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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | Just curious. The muskies you have on the wall. Especially interested in the first one you mounted or had a copy made of.
Now the question for you is.Was it a true trophy to you at the time?
I assume most of you did or you would not have spent the money.
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 457
| I don't have a pure strain mounted. I do have a 48" tiger repro, though.
I'd have had a mount done of a 40ish" fish I caught last year, because the colors were so unique, if I could have gotten pictures of her. |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | If there is a story behind it please do tell it. Ty
pfeiff |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I dunno if this counts, but it's as close as I've gotten: my mom did a painting of a Lake Independence fish I caught in 2006. Not quite trophy size, but still a good fish. I hang it proudly on my wall next to the photo she used for it. m
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | Mikie, how big. It must have been special to you to have her do that. What a nice thing to be able to have done.
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I've only gotten one repo and that was a 55.25....and I am going to go ahead and call that a "True Trophy". I always said I wasn't going to get a repo until we put one in the boat that I knew was going to be a tough one to beat. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | mid-40's. Dang, I wish I knew how to shrink that, too big. sorry. m |
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Posts: 1451
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | My second season out I popped a 47.5 and was high for three months. I got the replica made....
Popped my new best this fall at 50".
Wife says I get one more swimmer to put on the wall.
I'm holding out.
If I had more than one more replica in my future, this one would go up.
Single guys beware.
Edited by Cowboyhannah 2/17/2008 8:32 AM
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Posts: 344
Location: Musky Country | We Have two replicas on the wall my first 49 1/2
and last years 54 1/2
Edited by Madmanmusky 2/17/2008 8:42 AM
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I have two on the wall. One from many many years ago, way before catch and release was the thing to do. Skin mount, yeah I know, and its only 44". It is the only fish that was ever kept in my boat. Its actually a bit embarrassing to look at.
I also have a 51.5 on the wall. That one is a replica. Thinking about getting a 43 1/2 inch pike done as well. I will get more replicas done, my goal in life is to have as many mounts on my wall as Worrall does when the game is done! Long ways to go right now. |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | norm.
At the time I am sure that was a big fish to you and a 44 is a nice fish. I sure as heck would not feel bad when looking at it if I were you. A trophy is a trophy is whatever it is to the individual.
Mike H. thats a very nice fish at 55.
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 97
| I have a 51" on the wall, which was my first over 50. Since then I have 2 bigger (51.5 & 52), but to be honest I havent considered getting a replica of those for a few reasons.
1. There isn't much diffence between the 3.
2. Cost
3. After the 51", I told myself that the next one for the wall would have to be 54".
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Posts: 531
Location: Hugo, MN | I got a 47" Tiger done by Fittante, and it is beautiful. I doubt I'll get one bigger. I plan on getting a replica of a pure strain once I get one that will be hard to beat, like Hulbert said. Maybe 54...55. I'd hate to get a fish done and then beat it by a couple inches. If that happens I'd get a third replica, but my wife would probably not be enthused.
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | i have one replica its a rep of darrin conly's state record fish. it belongs to the webster lake musky club and im on the board of directors and was privelaged to have been asked to hang it on my wall....i know i didnt catch it but i still look at is all the time and its a heck of a conversation peice...bill
Edited by archerynut36 2/17/2008 10:57 AM
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Posts: 97
| Knooter,
I'd LOVE to have that problem.....Catch a 54" and beat it by a couple inches later on.
