therefore, ultimately I refused it, and now it is stored just like a memorable exhibit. "Do you have interesting gift specimens?
Gusev: "Of these, probably, the most interesting - double-barrel with interchangeable trunks, which the former governor of the Moscow Region Anatoly Tazhlov presented to me at the beginning of the nineties. As far as I know, this rifle was made for Boris Yeltsin, Yeltsin gave it difficult, and he, in turn, me. "
A rifle made for Boris Yeltsin gave Gusev Anatoly Trenzlov. Photo: Anton Zhuravkov.
Your collection is probably requires special care. Who does this do?
Gusev: "Only the owner itself can take care of the weapon, depending on the frequency of use. At least once every three months, weapons must be inspected, clean and lubricate. And naturally, I do it my own - after each shooting. It is stored, according to official requirements, in special metal safes. With the corresponding code locks and in separate rooms equipped with alarm. "
Are you interested only for guns or there are other hunting attributes?
Gusev: "I also have a large collection of hunting knives, among them a lot of gift. And again there are several loved ones. Some I use for long-distance travel - for Africa, for example, others - for Russian hunting, for mountain - third. There are purely collectible specimens, they are very expensive and stored simply as exhibits. I also possess one of the best in Russia in Russia collections of hunting books, I began to assemble them from fifteen. I have almost all the books and magazines published in our country, their thousands are a whole library. Plus to this - a large number of various hunting attributes: antique statuettes, painting, sculptures. A lot of hunting furniture objects are all related to this topic, I collect all my life. True, recently it becomes more difficult to collect, because prices and antique, and on the hunting market in Russia are clearly overheated. "
"When you hold a weapon in your hands, it instantly makes you different from others." Photo: Anton Zhuravkov.
And what is the most expensive copy in your collection?
Gusev: "I can't call him - just because there is no money equivalent for me. I am more important than the value of a particular thing. For example, I have a hunting headset, consisting of a round table and six chairs, is a gift to Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev on his anniversary. All this is done by Phahsky masters, all subscriptions - with the names of the authors, stunning work - varnishing, painting. This is a unique work of art, no one ever released such tables. It does not exist. So talk, for how much I once bought it, just stupid. And one of the most valuable books (it is considered a pearl in its genre) - "Tsar's hunt", four volumes. Sketches for these books did such famous artists like Repin, Samokish. So, I didn't just bought the "royal hunt" myself, I managed to find and sketching drawings, which, you see, much more interesting. And, for example, twenty years ago, I gave me large wall-mounted hunting hours, most likely German work, trophy. And just a month ago I go on Peter - I look, in an antique store exactly the same hang. I didn't go crazy and naturally bought them. And now I have a pair copy of these hours, I think only I own a similar rarity. Each subject in my collection has a very long and exciting story, they touch them in contact with the time they came from. Do they have a price? I don't even know how much they can cost now. I think so much as I call. But I'm not going to sell them. "
Beautiful engraving is a distinctive feature of many exhibits. Photo: Anton Zhuravkov.
What feelings make possession of such treasures?
Gusev:
"I can say one thing: I consider something every day, or touch, or I read, or study directories. I have, for example, a very beautiful cup-mug of a hunting club from Germany, there are the names of many famous people, members of this German community, with the mention of their trophies. It is easy to choose from the possession of such a thing! Maybe for someone it does not mean anything, but for me - indescribable experiences. Wherever I am - everywhere I go to the shops, antique shops and ask: what do you have on hunting theme? If I find something interesting, I begin to bargain, I try to buy it, but there are and extensible prices. Then I leave and remember this with sadness. "How are close to your hobby? Draw your interests?
Gusev: "They see these things every day. It would not say that they jump and admire, simply live in this beauty, among paintings and sculptures, bronze. All relatives and friends know about my passion. And when I have some significant dates, no one has difficulties with a choice of gift. It doesn't matter - he is dear or not, any trifle or fitulka, associated with hunting, gives me pleasure. "
Ekaterina Shatnik