BJH65
AH fanatic
I will be downsizing some of my gun collection to recoup costs on past and future African safaris and it is my desire to set aside funds to acquire a used “bespoke” rifle in the $5000-$14,000 range. Depends on how well I do. Some of the rifles I have considered: Reimer Johanssen, Dakota 76, Parkwest Arms, Kimber 89 BGR, Dumoulin, and various notable custom gun makers. All used rifles.
I would also include a Blaser R8 with walnut stock and perhaps laser engraving. I’m not sure how much I would appreciate or take advantage of the modular design, I prefer to stick with just one caliber while hunting, I just find a nice walnut stocked Blaser R8 to be a handsome rifle and certainly well proven over the years. I would certainly consider a beautiful engraved and walnut stocked Blaser R8 to fall in the bespoke category.
As to caliber, I believe the most useful for my purposes would be a 375 H&H. I will retain my CZ 416 Rigby and custom Robar/AHR Brno 458 Lott so see no need for a similar caliber, but with that being said, if I were to acquire a very nice Reimer Johannsen 416 Rigby for the right price point, or a Blaser R8 in 416 Rem Mag, those calibers overlap enough that I would be okay with it and with the Blaser, obtaining another barrel is a great option. Still, for my intended purpose of this rifle, to hunt African game up to Buffalo in size and perhaps some North American game, I feel the 375 H&H would be ideal.
I have been perusing older posts from BeeMaa, Red Leg, One Day, Rookhawk, Phillip Glass, Tanks, K-Man, and Mark Ouellette to name a few members and they have been very educational and informative. I’m leaving off many other knowledgeable AH members so I apologize, I’m still a new member and there is still a trove of older excellent information still to look upon. Perhaps because I’ve been recovering from a bout of arthritis, I’ve had too much time to think and look at guns!
There is nothing wrong with the “working class” rifles I’ve used over the years and some of the “lower end” custom rifles, they have done the job just as well, yet we have this one life to live and I’m hopeful I’ll have at least another 20 years of viable hunting adventures, and a classy bespoke rifle would be a great addition to accompany me on these future hunts and an excellent investment.
Unfortunately, Rigby and Westley Richards are a bridge too far although I have seen a few nice used older Holland & Holland 375 H&H rifles that could be in my realm yet most are not drilled and tapped for optics and I would never dare deface such a rifle by having one drilled & tapped! Anyhow, that’s the plan, downsize to a more manageable number of guns, offset some hunt costs, use what’s left for a “bespoke” rifle that my heirs may later sell for a good price. We’ll see how I do and what’s available in a couple months.
I would also include a Blaser R8 with walnut stock and perhaps laser engraving. I’m not sure how much I would appreciate or take advantage of the modular design, I prefer to stick with just one caliber while hunting, I just find a nice walnut stocked Blaser R8 to be a handsome rifle and certainly well proven over the years. I would certainly consider a beautiful engraved and walnut stocked Blaser R8 to fall in the bespoke category.
As to caliber, I believe the most useful for my purposes would be a 375 H&H. I will retain my CZ 416 Rigby and custom Robar/AHR Brno 458 Lott so see no need for a similar caliber, but with that being said, if I were to acquire a very nice Reimer Johannsen 416 Rigby for the right price point, or a Blaser R8 in 416 Rem Mag, those calibers overlap enough that I would be okay with it and with the Blaser, obtaining another barrel is a great option. Still, for my intended purpose of this rifle, to hunt African game up to Buffalo in size and perhaps some North American game, I feel the 375 H&H would be ideal.
I have been perusing older posts from BeeMaa, Red Leg, One Day, Rookhawk, Phillip Glass, Tanks, K-Man, and Mark Ouellette to name a few members and they have been very educational and informative. I’m leaving off many other knowledgeable AH members so I apologize, I’m still a new member and there is still a trove of older excellent information still to look upon. Perhaps because I’ve been recovering from a bout of arthritis, I’ve had too much time to think and look at guns!
There is nothing wrong with the “working class” rifles I’ve used over the years and some of the “lower end” custom rifles, they have done the job just as well, yet we have this one life to live and I’m hopeful I’ll have at least another 20 years of viable hunting adventures, and a classy bespoke rifle would be a great addition to accompany me on these future hunts and an excellent investment.
Unfortunately, Rigby and Westley Richards are a bridge too far although I have seen a few nice used older Holland & Holland 375 H&H rifles that could be in my realm yet most are not drilled and tapped for optics and I would never dare deface such a rifle by having one drilled & tapped! Anyhow, that’s the plan, downsize to a more manageable number of guns, offset some hunt costs, use what’s left for a “bespoke” rifle that my heirs may later sell for a good price. We’ll see how I do and what’s available in a couple months.