The ol lady would have to get over that. |
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Posts: 198
| 49" skin mount that died on me in the mid 1980's but is special as was the last fish my dad was along with. 52 1/2 x 28 1/2 replica that is very stunning. I also have a 48" wooden carving with four different types of wood included that is just gorgeous. I'm pretty much done with all mounts unless I get a monster hybrid or a fish over 60 lbs and then I'll get a replica made. No more intentional skin mounts for me. |
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Posts: 531
Location: Hugo, MN | 55esox,
No kidding! She'd not be part of the decision making process if I caught a 56 incher! I'd just hate having to pay for both if they came close together. That's a lot of inches at $13/ in. Surely I could find some wall space for such a fish. |
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | I have a 49 1/2 incher on the wall with a story behind her, she hails from Pelican Lake from the early 1980's. A few years ago Rollie and Helens used to close for the winter. My brother was coming up from Iowa and knowing Rollie and Helen I called up there to see if we could wander the store even though they were closed to the general public. We got the green light from the store and off we went, while walking around the store Helen was taking apart an old glass display case that had a mounted muskie in it along with a bunch of old baits and tackle. I gave her a hand tearing it apart and she offered me the mount so I accepted it and that fish has graced my wall ever since. Not the most beautiful mount and the fish was not on the girthy side but I have my "fish for the wall". Perhaps when I break the Minnesota state record I can get a repo to replace her:) |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have a 43" skin mount from the late 70's, a 44" Canada fish that died before I got her in the boat in 1981, a 51" skin mount from 1979/1980 ( somewhere in that era, can't remember--long story on that one), a few Pike to 44", and a reproduction of the sixth big girl I caught off the Goon. One of these days I'd like to do the 54 and 54.5 I caught during a very cool trip in 1991 there right in front of Claybanks Marina just to make sure I stay ahead of Norm with the wall coverings.... Hannah Northcott had the only pictures, and when she passed away I'm not sure what happened to them. For years she had a tooth that I took out of my thumb while registering the released fish Rick Lax did a perfect reproduction of, and a bunch of images of our crew with fish from the Goon under a sheet of glass on the counter of the bait shop. I really miss that lady; she sort of adopted my boys and me.
Havent had a fish killed intentionally in my boat since '84, and won't allow another now that the reproductions are sooooo stunningly realistic.
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Never did a skin mount because all of the ones I have seen growing up were just ok. I always planned on getting a repo as soon as the "one" showed up in the net.
Well I got a 53 x 26.5 and released her with some great pictures. Two days later I stuck a 57 x 27 and that was on some video with plenty of pictures being taken as we battles to get her to the boat and unhooked boatside. I lifted this 50lb'er into the air for a quick picture and released the beast to be caught again. I got the two fish repo'ed about 10 years ago. Both mounts have issues. the 57 x 27 was 4-inches short. The 53 x 26.5 was only a 24-inch girth. Both fish will be replaced very soon as the molds now are much more exact.
Since then I had Rick Lax do a 52.5 repo from my local metro waters in 2004. Great mount in every way. Lendth, girth, color, fins, head, eyes, gills, wood plaque and even the seal on the wood.
I also had Joe Fittante do a 47-inch fish for my son. Very nice paint work and wet look.
With the way Rick Lax is working to be the best of all the rest I will no doubt have him redo my big girls in the future. Maybe even next season if I don't stick a monster this comming season.
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I've got a 50.5 replica on the way. |
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Posts: 566
| Mikey--cool cool pic ---priceless ! I have a 45 incher from 1991 or 92 --my 1st ski MD |
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Posts: 298
| First legal 41" in 1985, 40" tiger off the dock 1986, 46" in 1987, all skins, Lac Vieux Desert, Ron Lax.
51" 2000, 54" 2006, Rick did both repo's in 2008. Fantasic!, and no reason for anyone to ever purposely kill another fish.
Rick Lax muskie reproductions are the finest in the business. Making improvements in his body molds, head detail, and paint each year since he began making reproductions.
What makes Lax the best of all the rest?
1)Transparent fins
2)Internal mouth completely natural, see through gills, realistic teeth
3)The heads molds show every detail, crack, and crevice of a live muskie, even the little bump on top of the fish where the body flesh meets the skull.
4)Smooth, non-lumpy bodies, mounted in a multitude of natural fish positions.
5)Paint=awesome, even personal to the exact markings of your fish photo, and he's versatile in the muskies regional color patterns across North America
Lax, the Flag Ship of the industry.
Reease'm All!
LD |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | very interestiing to hear the stories behind the fish. thanks guys.
