Today we begin a major three-part interview with Richard Janoušek, the owner of KalibrGun Valdy EU s.r.o.
Hard Air Magazine Publisher Stephen Archer met-up with Richard at the recent IWA OutdoorClassics show in Nuremberg, Germany. We took this opportunity to talk about the background to Richard’s company and are sharing it with the many readers who are interested in one of the major innovative players in the PCP airgun market.
Our photograph above shows Richard (left) explaining the latest KalibrGun Snipe to me at IWA.
There’s a ton of information here, so – rather than edit it down – we will be publishing it in multiple parts. I hope you enjoy reading this discussion and that you will learn a lot about KalibrGun and its products.
Sadly I cannot speak Czech. So thanks to Richard for speaking English so well – as always. Thanks too, to Ihor Tkachov for taking the photographs as we chatted!
Below. The Cricket 2 Tactical
Stephen Archer: Richard, it’s great to see you again! Thanks for taking the time to share some background about your company. Let’s start at the beginning. How long has KalibrGun been in business and how did the company start?
Richard Janoušek: Yes, Steve, it’s always a pleasure when we get together! OK, I’ll start at the beginning…
As you know, KalibrGun is one of the most experienced companies in the airgun market, and we are proud of this status! We started our journey 20 years ago, which makes us one of the longest-lived and respected companies in the industry.
The idea for KalibrGun was born from a desire to offer shooters not just a quality product, but a unique shooting experience.
Below. The KalibrGun Snipe 2.
The founders of the company – including myself – had a deep passion for shooting sports and technology. We also had a vision for how modern technology can take airgun accuracy and reliability to a new level.
From the very beginning, KalibrGun focused on the development and production of high-quality PCP airguns. This focus on innovation and continuous improvement has allowed us to earn the trust of customers around the world. Our air rifles are sold in many countries around the world…
Below. A Cricket 2 Tactical at Extreme Benchrest.
Today, our products are known for their accuracy, reliability and ease of use, and we continue to build our reputation based on these principles.
Those twenty years of experience are our pride and responsibility. We continue setting high standards in the airgun industry!
Stephen Archer: How long have you worked with the company?
Richard Janoušek: I have been with KalibrGun since the very beginning and so have witnessed tremendous growth and innovation during this time. It has been an incredible journey to contribute to a company that is an industry leader – as you can imagine.
Below. Mike Bricker shot a Cricket mini-carbine, winning the 2019 Extreme Benchrest Speed Silhouette (Sportsman) competition.
Stephen Archer: Richard, please tell our readers about your job at KalibrGun?
Richard Janoušek: Of course! I am the owner of KalibrGun. My role involves overseeing the overall operations of the company. As part of this, I manage strategic planning, plus ensuring the development and delivery of high-quality air rifles to our customers.
In addition, I also work closely with the design and manufacturing teams to drive innovation and maintain the excellence our brand is known for. Further, I am actively involved in building and maintaining relationships with our global network of dealers and partners. Phew!
Stephen Archer: What is your favorite KalibrGun air rifle? And why?
Richard Janoušek: Steve, that’s a tough one! My favorite air gun is the Snipe, especially the Snipe 2 (Photo above).
Why? Well, this gun has a special meaning for us because it was developed in close cooperation with our customers in the USA.
We carefully studied their wishes and needs to create a product that fully meets the expectations of American shooters. I was delighted to see that Hard Air Magazine awarded it a HAM Gold Award in your review. That really validates what we aimed to achieve!
But close behind is the Cricket 2. This is another rifle that has won the hearts of shooters worldwide. Plus the Cricket 2 Tactical won another HAM Gold Award!
And here’s a “scoop” for you! We are now ready to introduce the Cricket 3. The Cricket 3 is not just a gun, but a real “American dream” in the world of air guns. We are proud that we have been able to combine our experience with the wishes of users and create a product that embodies quality, accuracy and convenience!
The improvements in the Cricket 3 include adding a spring magazine and increasing power. You will see much more about this in the near future…
Stephen Archer: KalibrGun really started the “bullpup revolution” with airguns when it introduced the first Cricket. How did this happen and what was the thinking behind this product?
Richard Janoušek: With the first Cricket, we didn’t just release a new model – we changed the airgun market by being one of the first to make the bullpup concept in airguns a reality.
Below. Here’s Mike Bricker again, shooting his Cricket mini Carbine.
Our goal was clear: to make an air rifle compact, comfortable and balanced, without sacrificing power and accuracy. The result was the Cricket – a gun that set a new standard for the entire industry.
Today, the market is full of bullpups. But Steve, let’s be honest – they are just followers! They are following in the path that we paved. We inspired the industry, and the world followed us.
What’s more, we have been in the market for over 20 years, which means we have more experience than most others. We know how to make a really good product, because we created this class of guns.
KalibrGun is the original. Everything else is just variations on our theme. Steve, make sure that you get this into the story!
Stephen Archer: What is the meaning of the name “Cricket” for KalibrGun and how was it decided?
Richard Janoušek: The name “Cricket” symbolizes reliability, compactness and durability for us – exactly the qualities that we put into this rifle. Like a real cricket, it is small, but surprisingly durable.
As you know, the Cricket became world famous for its reliability. But maybe you didn’t know that more than 50,000 “Сrickets” have been sold to Saudi Arabia alone!
From there we had one of the most illustrative stories about the durability of this rifle. An Arab father buried it in the sand overnight. In the morning he took it out and continued shooting with the same accuracy. Isn’t this the best proof of quality and reliability?
Cricket is not just a name, it is the philosophy of KalibrGun: accuracy, durability and flawless operation in any conditions.
Part Two of this exclusive interview will be published in Hard Air Magazine tomorrow.
The post Hard Air Magazine Talks to Richard Janoušek of KalibrGun appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
