The Draw of the Sporting Double Rifle

[Scanos]

My RB Rodda .500 Nitro Express. Due to their records burning in a fire it is hard to age. But, I estimate it as early 1900's. It has an oval designating that it was owned by an Indian Raj. Handles like a dream and still shoots 1 1/2" all day. You have to love the old English rifles. If only this rifle could talk....the stories it would tell.

 

[zephyr]

1903 Gibbs 450 3/14 NE 28" Barrels

 

[steve white]

“That double was my father’s. I hunted all over southern Africa with him. I videoed him harvesting a white Rhino in South Africa using that rifle. That double has also harvested numerous elephants and cape buffaloes in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. It has also harvested one lion on a dry land tracking hunt in Botswana.”

The above was provided by the son of my first double’s former caretaker. Unfortunately, I may never provide my Heym 88B in 458 Winchester the hunting enjoyed by it and its previous caretaker. I will however treat her as if she has an eternal soul that speaks to my heart.

A rifle of any type is an object, devoid of life as we know it. That disclaimer stated, to have and hold something with provenance of times past, of great accomplishments, of being the tool a human used to make history is something special. It is as if there is something within those objects, or something lingering with them that enhances our present and future experiences. It is like dancing with the bell of the year’s ago ball. Grandma she may be but she carries the style, grace, and lingering beauty that few young beauties will ever know. Or perhaps hunting with an experienced double rifle, one that slayed numerous elephants, buffalo, a white rhino and a dry land tracking lion makes this present caretaker ever vigilant as to not disappoint or embarrass whatever unknown spirit or presence that may be with her. If we are noble in our shared adventures, some of them may be added to whatever causes provenance to act as a muse to our rifles’ future caretakers.

Say what you will about a quality double rifle chambered in a high-pressure rimless cartridge, but this one hasn’t failed and I’ll bet my life that she will not. Plus, it’s got more character from hunting experiences than most guns ever will!

Here she is sporting a Trijicon SRO with 1 MOA dot.
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The switch next to the receiver turns on and off the ejectors.​

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Her first caretaker's initials​

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Yes, it's a Heym made in West Germany with Fluid Steel Barrels​

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Date Code of March 1986 with chambering 458 Win Mag​

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Dual spring-loaded pawls in each ejector/extractor to ensure positive extraction/ejection
Also the rib extension for the Greener Crossbolt
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​

Is there possibly enough metal in the grip cap to allow milling off the old initials and having yours engraved? Big fan of the gold band at the breech end of barrels. Enjoy.

Sadly, any double for me will have to have red dot or scope....my eyes are not what they once were....

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Is there possibly enough metal in the grip cap to allow milling off the old initials and having yours engraved?

Personally, I would not consider it. The original caretaker, God rest his soul, may be with that rifle and me on safari...

 

[BeeMaa]

I absolutely love the thought of a sporting double rifle, however I'm much more likely to get a lightweight Kipplauf from Krieghoff or Blaser with a two barrel set. Say something like 7x65R and 9x74R as a starter?

You guys give me a pass for a single shot with two barrels? It's almost the same.

 

[DPHunter4570]

Some awesome photos and stories here. I hope to own a double someday soon. Just something about them.

 

[PCC600]

1903 Gibbs 450 3/14 NE 28" Barrels
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Love the Gibbs boxlock doubles . And that is a beauty .

 

[GeorgeGibbs505]

Here’s a Rodda 4 bore with complete set of numbered tools and both ball and conical moulds.

 

[Daniel Cary]

There isn't much that could be added to the original post. I have yet to experience real world experience with the double .. it's fascination came from the literature, stories & photos in my early youth in addition to adorning side by side shotguns at the age of accountability.

Less makes things that much more of value, imo.

 

[PCC600]

No

Here’s a Rodda 4 bore with complete set of numbered tools and both ball and conical moulds. View attachment 609758View attachment 609755View attachment 609756View attachment 609757View attachment 609759View attachment 609760View attachment 609761

Here’s a Rodda 4 bore with complete set of numbered tools and both ball and conical moulds. View attachment 609758View attachment 609755View attachment 609756View attachment 609757View attachment 609759View attachment 609760View attachment 609761

A hammer big bore with a Jones underlever . It doesn’t get more double rifle than that . Most of the big British doubles are ex India rather than Africa . Do you know which Indian prince was the original owner ?

