On GB Now Ex PH .404 Jeffery, Not Mine, No Connection

[sestoppelman]

.404 Jeffrey - Own a Piece of Africa - Antique Guns at GunBroker.com : 885350840

 

[CoElkHunter]

I looked at this on GB. There’s a potential fraud notice attached to this listing by GB. Looks awfully clean for a rifle that was supposed to have been used by a PH in Zimbabwe for 18 years?

 

[sestoppelman]

Thats not really a potential fraud notice, they do that with all non rated sellers until they get some feedback.
Just a CYA for them.

 

[Red Leg]

The rifle has issues as well. The wrist has been pinned because of a crack. The pin is obvious going through the head of the wrist and you can actually see the hairline in the overhead photo of the rear of the action. Looks pretty substantial which is why it was pinned. The rifle also uses a mil spec 98 action. I hasten to add that can work with a .404, but it has to be done correctly. Finally, there are no markings on the rifle that I can see, and the seller isn't pitching where it was built. Therefore, I would assume this was cobbled together by a gunsmith in SA. That is insane money for a rifle with obvious problems and lots of unknowns. Now, if you could prove it once belonged to Philip Hope Percival ...............

 

[rookhawk]

Exactly what I noticed @Red Leg

Pinned at the wrist. No maker stated. Soft-focus pictures. No prior history. And in my experience in Africa, its current condition is what it would look like 24 hours after a PH owned it, not what one looks like after 18 years.

Highly Dubious.

 

[vette447]

Also definitely not a Jeffery or Mauser type A as it lacks the horn forend tip. Agree with all the issues above. You should definitely take “in focus” pictures of you have a nice rifle you are hoping to get ~$4k for

 

[TTundra]

I emailed the seller asking for more info. His name, or at least his he signed the email, is in fact a registered PH, one whom has a decent resume by google search.
Whether the rifle is factory or cobbled, TBD, but seems to be from a PH, and if he has photographs of him with said rifle, could be interesting.