Armed Taxidermy
/armed-taxidermy-5329.jpg "Armed Taxidermy")
- Wall Mounted African Rhino Head - $69.99
- 40" Great White Shark Taxidermy - $185.00
- Bobcat After Pheasant Taxidermy - $1,498.00
- Beaver Chewing on Log Taxidermy - $898.00
- Coyote Howling on Driftwood Taxidermy - $898.00
Normally, I would admire these pieces of armed taxidermy as simple, wondrous fusions of guns and dead things, created by a mind that exists on a much higher plane of superbly twisted ideas than mine, and leave it at that. But out of respect to the artist and his vision...or whatever...I will expand on the deeper meaning and social commentary Peter Gronquist intends his sculptures to convey.
Taxidermy ranging from deer, bison, antelopes, even (hands down my favorite) jackalopes have had their horns replaced or intertwined with various types of guns, the latter gilded or lacquered or otherwise decked out with ostentatious ornamentations. Like many artists, Gronquist hopes to stir discomfort with his work, forcing spectators to engage with taboos and contemplate the juxtaposition of death, nature, and destruction. Particularly as they relate to humankind's relationship with our environment and the idea that our innate drives--survival via food, water, shelter--invoke desires--comfort, pleasure, peace--that ultimately lead to greed. We don't just want what we need, we want what we want. In large, fancy, gold-encrusted quantities.
But if exploring the profundity of majestic animals with wicked weapons coming out of their heads isn't your thing, just enjoy the visuals flipping through the slideshow here, and checking out more heat-packing sculptures on Gronquist's Website.
/double-barrel-pistol-8191.jpg?mode=crop "Double Barrel Pistol")
Double Barrel Pistol
The AF2011-A1 Double Barrel Pistol is a first on two counts. It's the first ever double barrel semiautomatic pistol manufactured for sale (not available yet, but on deck for Fall 2012). And, after getting a load of the...
Grizzly 8.5" Magfed Shotgun
No one has written a Wikipedia article on Dominion Arms' Grizzly 8.5 magfed shotgun yet, and no one has given me a Dominion Arms Grizzly 8.5 mag fed shotgun yet, so all I can really say about it is that from the very...
The TAC-SAC Rail Accessory
Last time me and my friend Cornelius played paintball he kept getting nailed and hiding and whining like a little goat until finally everyone was like, Dude, you need to grow a pair! And he was all, Dude! It's not me...
Super Shorty Shotgun
The Super Shorty Shotgun is based on a Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge, and, at an additional cost, is also available in models Mossberg 500, Remington 870, and Lil' Kim. Factory-fabricated with a pistol grip, the Super Shorty...
/salt-self-defense-gun-32170.jpg?mode=crop "SALT Self-Defense Gun")
SALT Self-Defense Gun
Lorenzo Maggiore already figured out how to A-Salt bugs in an effort keep our extermination of insects simple, clean, and green. Now we have a means of SALTing humans, this time in an effort to keep our defense against...
/The-357-Magnum-Gun-Hair-Dryer-874.jpg?mode=crop "The 357 Magnum Gun Hair Dryer")
The 357 Magnum Gun Hair Dryer
A real "blast" from the past. In a clever display of grooming irony, users shoot this vintage 357 Magnum Hair Dryer at their heads to avoid committing style suicide. We can see it now, the biggest public service campaign...
Bulletproof Polo Shirt
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Femme Fatale Ring Gun
Ladies with a vendetta, or a penchant for jewelry that also serves as a weapon, I'm afraid you can't buy the Femme Fatale Ring Gun. (Unless the person who paid $11,350 for it at auction would be willing to sell it to...
/wasp-less-lethal-weapon-42074.jpg?mode=crop "WASP Less-Lethal Weapon Accessory")
WASP Less-Lethal Weapon Accessory
The WASP weapon accessory is an add-on for your existing 9mm pistol that converts it into a less-lethal self defense option for a single round. The WASP impact baton fits into the gun's barrel and, when fired, shoots...
/the-big-bang-pistol-set-32456.jpg?mode=crop "The Big Bang Pistol Set")
The Big Bang Pistol Set
Cabot Guns has forged a few big bangs into its Big Bang Pistol set. The matched left and right pair of 1911s aren't just two of a kind, the only two Cabot has and will ever build (bang!), they're two of a kind made entirely...
/armatix-smart-system-for-11553.jpg?mode=crop "Armatix Smart System for Firearms")
Armatix Smart System for Firearms
Looks like James Bond and Data from The Goonies are finally making good on that collaboration they've been talking about. What we have here is a smartwatch-controlled pistol. A gun that will fire only if it is within...
The Gun Box - RFID Safe
Gun Box has determined that your hand is the only thing that should stand between you and your gun. So buy a Gun Box, and not only will you get a weapon safe that opens exclusively in response to your personal RFID chip...