I hear there is a "whale" collector in double rifles

[Hornedfrogbbq]

The rumor (and I think the guy knows him) is he has bought over 80 double rifles a year from the British makers since like 1994. He apparently has collected over 4000 rifles and may have plans to open a museum.

I would believe the double gun makers have offered to buy back their rifles for fear of the market being overwhelmed if he were to die and they all went on the market at once.

Anyone else hear this story?

 

[Muskox]

It would be comical if that happened.

Cabelas did the same thing to Dakota.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

The numbers quoted to me don't foot but if 1/4 of it is true, the guy has more doubles than anyone in the world.

 

[Brent in Az]

He must have one heck of a gun room.
I'd be happy owning 1 bespoke double.

 

[318AE]

Yes, it’s true. It’s also good for keeping the gun trade going in this obscure market. I’m glad he does. Perhaps look into who owns Westley Richards (a hint, it’s not a guy named Westley or a guy named Richards).

 

[towserthemouser]

What I can tell you is that based on personal communication with Trigger at Westley Richards, they can build about 30 rifles a year. There simply aren't enough skilled gunmakers to build more.

It is true that the owner of WR is from the Middle East, and it is true that they build a lot of extremely high end Art Grade/Museum Grade rifles and shotguns for that individual. And apparently he is an avid hunter. I was fortunate enough to see a few of those guns which are kept at WR, and they are simply mind-blowing.

So maybe the guy has been getting them from other "British makers." But based on what I know about at least one of the major British makers, the numbers seem implausible.

 

[uplander01]

I would say those numbers are a bit high but nothing is impossible. Fact is if a collection like that ever did hit the market, without any real provenance from known or famous hunters it would in fact flood the market and ruin production for those companies in England for years. Its just reality that even a lot of guys that hunt a lot in Africa every year can't really justify 100-200k for a double rifle. I did a survey on here once about how much people spend on BGR between 20-30k and its not that many. What's really surprising is that the majority of guys spend under 5k.....at least on this site, my guess there aren't many guys on here that are worth 8 or 9 digits

 

[Odinsraven]

I would say those numbers are a bit high but nothing is impossible. Fact is if a collection like that ever did hit the market, without any real provenance from known or famous hunters it would in fact flood the market and ruin production for those companies in England for years. Its just reality that even a lot of guys that hunt a lot in Africa every year can't really justify 100-200k for a double rifle. I did a survey on here once about how much people spend on BGR between 20-30k and its not that many. What's really surprising is that the majority of guys spend under 5k.....at least on this site, my guess there aren't many guys on here that are worth 8 or 9 digits

Sir i have been to Africa a dozen times this is how cheap I am ...cheapest rifle i took cost me 220 usd out the door 500 usd rifles have made the trip my most expensive was maybe 1200 usd ...... excluding DG rifles...... Doubles have nearly a dozen ....Baikals

 

[Tanks]

Its just reality that even a lot of guys that hunt a lot in Africa every year can't really justify 100-200k for a double rifle.

You’d be surprised. Also, it is not $100-$200K up front. It is almost like a layaway plan where one is making payments as the gun is getting built. So, if one can make $25K yearly payments, then one can afford those rifles. Heck, maybe that’s what I should do with my Social Security payments starting this year.

 

[Muskox]

Today’s conversation in this house of my daughters was about Louis Vuitton and a pop culture watch that was over €400,000.

I have a friend that invented a machine that separates water from oil for to use oil field recovery. Richest person I know probably worth 50 million. He is a hunter his son is a hunter and his hunted all over the world. They don’t own Gunwerks rifle or anything like that. I think they’re a lot of people that are up upper middle class doctors and lawyers types that convince themselves they have to have a $200,000 rifle or a $50,000 watcher in this case even a 400,000 year-old watch. But to most consumers, I think a $5000 rifle or a $5000 watch is a lot of money. When I was in the Navy, there were a lot of pilots that had 3000 and $4000 brightly navitimers. Guys making $60,000 a year. Clearly middle class.

 

[SStomcat]

“Probably the reason there is a 6-year wait for a WR double rifle — and similarly for others.


My question to this supposed gentleman is: what do you do with these hundreds of rifles afterward?”

 

[Muskox]

The UAE has a pretty significant number of Emirati who own expensive things. I have not talked to him in a few years, but I used to know the sales rep for Steyr Mannlicher. He said the money changing hands and the UAE version of Safari Club or SHOT show is insane.

 

[Russ16]

There have always been guys ordering regularly from the big makers. My guess is these aren’t all rifles but sets of shotguns as well. Bob Petersen the publisher was one. As was Bob Lee for a while.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Anyone have estimate of the number and breadth of William J. Feldstein‘s collection? Even just the number of doubles?

 

[Russ16]

I should have said 80 a year would still be high. Unless that counts second hand guns the makers find for him as well.

 

[Sarg]

Interesting if so, in reading the title I thought he might be collecting rifles used in the Whaling industry or something lol !

Coincidentally I’m just buying a .416 Rigby CZ550 barrel that was used to Euthanise stranded Whales by our Wildlife Department.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

American guy. I think 80 is simply too high but the comment to me was he has all the makers making 10 plus rifles for him a year. But just British.

There is no way he has shot them all or even remotely i don't think. Sounds to me like a guy that likes to collect/hoard double rifles and other weapons.

I agree. He could single handedly crush this market for awhile...which makes complete sense that the trade has told him they would prefer to buy them back from him rather than they all hit the market.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

You’d be surprised. Also, it is not $100-$200K up front. It is almost like a layaway plan where one is making payments as the gun is getting built. So, if one can make $25K yearly payments, then one can afford those rifles. Heck, maybe that’s what I should do with my Social Security payments starting this year.

This seems like it should be a thing. Just have my social security payments auto paid to whatever maker for X-period of time and then to the next one. I mean I still have a little while to go, but seems like a decent idea.

 

[LimbNoMo]

80 rifles a year at $125k each comes to $10m. I’m not one, but there are plenty of people that can afford to do that. Not sure why you would, but look at some of the car collections in the world.

I’m in the @Tanks camp. Take the $125-175k and divide it over the 6-7 year wait and it is much more doable.

 

[PCC600]

There is an Australian hunter and collector who ordered 9 consecutively numbered rifles from Purdey . Took years but they eventually all arrived together . They ranged from a break action single shot to a 600 NE . Photos are on another forum . He also ordered 7 more rifles from Boss all consecutive numbers . I am not sure if they have been delivered yet. Mostly sxs with and an o/u . Again ranging from light calibres to 600 NE . This is all on top of an amazing collection of preowned rifles , many ex Indian Princes . Aussies on this forum will know who I mean . There are a few other stunning collections over here but are mainly pre WW2 weapons .A guy I buy off had so many that the Managing Director of Holland & Holland flew out to value the rifles for insurance purposes about 20 years ago .