Cool old picture of a working double in Alaska

[DPHunter4570]

Very cool!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Phil, I agree. While I really appreciate a high quality blueing. I also enjoy the looks of a well worn rifle with all the blueing worn off from use.

In fact if my LO voucher purchase goes as planned I am using my well worn 1939 model 70 .300 H&H for elk in October

I’ve sealed the inside of the stock to minimize moisture absorption.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Phil, I agree. While I really appreciate a high quality blueing. I also enjoy the looks of a well worn rifle with all the blueing worn off from use.

In fact if my LO voucher purchase goes as planned I am using my well worn 1939 model 70 .300 H&H for elk in October

I’ve sealed the inside of the stock to minimize moisture absorption.

View attachment 705793View attachment 705794View attachment 705795

Nothing beats the charme of a trusty, well worn rifle! Still here despite the stainless trend, still very able to do his job. A great hunting companion that knows best.
In fact, if I ever can hunt Kodiak Bear up there in the Island, I would carry my Sauer 90 in 9,3x64.
After all, I still have an article by Gianni Olivo from 1992, in wich he told his hunt on Kodiak with his Sauer 90 in 375H&H, and a fixed Swar 6x in claw mounths. Not ideal by todays standards, but very effective nonetheless.

 

[roklok]

Phil, you are correct. You dont need a stainless synthetic to hunt Alaska, however you need to realize that the rifle will most likely sustain cosmetic damage despite your best efforts. I have hunted all over Alaska with my blued and wood .35 Whelen, and it shows. Even wiping down daily with oil isnt enough to keep all rust at bay. As long as you are okay with reminders of the hunt have at it. Looking at Joes double in that pic it is quite evident that bluing is mostly gone, and wood looks like it has seen lots of foul weather, which I am sure it has.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Phil, you are correct. You dont need a stainless synthetic to hunt Alaska, however you need to realize that the rifle will most likely sustain cosmetic damage despite your best efforts. I have hunted all over Alaska with my blued and wood .35 Whelen, and it shows. Even wiping down daily with oil isnt enough to keep all rust at bay. As long as you are okay with reminders of the hunt have at it. Looking at Joes double in that pic it is quite evident that bluing is mostly gone, and wood looks like it has seen lots of foul weather, which I am sure it has.

I would cherish every sign of a hunt on Kodiak on my rifle, if I ever had the chance to do it! Sure I would do my best to keep it in perfect working order, gun oil and so on.
I bet, you're very fond of your .35, and love every sign on it...
Any pic? I'd like to admire an old warrior...

 

[wildwilderness]

Well, many of you are US citizens - to me, hunt in the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak is quite a savage dream, and with the skyrocketing cost of a Brown Bear hunt, for sure the adventure of a lifetime.

Only Alaska Residents can hunt Brown bears without a guide.

So most, even US citizens not from Alaska have to pay the same Guided prices you do!

 

[Phil Giordano]

Only Alaska Residents can hunt Brown bears without a guide.

So most, even US citizens not from Alaska have to pay the same Guided prices you do!

Didn't know.
Still, I have to add logistic, airplane tickets, special export paperwork, tickets and insurance for gun and ammo, being in touch with ATF for importing them, and so on.
Not to mention cost of trophy expedition and import.
Sure, the big part is the cost of the hunt itself.
But coming from the other side of the pond adds some problems and raises the cost substantially.

 

[Foxi]

Here is an old pic of well known Alaskan guide Joe Want with a double rifle, I assume taken in Kodiak. Joe guided for famous Kodiak bear hunters Pinnel and Talifson in the late 50's and 60's. Thought you double guys would like this one. Can anyone identify the rifle ?View attachment 705205

Phew, what a fierce fellow.
You wouldn't want to get into trouble with him.
As a retiree, he looks much more peaceful.
The rifle definitely doesn't belong to him.
It probably costs twice the annual salary of a bear guide in wet Alaska.
But it's a cool pic.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Nothing beats the charme of a trusty, well worn rifle! Still here despite the stainless trend, still very able to do his job. A great hunting companion that knows best.
In fact, if I ever can hunt Kodiak Bear up there in the Island, I would carry my Sauer 90 in 9,3x64.
After all, I still have an article by Gianni Olivo from 1992, in wich he told his hunt on Kodiak with his Sauer 90 in 375H&H, and a fixed Swar 6x in claw mounths. Not ideal by todays standards, but very effective nonetheless.
View attachment 705797

Looks like Rip from Yellowstone...

