With Covid restrictions behind us, I am looking forward to getting back to exhibiting at the 2023 IWA OutdoorClassics trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany, which the show says is the world’s leading trade fair for hunting, shooting sports, equipment for outdoor activities and security. Outside of the Shot Show, I have to agree. The name IWA translated from German to English stands for International Weapons Exhibition. Makes sense.

I will also venture into 2023 EnforceTac, which is the law enforcement and military off-shoot show that is limited to those professionals only, unlike the Shot Show, where those sections are open admissions to all of the visitors.

Very much like, but different than the Shot Show, IWA offers many connected exhibit hall buildings full of exhibitors offering hunting and sport shooting products and services. The European styled clothing is definitely not often seen in the U.S. market, but you can also see things from other corners of the globe as well. Sometimes the needs and interests of outdoorsmen can be different by region or venue, but we’re all connected globally, even if what’s there isn’t of interest to you.

I definitely see a something that is still not taking hold at Shot, and that’s the strong presence of the air rifle and air pistol market. Many of the top brands of high-end long guns simply aren’t available in the States, but then again, if you don’t know about it, how can you know. I am sure it comes down to promotion, and ultimately export channels. For air rifles, .22 and .177 cal. are the most popular bore diameters, but I also see other barrels that I didn’t know about until more recently. I even saw .50 cal. rounds, that under the necessary pressure, can get thru cinder blocks. Ouch.

I can go on and on about the products, but after many years, it takes a lot to get my attention. Probably, I am more interested in meeting people from around the world, hearing accents, and listening to their perspective on world politics, economics and gun rights, or the lack there of. And then, there’s the food and the beer. It is refreshing to go to Germany or elsewhere in the EU and eat differently. I think that’s the best way to describe it. The breads here are much more wholesome, heavy, and fulfilling. And overall, over the years, I rarely have a bad meal, even in the most humble eateries. Plus, I don’t think I’ve had the same beer twice, though I have seen the same paper coasters, or beermats. Over there, the beer maids write down the tab in roman numerals until it’s time to check out. Never saw that in New York.

Nuremberg is definitely a great example of a very old city. I toured the castle, which they say is over 1,000 years old. And with the steep climb up to the entrance, it would have been nearly impossible to penetrate it in force. As has been explained to me, historically, this city is in Franconia, which is a region of Bavaria. Apparently, natives there make that distinction proudly. Clearly, there’s history there. I also liked the city itself with its authentic cobblestone square, narrow side streets, and impressively ornate stone churches. As is common over there, communities are packed tightly, and most other land is open for farming. In other words, not very suburban like at home. Nor, are the bullet hole scars on old buildings in the town square that still remind us of what happened there in the 1940s.

Anyway, I’ll be coming home with German chocolates.

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