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | I have had one fish replica made of a fish my wife caught. It measured 44 X 22 and was absolutely the most perfect fish we have ever put in the boat. Not a trophy by the 50+ standard but a trophy for us -- significant meaning to the wife and I (something I will not share on this board). Not a single blemish, hookmark or split fin to be found, and she had the most beautiful markings of any fish that we have seen come out of our local lake. Don't know that I will ever get another reproduction as I doubt no other fish will hold the same meaning as this one does. A replica is more about what the fish represents in terms of memories that it provides (my personal definition of a true trophy) vs the actual size of the fish.
Edited by AFChief 2/23/2008 2:39 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i've got a unique replica mount done by joe fittante of a 52" fish taking a 34" fish that is eating a weagle ... the story of how this fish ate is pretty wild and the reproduction done by Joe Fittante is awesome ... perfect reproduction of the fish and the event!
i'll try to post a picture of it ...
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | very nice looking fish AF, I like that you mentioned A TROPHY to us. It backs my feelings that a fish does not have to be 50 inches to be a trophy. The word true trophy truely lies with the owner of it. Yours is that,a True Trophy. Thanks for the story and pic.
Pfeiff
Also john the one eating the smaller one, very cool. ty also.
Edited by Don Pfeiffer 2/17/2008 10:46 PM
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Johnny,
Your double mount is phenominal - a true work of art. Joe Fittanti is a true craftsman. I chose him to do my reproduction as well.
Jerry |
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Posts: 176
Location: Tomahawk, WI | I've got a 49.75" Wisconsin green machine Repo. from Aquatic arts of Tomahawk, and a 49" tiger from Fittante. Thinking of getting a Repo. of a very beautifully barred 51" fish i caught 2 years ago. After that, all that is left is a Spotted and i will be done, will need to travel great distances for it.
Mike |
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Posts: 260
Location: Lockport, IL | Growing up my Grandpa and dad had a couple pike on the wall. The biggest measured 42" caught in Illinois. I always dreamed of catching a fish that was bigger and when learning about muskies I knew that I would have my chance. I grew up fishing with medium action bass poles and when first starting to fish for pike and muskies the only thing that I changed was the fact that I tied a little steel liter to my 12 pound mono. I was lacking much knowledge in the game and was out fishing on the BIG V about 10 years ago and my buddy went to cast and snagged my pole snapping it in half. I cut of the rod down to around the 4th or 5th eye hole and continued fishing. Later that evening on half of a bass pole with 12 pound mono, I hooked a silver over some rocks. Somehow I snagged her in the corner of the mouth and got her in and measure her at 46". That was good enough for me and I was one happy dude. Since then I really have learned quite a bit and got my dad hooked on the musky bug. He caught a 44" musky in Illinois this past summer and to us that was a trophy as well. I never have caught a pike as big as my grandpa's, but did get a nice 39" pike while fishing for muskies. However, I always said Pike over 40" for me and I would consider mounting a musky over 48" (I have lost two 50 inchers on the BIG V). If my wife catches anything over 40" I will have to consider putting it on the wall. I think we do okay for folks who only get to fish no more than 20 days out of the year. |
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Posts: 54
| don,
i have to agree, the "trophy"is determined by the person who catches it.
i have a 53" Reproduction on the wall in between 2 trophy bucks i have bagged hunting.
the mount is chasing the believer i caught her on along with the leader i used that day hanging down from the ceiling with mono line. it really looks cool. i have to say the 2 trophy bucks were quite an accomplishment for me and shot 11 years apart almost to the day. but the musky is my greatest outdoor accomplishment.
i won a small tourny on lake vermilion which included the replica and a motor as first prize.
my partner and i had seen the fish twice the day before while guiding for a kids tourney. the next morning on my 2nd cast she smoked a believer in 2 feet of water off a rock ledge. the fight was incredible. i will never forget that day.the best part is we released her.
the funny part is a few minutes later i missed another one about 5 minutes later. my hands were still shaking and i had no concentration going. as i lifted another believer (hooks cut off on first one and i didnt have the right replacement hooks) a musky jumped up next to the boat. i still think it was bigger in my head. what an important lesson i learned there that i will never,ever forget. figure 8 or do the L every single time no matter what.
