Is this the ultimate .404 Jeffery?

Timbo

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Reading some of these posts recalled an amazing experience I and my son had a few years ago in Zimbabwe, and would like to share with you guys. My family were spending a few days game viewing, and in that camp I spotted an lovely old rifle in one corner. Over the days in talking with the ex-PH - now only Guiding in his retirement - about this rifle, he brought it over stating it was his work rifle. While discussing it, he remembered that it desperately needed sighting in - and would I like to do that job? Wow! Apart from hunting, what would better suit a client's lazy afternoon, huh? His rifle was a venerable old .404 Jeffery bolt action , that clearly had seen many decades of safari work, that we were to discover had an amazing history.

This beautiful .404 Jeffery was completely original as from the day it left the factory, and was one of the first rifles made by the Krupp factory in Germany. It had a 28" octagonal barrel, upon which were mounted a silvered 5-leaf sight (out to 400yds!) and a silvered hooded front sight, all of which was seated in a classic safari stock. It was both very light, snug and handy to wield despite a 26" barrel. The owner told me its history - which I've forgotten the actual details - but it has had 7 owners, 5 of which having been killed by DG. I certainly recall that two prior owners had met their end with it while hunting buffalo, and another when an elephant took objection to the proceedings. This owner had owned and used it as a PH for the past 40 years prior to his retirement.

Before we drove out, my son, Jonathon, who had also showed much interest in this rifle, then received an impromptu succinct lesson in correct shouldering from this highly experienced PH. Anyway we all drove out, set up a target, and I fired away with this beauty until he was satisfied. Not having used a 404 Jeff before, I found this rifle recoiled sweetly and an absolute pleasure to use, and to work that super slick Mauser action! Funnily enough, the rifle was bang-on but I suspect now that the Guide appreciated the fillip of having another (client) hunter appreciate this rifle.

Anyway, to me the most amazing feature of this rifle I've left to last - it's the serial number - it's number "7"!! That's right! The seventh rifle to be produced by the Krupp factory all those years ago!! The present day company has located this rifle and has offered him mega-bucks to buy it back for their museum, but they've been refused every time, because as this guy simply says: "I'm still using it!" - and, in my opinion, that's exactly how it should be too!!

It was a rare privilege and sheer joy to handle, and "sight in" such a rifle. And in its' handling, my mind reeled from what adventures it had been on, and what stories it could tell! An amazing experience and, for me - one I'll never forget!!

For those interested, the serial number can be seen in the close up photo of the action just to the right of my son's little finger. Look carefully because the - complete! - single digit serial has been stamped with the horizontal "top" of the "7" pointing towards the muzzle. (Sorry about the quality of the first photo, I can't seem to upload an AVI video - so it's a photo of the opening frame taken directly off my computer screen and tone edited to remove the computer screen granulation.)

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Nice looking rifle! I'm only a little jealous :whistle:
 
Certainly a piece of history, if only it could talk.
Nice looking rifle! I'm only a little jealous :whistle:
Me too! Because it sure is a beautiful firearm! Every surface having that comfortable worn smoothness from decades of being handled, and the steel having that patina from decades of use and oiling!
Tried upload my son's impromptu lesson - as such a gem of a moment made this Dad one happy guy!
 
5 of 7 owners killed by DG? Wow. I think that might make me buy a 458 Lott! Lol
Thanks for sharing the story, very cool!
Cheers,
Cody
 
Great looking rifle, looks very simialr to my 1924 Mauser 9.3x62. It's serial number is no where near 7 though.
 
Thanks for all your appreciative remarks! I'm very happy in your feedback in sharing this all to brief experience with you all. Re-reading it, I'm embarrassed and must apologise for the grammatical errors and a few inconsistencies (this'll teach me to proofread!) - but the rifle does have a 28" barrel.
When I first began looking for the serial I ignored that big ding on the side and kept looking - until I realised that big single "ding" WAS the serial number!!! I also know this rifle is still occasionally loaned out to apprentice Guides whilst they're on game drives: it's story continuing along with the next generation of PHs and Guides.
Cheers!
 
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This is where the anti-hunters and non shooters miss the boat. some admire the Crown Jewels (and ignore the origins/provenance of the Koh-in-oor). To me, this is a tool, a very efficient, elegant one, with a history we can only wonder about. What a privilege....
 
Ventilated recoil pad original?
 
There are many, many classic rifle "sitting" around zimbabwe because of our license requirements and costs many are stored either at the armory or licensed dealers. There is a cased .257 Rigby takedown that I would love to own. Unfortunately it will probably never see the sun.
 
There are many, many classic rifle "sitting" around zimbabwe because of our license requirements and costs many are stored either at the armory or licensed dealers. There is a cased .257 Rigby takedown that I would love to own. Unfortunately it will probably never see the sun.
I'm sure you're right there'll be plenty of classic firearms all over Africa - and everywhere else in the world too! (A few years ago a matched pair of Greener shotguns were found stuffed up the chimney of an old abandoned farmhouse!)
But let's hope that when things settle down and improve over there, you get a chance to grab that Rigby!!
 
The problem is the licenses if they can be found are expired and the owners are deceased or have gone to? The firearms can no longer be transferred.

I recently saw a W.R. Farqueson .303 (tight and beautiful). It had to have the barrel drilled to become a non-op so it can never be relicensed, even if it was rebarreled. Sad!
 
The problem is the licenses if they can be found are expired and the owners are deceased or have gone to? The firearms can no longer be transferred.

I recently saw a W.R. Farqueson .303 (tight and beautiful). It had to have the barrel drilled to become a non-op so it can never be relicensed, even if it was rebarreled. Sad!
Know how you feel! My Dad's Winchester Model 12 shotgun (made in 1910) was taken by Police to be destroyed, as part of their stupid blitz changing the gun licensing laws after the Port Arthur massacre. He'd shot 4 tigers, 2 leopards and a man-eating bear - besides countless duck shooting seasons - with it and now it's gone for good!! Pity.
 
Understand that. They chopped up three 44Mag revolvers of mine, one a 4" S&W that was sub 2" capable @ 50 yards, plus a full-house 40S&W race gun which was even more accurate. The fat bureaucrat who oversaw the documentation for them said "well, you can go get something useful with the money". My response? Yeah! More rifles this time, and bigger calibers" He didn't like that,couldn't do anything about it though, I had the cheque in my hand by then.....
 
Enough of that; my gunsmith reckons he'll finish my Ruger No 1 soon; custom build in 9.3X64...;my version of a modern take on a large game "Stalking Rifle"... photos when it happens...
 
Understand that. They chopped up three 44Mag revolvers of mine, one a 4" S&W that was sub 2" capable @ 50 yards, plus a full-house 40S&W race gun which was even more accurate. The fat bureaucrat who oversaw the documentation for them said "well, you can go get something useful with the money". My response? Yeah! More rifles this time, and bigger calibers" He didn't like that,couldn't do anything about it though, I had the cheque in my hand by then.....
Did you hear of the case where a few years after that buy back a Benelli semi-auto shotgun (which was meant to be chopped up by the authorities) was licensed in Darwin? Some cop had sticky fingers!
 
Enough of that; my gunsmith reckons he'll finish my Ruger No 1 soon; custom build in 9.3X64...;my version of a modern take on a large game "Stalking Rifle"... photos when it happens...
Nice! Classic calibre!
 

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