Reimer Johannsen Safari Rifle

[Aussie_Hunter]

@Aussie_Hunter

Did H&W tell you how long you have to wait for a rifle ?

Yes both H&W and Reimer Johannsen have quoted 1.5-2 years for their bolt action rifles, this could change depending on upgrades.

 

[Jefferry404]

Well, the quality of his action is top notch, fully machined square bridge.

 

[rookhawk]

Yes both H&W and Reimer Johannsen have quoted 1.5-2 years for their bolt action rifles, this could change depending on upgrades.

@Aussie_Hunter

If you’re thinking of hereditary wealth, passing something on to your heirs that is a liquid asset, I’d advise you get the least expensive H&W they will build you in 500 Jeff on a square bridge.

You can wear it down with many hunts and you WILL have an appreciating asset unequaled. If your heirs hate it, they can flip it for more than you paid in ten years even with dents and dings.

An RJ is worth less than half when you drive it off the lot. Even worse if not the right caliber. (What caliber did you want?)

Not many more HWs will ever be made. It will be a Stratovarius in ten years.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

@Aussie_Hunter

If you’re thinking of hereditary wealth, passing something on to your heirs that is a liquid asset, I’d advise you get the least expensive H&W they will build you in 500 Jeff on a square bridge.

You can wear it down with many hunts and you WILL have an appreciating asset unequaled. If your heirs hate it, they can flip it for more than you paid in ten years even with dents and dings.

An RJ is worth less than half when you drive it off the lot. Even worse if not the right caliber. (What caliber did you want?)

Not many more HWs will ever be made. It will be a Stratovarius in ten years.

Although resale value is always a consideration for me to some degree, the thought process you mention has not been my approach. I think maybe my OP has been misinterpreted to some degree. Although my original question was around RJ compared to other makers and there is some comparisons between makers in my head when looking at what they have to offer I wasn't really going out of my way to compare H&W and RJ as an investment. I have more just been looking at all the options out there, or atleast trying to gain a better understanding of alot of the options available.

RJ is one maker that got my attention as I like the style of their rifles and what they have to offer, but I appreciate the feedback. I have bought and sold many rifles over the years and there will probably be many more but the rifle I want to have built is one I intend on holding onto forever, atleast that's the plan anyway.

Calibre will be 416-458, somewhere in that realm.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I should probably also mention that even though I am looking at a bespoke rifle my budget isn't endless, I looked at bespoke rifles from the British makers first even though I was pretty sure they would be out of reach for me but I wanted to be sure before making any decisions. The German makers are definitely more at a price point I am comfortable with.

 

[KJE81]

Although resale value is always a consideration for me to some degree, the thought process you mention has not been my approach. I think maybe my OP has been misinterpreted to some degree. Although my original question was around RJ compared to other makers and there is some comparisons between makers in my head when looking at what they have to offer I wasn't really going out of my way to compare H&W and RJ as an investment. I have more just been looking at all the options out there, or atleast trying to gain a better understanding of alot of the options available.

RJ is one maker that got my attention as I like the style of their rifles and what they have to offer, but I appreciate the feedback. I have bought and sold many rifles over the years and there will probably be many more but the rifle I want to have built is one I intend on holding onto forever, atleast that's the plan anyway.

Calibre will be 416-458, somewhere in that realm.

Perhaps this Hartmann & Weiss is still available if you dont mind buying second hand:

https://grouse.pt/produto/hartmann-weiss-safari-magnum-416-rigby/

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Perhaps this Hartmann & Weiss is still available if you dont mind buying second hand:

https://grouse.pt/produto/hartmann-weiss-safari-magnum-416-rigby/

Well it doesn't look like H&W rifles are maintaining or appreciating in value, at least not this one anyway. New that would be atleast 35,ooo Euro. Very nice rifle.

 

[KJE81]

Ernest Mayor in Switzerland has a less ornate one, if I recall correctly it also has a corresponding lower price 13 000 CHF if memory serves, unfortunately this one is only in .375 H&H.

Hartmann&Weiss - 1139

www.ernest-mayor.ch

I briefly considered this one before deciding to order a full custom since I dont plan to sell that one I decided I did not had to consider its second hand value, that would be something for my kids to find out I guess, hopefully my son will use it rather then sell it when I am gone

 

[Muskox]

VO Vapen for the gun lovers is also next level. Lots of guns for sheikhs etc
RJ has a stand at Jagd und Hund every year I visited the show on Dortmund.

100% most expensive non-Mauser rifle in the world.

 

[KJE81]

100% most expensive non-Mauser rifle in the world.

Yes I believe they are built on a copy of the old Husqvarna CG1900-action, the copy is built by Zoli in Italy. Regardless of where it comes from it is still only a pushfeed and I cant really understand why the VO Vapen rifles are able to sell for such high prices, perhaps it is mostly due to the fact that they are very well engraved and at least looks the part

 

[Muskox]

Yeah like 20 years ago I had a huge catalog they used to send out. Was epic, they could have charged $20 for the catalog. Was crazy. I wish I still had it.