 

[Sideshow]

Good dam it miss read the title. Brain says the “Draw of a double rifle” all excited thinking wow compétition I could win double rifle
Start reading brain saying bla bla blah……where’s the dam enter forum…..penny drops
Reread the title “The……….” FAR**************

 

[Pondoro]

Holland & Holland Royal, ex-Mahajarah of Rewa. Originally in .280 Ross, rebarreled to .470NE by Holland in 1999..then regulated for Federal 500 grain solids..

 

[deewayne2003]

Holland & Holland Royal, ex-Mahajarah of Rewa. Originally in .280 Ross, rebarreled to .470NE by Holland in 1999..then regulated for Federal 500 grain solids..

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@Pondoro - That sir is my dream rifle, however until I win the lottery or sell my farm I’ll have to make do with my lowly Sabatti.470

When living in Austin TX, I had a Saturday morning routine of eating breakfast and going to McBride's guns and asking Joe McBride the same question ...Had anything .375 or bigger come in this week?

I was surprised when he said "My buddy is selling this .470"

With no intention of buying a double I looked it over and did some research when I got home and read all the hullabaloo about ground muzzles, blah blah blah and also about this man in Tennessee named Ken Owen who was both highly regarded in double rifles and known for building and regulating them.

The following Saturday the rifle was still at McBride's and Joe gave me his buddies number so I could ask some questions about it and low and behold he was not only from Tennessee originally but had Ken Owen regulate, load development, triggers and recoil reducer on this rifle; which also came with the original case, load data, Ken's test targets and ammo.

The owner stated that if I bought the rifle and fired it I could return it within 10days and get a full refund.

After seeing the results of Ken's work I kept the rifle and I'm wheels up June 27th for my first trip to Africa for a tuskless elephant.

 

[AZDAVE]

Kevin your words are inspirational and speak to that part of a hunter that can only be felt and experienced. Takes a person to a small fire deep in the wilderness that is part of a safari that I love.

I will be hunting with my 500/416 in September and 9.3x74 in October. Will post pictures with my hunt reports.

 

[festuscat]

 

[festuscat]

My 500 NE.
i have hunted with it for 20 plus years

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I absolutely love the thought of a sporting double rifle, however I'm much more likely to get a lightweight Kipplauf from Krieghoff or Blaser with a two barrel set. Say something like 7x65R and 9x74R as a starter?

You guys give me a pass for a single shot with two barrels? It's almost the same.

Oh no! You of all people need a double (barrels soldered together) to counteract your R8 modernism!

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Good dam it miss read the title. Brain says the “Draw of a double rifle” all excited thinking wow compétition I could win double rifle
Start reading brain saying bla bla blah……where’s the dam enter forum…..penny drops
Reread the title “The……….” FAR**************

OK, someone donate a double, let's do the comp type draw, great idea.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Pondoro - That sir is my dream rifle, however until I win the lottery or sell my farm I’ll have to make do with my lowly Sabatti.470
View attachment 609905

When living in Austin TX, I had a Saturday morning routine of eating breakfast and going to McBride's guns and asking Joe McBride the same question ...Had anything .375 or bigger come in this week?

I was surprised when he said "My buddy is selling this .470"

With no intention of buying a double I looked it over and did some research when I got home and read all the hullabaloo about ground muzzles, blah blah blah and also about this man in Tennessee named Ken Owen who was both highly regarded in double rifles and known for building and regulating them.

The following Saturday the rifle was still at McBride's and Joe gave me his buddies number so I could ask some questions about it and low and behold he was not only from Tennessee originally but had Ken Owen regulate, load development, triggers and recoil reducer on this rifle; which also came with the original case, load data, Ken's test targets and ammo.

The owner stated that if I bought the rifle and fired it I could return it within 10days and get a full refund.
View attachment 609909

After seeing the results of Ken's work I kept the rifle and I'm wheels up June 27th for my first trip to Africa for a tuskless elephant.

All the best for your hunt Dewayne, enjoy every second.

 

[festuscat]