Vintage 404 Jeffery Opinions

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day members.
Here is some photos of one of the old ones, they don`t make them like this anymore. I would like some opinions on this rifle, would it be a proposition to purchase as a second 404 rifle ?

 

[enysse]

I'd buy it, I'm sure it has a lot of history.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If the price is reasonable, buy it!

 

[stug]

If you have a pair then your gunbearer can reload one for you while you are shooting cape buffalo with the other!

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Re-loading will certainly be more relevant, one caliber a lot of brass....I will ask the person a price on this rifle..he is currently in Zimbabwe but have a valid licence for this rifle..I would have liked to look at it first and hold it in my hands before buying it and shoot it as well....at least I have prove that it has a licence ...I got this from the owner...

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Beautiful rifle in excellent caliber.
What is the price Gert?
Witold

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Beautiful rifle in excellent caliber.
What is the price Gert?
Witold

Hallo Witold, it is good to hear from you again...Witold, the person wants $2300 USA for the rifle..but I told him he must take in account that there will be exportation costs/courier cost and a deal between him and the buyer needs to be discussed who will pay what...I asked him to send me a historical note about the origin of the rifle, I see on the licence it is a Coggswell&Harrison and I know it was used in culling operations in the Rhodesian times...

 

[Pondoro]

Haggle a little....then buy it...!

 

[Red Leg]

A C&H in original but honestly worn condition here would be in that price range. I can't tell from the pictures whether or not that is the original stock. Clearly the pad is non original.

It is almost certainly one of the many .404's brought over between the wars to equip a game department. Some were very badly abused and others appear to have spent a lot of time sitting in the rack. The critical issue with all of them is the bore. They started out life in the age of corrosive primers, and too many had the rifling ruined through lack of proper cleaning. Make sure this fellow gives you an accurate appraisal of that bore.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Red Leg
The owner said the original stock was broken when they was looking for a site to set up a new base camp and the person climbing in the tree to get directions jumped out and landed on the stock..breaking the rifle stock..here is the part of the e-mail he send me when I questioned him regarding the recoil pad that is not original...

"I bought this rifle from my former Director Brian Worsley. I know the stalk has been replaced after it was broken by one of our former managers having accidentally landed on it when he was climbing down from a tree. During that time they had gone looking for a place to build a camp. And till today that place is called broken rifle"
I will ask for a report regarding the condition of the bore and rifling...

 

[enysse]

Condition of the bore would be important at that price.

 

[gizmo]

Very cool. Great story. Few rifles here have such rich history to them.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Unfortunately the price is to high for me. If it was my first 404 Jeffery it would have been another story...I am going to pass on this one...I already told the owner . I am getting a budget together to build a .500 Jeffery ...

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Hallo Witold, it is good to hear from you again...Witold, the person wants $2300 USA for the rifle..but I told him he must take in account that there will be exportation costs/courier cost and a deal between him and the buyer needs to be discussed who will pay what...I asked him to send me a historical note about the origin of the rifle, I see on the licence it is a Coggswell&Harrison and I know it was used in culling operations in the Rhodesian times...

Thanks Gert.
Witold

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

What is the final price Gert?
Witold

 

[enysse]

I would have let it go too at that price.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Witold
I send the owner an e-mail with this thread link to read for himself..he will come back to me in this regard..I will do an update on a new suggested price ...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

At this stage the owner do not use this rifle since he has a .375 H&H Magnum that he uses for his hunting. He wants to sell this rifle ..if the price is right anybody can approach him personally and discuss this issue with him...I will forward all the contact details to persons who is interested..

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Thanks Gert.
My mail
witold.krzyzanowski@wp.pl

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Witold, I send your e-mail address to the owner of the 404 Jeffery he will contact you..I will follow up on it...

Kind Regards

Gert