Practical Handgun

For those competitors who demand the ultimate in an IPSC race gun, STI International can rovide them with the STI Grand Master. Incorporating unique features with their manufacturing technology and compensated barrel, the STI Grand Master is a competition ready factory pistol with all the features of a customised pistol.

On the 2^nd November 2008 at World Shoot XV in Bali, Eric Grauffel retained his title as International Practical Shooting Confederation World Champion in IPSC Open Division. He added this championship title to the previous three World Championships that he has won in Philippines 1999, South Africa 2002 and Ecuador 2005. The pistol he used was the Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric, which is a full Open Division race gun, single action pistol especially designed for IPSC Open Division competition. In addition to his four World Championship wins, Eric has also won the last five European Championships as well.

This handgun is the evolution of the Tanfoglio Gold Custom model that was modified following the suggestions and assistance of the current IPSC World Champion Eric Grauffel. It is supplied with a ported barrel (six or eight holes) with polygonal rifling, a lighter ported slide, a two or three chamber compensator and aluminum grips. The trigger travel can be adjusted using the screw in the trigger while the magazine release catch is reversible for left hand shooters.

Hailing from Norway, Henning Wallgren was one of Europe’s top IPSC competitors. In early 1994 he asked his boss at Xerox if he could get six months leave of absence so that he could go to the United States to travel and shoot competitively without the daily concerns of work. The response was negative. To him, retiring him his late 60’s to pursue his dreams did not make much sense. If I was to live the way he wanted he would have to make the changes himself.

By the 1930’s the great northern facing slopes of the European Alps had all been conquered, with one exception. Deemed as being unclimbable, it was 1938 before the Eiger North Wall was finally scaled by a four man Austrian and German team. In its history the Eiger has claimed the lives of over 60 experienced climbers. Many a time I have stood at Kleine Scheidegg and ran my eye over the traditional route that climbers take to the summit. From the Starting Point to the First Pillar, Shattered Pillar and Difficult Crack. Along the bottom of the Rote Fluh and across the Hinterstoisser Traverse. Up and across the First, Second and Third Ice Fields. From the Ramp to the Traverse of the Gods and the White Spider; the Summit Ice Field and finally the Summit itself. You have to admire the skill and bravery of those who have scaled a hill that has such a fearsome reputation. Ski from Kleine Scheidegg down to Alpiglen and then look up and up. At this point you are 2000 metres directly below the summit of Europe’s largest continuous vertical rock wall that has come to define extreme mountaineering.