dannyboy
wwww.dannyboysguideservice.com
[email protected]
Edited by dannyboy 2/18/2008 1:15 PM
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Posts: 139
| I've got a 47.5 reproduction. I always said I would wait until I got a 50", but this 47.5 was fat with great markings. I'll still mount the 50" if it ever comes along.....and then possibly anything bigger thereafter. |
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Posts: 170
| A solid 51"er that I caught while alone in the boat...yep, super memories of this one! The fish had beautiful markings and the repro was done by Lax. The pic doesn't show the "S" curve very well, but it looks great. I also have another repro done bt Rick just shy of this one in length, but it was caught in deep clear trout waters and was void of markings...still pretty, but not like the photo attached.
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Posts: 4
| Muskyjay, come on man post the one from the office.
I'm still in the process of getting a 55 repro from two years ago. |
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Posts: 380
Location: Michigan | I have a 53.5 that I caught casting on the wall now, and I have a 54.5 caught trolling in the process, both by Mr. Fittante. When I got the 53 done, I said to myself I wasn't going to do another until I hit 55. But the 54.5 measurement was without a tail pinch, and she had a decent girth, so I said, what the heck, close enough. If it wasn't a 40 pounder, it was the closest thing I have caught to 40. Next one will have to be sick... Something over 50 and girth close to half of the length and 45 lbs. I would also do a Tiger if it was anything over about 46-47. Finally, I will do a northern when i hit 46-47. I have a couple 44's, but those are the biggest so far. |
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Posts: 134
Location: (South of the 218) | AFCchief wrote : "A replica is more about what the fish represents in terms of memories that it provides (my personal definition of a true trophy) vs the actual size of the fish."
Amen brother - exactly how I feel and why the only mount I have is the one my father in law had done for my son as a gift this past Christmas.
Tyler (11) caught a 41.5 LOTW Northern last August and we let her go. (Side note - Tyler caught 3 over 36" in the span of 15 minutes or so.) Grandpa Ray wrote in a card that he wanted to give Tyler a gift that he could be proud of, something to have in his house when he's an adult and something to remember him by and the time he shared with his family. (All perfect reasons to mount a fish)
Right Time
Right Fish
Right people...
I have a Shadow Box with a photo of my First 50" and the retired bait that serves as an awesome Trophy as well. The bait was borrowed from my best friend and the fish was caught with my closest cousin 1 hour before he caught his PB 47".
Out
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | 45" tiger that wa pushing 30# on Lac VieuxDesert. Nice fish in anyones book. What made this fish fun for me was the whole story. We put the boat (friend's boat) in on a mid october morning. We get our spot and start hanging suckers. He is a staunch single hook rig guy. In less than 1 1/2 hours he has suckers picked up 5x's. NOT ONE hook up. After that I finally get my first hit, quick set rig of course, I get to cross old girl's eyes and land a beautifully marked and fat 45" tiger after one of the most airborne fights I have ever seen. And I was able to successfully remove a hook and line from the fishes gullet from a previous hookup by another angler ( not my partners though...different line and hook)
Yes, as much a fun story for me as wel las a respectable fish. Giant? NO. Just an overall great time. Heavy fog, no wind, Good visibility in the water...it was ALL GOOD!