 

[8 x 60]

Great pic! Thanks for sharing!
English made for sure - to me, could be an H&H "Dominion Grade", essentially a Royal with less embellishment and a lower grade wood.

I don't think it is a Dominion. The action plate is the wrong shape.

 

[Phil Giordano]

I don't think it is a Dominion. The action plate is the wrong shape.

What I intended is 'dominion grade' , not a Dominion Double Rifle. As far as I have read in an old article on Rifle Shooter, 'dominion grade' was also a sort of 'lower grade' Royal. That said, if memory serves me well.
Sure, a Domion Rifle has a totally different frame and shape.
But, following what is written in the article (and showed in a pic with the late Finn Aagaard holding indeed an "H&H Dominion Grade Express Rifle"), I believe it could be that.

 

[1dirthawker]

I still have an old article he wrote about judging brown bears that I still read once a year. I also send it to my clients. He figured out the subtle differences between a nice bear and a truly big bear. P&T got him going and he excelled at judging bears and how to kill them. Sometimes he would exasperate his clients by not hunting and sitting in his separate tent for days on end while waiting for the wind direction to change before hunting a big bear he had located.

hey scott,

can you dm me that article? i suspect that i would find some useful info in it. thanks!!

 

[Scott CWO]

Would love to see the list of gear and the article on judging brown bears

All I have is a copy. Couldn’t find the article online. I took pictures of the first two pages. I don’t have the third page. Hope you can read it.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Phil, maybe an Alaskan resident that also guides and is competent to do so, could take you hunting Bears in trade for you sending them on an Italian hunt.

Didn't know.
Still, I have to add logistic, airplane tickets, special export paperwork, tickets and insurance for gun and ammo, being in touch with ATF for importing them, and so on.
Not to mention cost of trophy expedition and import.
Sure, the big part is the cost of the hunt itself.
But coming from the other side of the pond adds some problems and raises the cost substantially.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Phil, maybe an Alaskan resident that also guides and is competent to do so, could take you hunting Bears in trade for you sending them on an Italian hunt.

Maybe it could be done! I would be more than happy to "outfit" an hunter / friend who's interested in the trade. It would take a bit (a lot) of timing and dedication, in order to provide what is needed for, but I guess it could be done. Good idea!

 

[Altitude sickness]

For your hospitality last October hosting my Wife and Sister in Law in Italy. And sending a collectible knife home for me.

I would happily take you Deer, Turkey or small game hunting here in Michigan. USA

It’s all I can offer for free at my place to you Phil. If timed right we could fish for trout or salmon

 

[Phil Giordano]

For your hospitality last October hosting my Wife and Sister in Law in Italy. And sending a collectible knife home for me.

I would happily take you Deer, Turkey or small game hunting here in Michigan. USA

It’s all I can offer for free at my place to you Phil. If timed right we could fish for trout or salmon
View attachment 706021

This sounds fantastic.
I thank you very, very much for this proposal.
Really, I'd like to visit Michigan!
We'll have to keep this program and try to organize it maybe in a not too far future.
You know, I have not much time left from the shop, and I have already booked a stay in Canada by an old friend of mine, for the next year. But, I really wish to come and visit after that Canadian trip.
Also, I'd like to have you here in Rome next time your family visit Italy! Please try to organize an holiday here!

 

[Altitude sickness]

My wife keeps hounding me to come with them on the next Italy visit. I’ll submit soon.

 

[1dirthawker]

All I have is a copy. Couldn’t find the article online. I took pictures of the first two pages. I don’t have the third page. Hope you can read it.

that information is solid gold! not sure about the pad in inches plus two for a squared bear, your thoughts?

 

[roklok]

Phew, what a fierce fellow.
You wouldn't want to get into trouble with him.
As a retiree, he looks much more peaceful.
The rifle definitely doesn't belong to him.
It probably costs twice the annual salary of a bear guide in wet Alaska.
But it's a cool pic.

I do believe it is his rifle, based on the article posted above that says he uses a .500 Caliber H&H, the fact that it is evident the rifle has seen much use in Alaska based on condition (not a clients rifle), and Moosemind's post that identifies Joes rifle. Don't assume that he would not have the means to acquire such a rifle. I have seen some high dollar rifles in use in the Alaskan bush. Original Winchester 1895s in .405 come to mind, have seen a couple hard used ones still in use. I know a H&H double is in a different "bracket" but I am confident it is his rifle.