Every exceptional hunting rifle begins with a vision – and that is precisely how the Blaser R8 300,000 “The Wild Planet” came into being. This special model from Blaser is absolutely unique and ranks among the most fascinating one-of-a-kind pieces in the world of modern hunting rifles. Developed in the Blaser Custom Shop, this masterpiece combines state-of-the-art manufacturing technology with classic gunsmithing craftsmanship – uncompromising, precise, and perfected down to the smallest detail.
Developed over roughly a year at Blaser’s facility in Isny im Allgäu, the rifle is less a single technical “feature” than a chain of engineering decisions that began with one deliberate departure from the standard R8 architecture: hinged side plates on the receiver. The plates sit flush and remain stable under real handling conditions but this meant that the receiver was widened, which in turn led to a new stock and a widened bolt housing. The hinged-surface concept was then transferred to the butt plate, pistol grip cap, and cheek piece, giving the R8 300,000 four side surfaces instead of the usual two. Master engraver Daniel Karagiannis used these surfaces for impressively realistic animal motifs – including deer, ibex, wolves, a powerful tiger, and a majestic polar bear – using a bulino technique. To tie the metalwork together, the Custom Shop developed a dedicated relief texture applied across the rifle’s metal surfaces as a unifying background, with the Argali logo shimmering within the pattern.
Blaser R8 300,000 “The Wild Planet”: hidden treasures
The highest grade walnut wood was selected for the stock. A leather inlay, with gold-inlaid “300,000” lettering and a blue-colored push button, conceals a hidden second stock inlay: an elephant head on mammoth ivory, made using the finest scrimshaw technique.
“The Wild Planet” is rounded off by a specially made premium leather case lined with Alcantara, that also has space for the two Blaser B1 2.8-20x50 iC and B1 1-7x28 iC target optics, and a true-to-scale miniature version of this unique rifle.
The leather used for the case and inserts was also used for the matching rifle sling.
