Timbo
AH fanatic
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
- Messages
- 972
- Reaction score
- 1,979
- Media
- 49
- Member of
- BGRC PFRC & SSAA
- Hunted
- Australia (WA & NT), Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa
Reading some of these posts recalled an amazing experience I and my son had a few years ago in Zimbabwe, and would like to share with you guys. My family were spending a few days game viewing, and in that camp I spotted an lovely old rifle in one corner. Over the days in talking with the ex-PH - now only Guiding in his retirement - about this rifle, he brought it over stating it was his work rifle. While discussing it, he remembered that it desperately needed sighting in - and would I like to do that job? Wow! Apart from hunting, what would better suit a client's lazy afternoon, huh? His rifle was a venerable old .404 Jeffery bolt action , that clearly had seen many decades of safari work, that we were to discover had an amazing history.
This beautiful .404 Jeffery was completely original as from the day it left the factory, and was one of the first rifles made by the Krupp factory in Germany. It had a 28" octagonal barrel, upon which were mounted a silvered 5-leaf sight (out to 400yds!) and a silvered hooded front sight, all of which was seated in a classic safari stock. It was both very light, snug and handy to wield despite a 26" barrel. The owner told me its history - which I've forgotten the actual details - but it has had 7 owners, 5 of which having been killed by DG. I certainly recall that two prior owners had met their end with it while hunting buffalo, and another when an elephant took objection to the proceedings. This owner had owned and used it as a PH for the past 40 years prior to his retirement.
Before we drove out, my son, Jonathon, who had also showed much interest in this rifle, then received an impromptu succinct lesson in correct shouldering from this highly experienced PH. Anyway we all drove out, set up a target, and I fired away with this beauty until he was satisfied. Not having used a 404 Jeff before, I found this rifle recoiled sweetly and an absolute pleasure to use, and to work that super slick Mauser action! Funnily enough, the rifle was bang-on but I suspect now that the Guide appreciated the fillip of having another (client) hunter appreciate this rifle.
Anyway, to me the most amazing feature of this rifle I've left to last - it's the serial number - it's number "7"!! That's right! The seventh rifle to be produced by the Krupp factory all those years ago!! The present day company has located this rifle and has offered him mega-bucks to buy it back for their museum, but they've been refused every time, because as this guy simply says: "I'm still using it!" - and, in my opinion, that's exactly how it should be too!!
It was a rare privilege and sheer joy to handle, and "sight in" such a rifle. And in its' handling, my mind reeled from what adventures it had been on, and what stories it could tell! An amazing experience and, for me - one I'll never forget!!
For those interested, the serial number can be seen in the close up photo of the action just to the right of my son's little finger. Look carefully because the - complete! - single digit serial has been stamped with the horizontal "top" of the "7" pointing towards the muzzle. (Sorry about the quality of the first photo, I can't seem to upload an AVI video - so it's a photo of the opening frame taken directly off my computer screen and tone edited to remove the computer screen granulation.)
This beautiful .404 Jeffery was completely original as from the day it left the factory, and was one of the first rifles made by the Krupp factory in Germany. It had a 28" octagonal barrel, upon which were mounted a silvered 5-leaf sight (out to 400yds!) and a silvered hooded front sight, all of which was seated in a classic safari stock. It was both very light, snug and handy to wield despite a 26" barrel. The owner told me its history - which I've forgotten the actual details - but it has had 7 owners, 5 of which having been killed by DG. I certainly recall that two prior owners had met their end with it while hunting buffalo, and another when an elephant took objection to the proceedings. This owner had owned and used it as a PH for the past 40 years prior to his retirement.
Before we drove out, my son, Jonathon, who had also showed much interest in this rifle, then received an impromptu succinct lesson in correct shouldering from this highly experienced PH. Anyway we all drove out, set up a target, and I fired away with this beauty until he was satisfied. Not having used a 404 Jeff before, I found this rifle recoiled sweetly and an absolute pleasure to use, and to work that super slick Mauser action! Funnily enough, the rifle was bang-on but I suspect now that the Guide appreciated the fillip of having another (client) hunter appreciate this rifle.
Anyway, to me the most amazing feature of this rifle I've left to last - it's the serial number - it's number "7"!! That's right! The seventh rifle to be produced by the Krupp factory all those years ago!! The present day company has located this rifle and has offered him mega-bucks to buy it back for their museum, but they've been refused every time, because as this guy simply says: "I'm still using it!" - and, in my opinion, that's exactly how it should be too!!
It was a rare privilege and sheer joy to handle, and "sight in" such a rifle. And in its' handling, my mind reeled from what adventures it had been on, and what stories it could tell! An amazing experience and, for me - one I'll never forget!!
For those interested, the serial number can be seen in the close up photo of the action just to the right of my son's little finger. Look carefully because the - complete! - single digit serial has been stamped with the horizontal "top" of the "7" pointing towards the muzzle. (Sorry about the quality of the first photo, I can't seem to upload an AVI video - so it's a photo of the opening frame taken directly off my computer screen and tone edited to remove the computer screen granulation.)