Karl |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Michelle and I have two 52 inch Spotteds on the wall from Fittante. Both reproductions. Both caught in Lake St. Clair on the same trip in the space of two days. They were our first 50 inchers. Michelle also got a 51 beofre she got her 52. We have not got a repo of the 51. She also got another 51 in 2007 that we have not had done. We are now hold ing out for a 55 or better or 40 lbs. Kingfisher
Edited by Kingfisher 2/19/2008 11:21 AM
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Posts: 162
Location: Bemidji, MN | I think it is funny that I see so many .25", .5" .75". Its 50 friggin inches! does a 1/4" really matter at that size? Its a big @$$ fish! My biggest was 54" exactly a week after my first 50" No replica of either. I have lots of pictures so I could get one at one time, but I hope I live long enough to catch a bigger one. I would hate to spend the $'s then just to get a bigger one a week later. The memories are far more important to me anyway. The first 50" was netted by my freind on his first musky trip ever, I never saw eyes so big on a guy! plus he hooked it on the outside of the net and we had to twist it around under the fish. My greatest memory with the 54" was yelling at the dog to "get the net!" because she was the only one in the boat with me and I was kind of surprised to see a fish that big eat a hawg wobbler after I had gone over the spot twice already. Anyway, maybe someday I will catch a giant and get a replica, but until then, they still swim in the lake, and in my memory. |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | a variety of sizes that were considered special or a trophy at the time. I think that helps make my point that a trophy is whatever it is to that individual. Thats just the way it should be as far as I care.
Pfeiff
Don't want another billy bass on the wall!
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Posts: 176
Location: Tomahawk, WI | J Nail, leading up to 50" it does matter. My fishing partner and i have caught a few between 49 and 49-3/4" in Wisconsin, we both can say we have never caught a Wisconsin 50 incher. 50" means 50". |
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Posts: 298
| PANTLEGGER - 2/20/2008 7:26 AM
J Nail, leading up to 50" it does matter. My fishing partner and i have caught a few between 49 and 49-3/4" in Wisconsin, we both can say we have never caught a Wisconsin 50 incher. 50" means 50".
I agree. Since catch and release has become 98% or better the way we all fish; rounding off 49.? to 50 has become way to easy. How do they all just measure 50 on all these logs I see posted? Rarely does a fish measure exact, and doubt hardly anybody is rounding these fish down to 49.
50" means 50" |
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Hey pantlegger you need not travel too far for that spotted fish............................. |
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Posts: 43
Location: Warrenville,IL | I'll have to take some pictures of my home-lodge one of these days. I think I'm up to 11 on my walls.
I'm putting #12 & #13 up on the walls today.
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| .25 and .5, .75 doesn't matter? c'mon...I have 3 fish just under 50, are they 50? no, they are not..don't fool yourself..a 49.75 isn't a 50 ...you probably tell the ladies your 6 feet tall when your 5'10" too.... 
as for the mounts...none yet...have two 52.5's I keep hoping to win one of the repro contests to get done...guess this year I'll have to bust thru that 52.5 mark and that one will get put on the wall....a repro of course!
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Posts: 162
Location: Bemidji, MN | So how many 49.75's are stretched to 50? I bet lots. Probably some 48's and 47's for that matter. Is it a sdwsv match you want? Or do you want to go fishing and have fun? I think some folks need to take a look at priorities. A 50" fish can be made into a 49 1/2 by bad handling in the net, and a 49 can be made into a 50 by creative massaging and stretching. The point is there are some big fish out there to be caught, and I am not going to sdfvs and moan over a half inch on a 30 or 40 pound fish. |
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Posts: 176
Location: Tomahawk, WI | Im sorry to the person who started this post, after this i will shut-up. I personally witnessed on two different occasions people trying to pull that "its 50" crap, when in all reality one was 49" and the other was 48.5" long. So, yes!!! quite a few are beeing exaggerated or stretched to 50". I personally believe in 50" is 50", none of this close enough crap. 50" is still the musky benchmark in my book, regardless of bigger fish being caught these days or weight etc....
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Posts: 129
| mines 49 with a 25 inch girth. Ive caught longer, but not fatter. she was definately a trophy for me at the time. It was my first 30lber and at the time my longest. It will take a 54 or 55 for me to do it again. |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | No need to be sorry to me or for me. I certainly would agree that alot of liberties are taken with measurements. Whoever measures it has to live with it. Its a bit harder to lie about a skin mount so maybe they were a bit more honest back then, THATS Maybe. I won't let myself get botherd by that. It does lead to another question I'll have to post.
How many of you fudged on the measurements of your reproduction> You know ,said it was bigger then it really was? Bet there won't many to fess up to that one,lol.
Pfeiff
Now guys don't get bent of of shape about the question. Just a little bit of fun with you. |
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