An Edwardian Time Capsule: Unpacking A 1905 .450 No. 2 Double Rifle

[Altitude sickness]

Wow!!

 

[rookhawk]

Here’s a Rigby 303 single shot that was made for Lady Constance Mackenzie, the rifle was finished 1900, would be great to know where all she took it. She hunted on the King ranch in Texas and in India and Africa. It’s been back to Africa by a previous owner. View attachment 704195View attachment 704196View attachment 704197View attachment 704198View attachment 704199View attachment 704200View attachment 704201

Do you know anything of her hunts that happened after her nuptials in April, 1904?

 

[towserthemouser]

Lady Constance was a “interesting” lady. At 20-nothing years old she was hanging out in the USA with Wild Bill, shooting, lassoing, rodeo, etc. She also was a famous dancer that dressed in the Greek/Roman style which was just fine when she performed for the King at court, but not so well-received when she opened in London and NYC dancing bear foot in sheer gowns for the commoners. The US press reported she was banned from court by the King due to her tendencies, but that was never verified in European press, rather just in the US press to sell tickets to her performances. She was well acquainted with Wild Bill when she dragged her husband over to the US tour after their marriage.

She also was a fan of nudism for kids to be unconstrained (translation, probably a bit of a free spirit herself). She also road into London in a man’s saddle which was not too popular with the side-saddle aristocratic ladies. She was obsessed with natural beauty and even mused about eugenics and all other taboo subjects of the modern era that were popular amongst the aristocracy of the Edwardian era.

Be careful when your wife recommends an on foot lion safari for a honeymoon boys. She’ll out shoot you and put you to shame.

I recently read West With the Night by Beryl Markham. After reading it I did some research on her and realized that she was represented by the character Felicity in the Out of Africa movie. She was scheduled to fly with Finch Hatton on the fateful day but didn't go because a couple of her friends had a premonition about it and advised her not to go. She writes about it in West With the Night. The movie makes a passing reference to her affair with him.

In addition, my Wikipedia review indicates she later had simultaneous affairs with BOTH the sons of King George V: Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and his older brother Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) and was seen frolicking barefoot in the corridors of Buckingham Palace.

I then went down the rabbit hole of all the shenanigans that were going on at the Muthaiga Country Club in Nairobi circa 1925........ they called it "White Mischief."

It seems that Lady Constance was not the only Lusty Gal of the era......

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Congratulations on another excellent find

 

[Troubleshooter]

Interesting rifle and story behind it.

 

[rookhawk]

A quick update on the exploits of this rifle. A small hairline crack in the top right over horn of the stock needed stabilization, so it was sent to a wonderful gunsmith to repair it recently. In the interim, I was able to locate dies, shell holders, 100 pieces of new brass, and hundreds of woodleigh and kynoch solids for the rifle. The next step is to develop regulating loads for it to get the rifle ready for its next (first?) adventure.

 

[Surgeon1]

I asked both Heym and V-C 5 years ago if they would build me a 450 #2 and got a firm answer of NO!
I have been eyeing one for several years built in the early 1900s and when the current owner no longer hunts is and a handful of his other rifles he will hopefully sell me?

 

[rookhawk]

My load regulator gave me an astounding phone call yesterday. First attempt, he loaded up two cases with specs to match the original kynoch specs and shot it twice at 50 yards. The bullets one-holed on his first friggin try! Just amazing.

 

[USN]

Nice!

 

[Rare Breed]

My load regulator gave me an astounding phone call yesterday. First attempt, he loaded up two cases with specs to match the original kynoch specs and shot it twice at 50 yards. The bullets one-holed on his first friggin try! Just amazing.

If anyone on AH deserves that kind of luck it’s you given all the expertise and help you provide!!!

 

[rookhawk]

I was looking through some old catalogs today from 1893-1895 and thought I'd post them. At the time, which preceeded the best features of this rifle, the black powder express version was 58 British pounds, or 13.68 Troy Ounces of Gold. This rifle had a lot more features like a Nitro Express loading, side clips, bolted safety, automatic opener, and bolstered action, dual intercepting safety sears, and extended top tang that would have driven the prices much farther up. Nonetheless, it was advertised as their "Best Gun" even though not a sidelock.

Enjoy the history:

 

[John Havard]

Good morning, Gentlemen
As some of you may recall, my friend Cal Pappas had a Lang and Son 450#2 that we shot often. I loved the rifle but like most everything that Cal owned, it was out of my reach at 45,000.00.
I fat fingered it shooting from the bench at the Talkeetna Range and it doubled on me. Wow!
Anyway, we all have fond memories of our friend Cal.

 

[double rifle newbie]

Wow what an amazing story! Thanks for sharing!