 

[CZDiesel]

Sorry but all the Euro snobbery makes me laugh lol Yes they are very very nice custom rifles built to the highest standards! Buuuut they are no better than any of the high end custom rifles built here in the US!
I’d take a David Miller, Todd Ramirez, LeRoy Berry, or a Matthew Roberts rifle over any of those! And yes I’ve held all of those and for the Euro snobs a David Miller will bring six figures with its lowly Winchester action!

 

[cmk]

Well, the actions used by VO are perhaps not that important, and neither are the calibres - as I suspect that most of them will never be fired.

 

[Foxi]

Sorry but all the Euro snobbery makes me laugh lol Yes they are very very nice custom rifles built to the highest standards! Buuuut they are no better than any of the high end custom rifles built here in the US!
I’d take a David Miller, Todd Ramirez, LeRoy Berry, or a Matthew Roberts rifle over any of those! And yes I’ve held all of those and for the Euro snobs a David Miller will bring six figures with its lowly Winchester action!

CZDiezel, I'm not a snob, I just can't afford it, I can only dream
for the bear hunters among you (K€ 14'.- )
https://www.reimer-johannsen.de/

 

[KJE81]

Sorry but all the Euro snobbery makes me laugh lol Yes they are very very nice custom rifles built to the highest standards! Buuuut they are no better than any of the high end custom rifles built here in the US!
I’d take a David Miller, Todd Ramirez, LeRoy Berry, or a Matthew Roberts rifle over any of those! And yes I’ve held all of those and for the Euro snobs a David Miller will bring six figures with its lowly Winchester action!

I concur, and since I am having my custom rifle to use rather then to sell in the future I went with a gun smith of less fame then Hartmann & Weiss or Reimer Johansson and Theo Jung. Still it will be a well built and also rather ornate rifle but not anywere near the price of a Hartmann & Weiss.

Of course that decision comes with a much less resale value as I assume some of the makers you mentioned also does even though they build great rifles. I think have read somewhere that Todd Ramirez rifles also hold their value.

And as far as resale value is concerned I will be leaving that for my kids to work out, hopefully one of them would like to keep it and use it themself rather then sell it when I am gone.

Saying that, I am still thankful that there are those who order these very expensive best guns because they are keeping those companies alive. Patrons of the art so to say.

 

[KJE81]

CZDiezel, I'm not a snob, I just can't afford it, I can only dream
for the bear hunters among you (K€ 14'.- )
https://www.reimer-johannsen.de/

View attachment 671601

That was a very nice double rifle, I have always liked the engraving of Hendrik Frühauf aswell. To bad they did not do it in a bigger calibre, like .450/400 or .375 Flanged Magnum to make it viable for African dangerous game aswell.

 

[CZDiesel]

I concur, and since I am having my custom rifle to use rather then to sell in the future I went with a gun smith of less fame then Hartmann & Weiss or Reimer Johansson and Theo Jung. Still it will be a well built and also rather ornate rifle but not anywere near the price of a Hartmann & Weiss.

Of course that decision comes with a much less resale value as I assume some of the makers you mentioned also does even though they build great rifles. I think have read somewhere that Todd Ramirez rifles also hold their value.

And as far as resale value is concerned I will be leaving that for my kids to work out, hopefully one of them would like to keep it and use it themself rather then sell it when I am gone.

Saying that, I am still thankful that there are those who order these very expensive best guns because they are keeping those companies alive. Patrons of the art so to say.

All if the makers I listed hold and gain value… Now the European rifles are just as fine no doubt but I just find it funny that some hold them in such a high degree!
All of these rifle builders are equal and all are known thought the world and custom rifle community, so one would be proud to own any of them. But to say that a H&W is somehow on a level that the other builders aren’t is just silly!

 

[grand veneur]

Anyone like me who wanted to have a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery built in the 1990s had to turn to some experienced, well-known gunsmiths. Back then, Ritterbusch regularly advertised about his big game rifles in the magazine HATARI TIMES , so I turned to him and he built for me the rifle according to my specifications. I had to negotiate to get a not too luxurious rifle, but the price was ultimately the same because, instead of too much expensive engravings and various gold inlays, the most expensive wooden stock was chosen. At last I had to accept as gold inlays the designation of the caliber, the name of the gunsmith and the number of the rifle.

 

[KJE81]

Anyone like me who wanted to have a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery built in the 1990s had to turn to some experienced, well-known gunsmiths. Back then, Ritterbusch regularly advertised about his big game rifles in the magazine HATARI TIMES , so I turned to him and he built for me the rifle according to my specifications. I had to negotiate to get a not too luxurious rifle, but the price was ultimately the same because, instead of too much expensive engravings and various gold inlays, the most expensive wooden stock was chosen. At last I had to accept as gold inlays the designation of the caliber, the name of the gunsmith and the number of the rifle.

I also tried to hold down the amount of gold inlays but ended up with the caliber in gold on the quarter rib and also the distances on the standing and folding leaves aswell as the letters S and F on the Recknagel Secura safety. I like to see those gold inlays as more of a practical choice since it helps with aiming when using open sights and makes it easier to see wether it is on safe or not. The calibre in gold has of course no practical use, I could just not help myself from adding that

Other then that it is completly devoid of gold inlays, the idea for all engraving is to be more of a "less is more" proposition rather then going full coverage. For one thing it keeps the costs down but I actually like engraving with some space in between the scroll as opposed to a true full coverage engraving.