Nostalgia

[Bert the Turtle]

It is clear that by and large, people who like to or dream of hunting Africa are a nostalgic bunch. Doubles, Mauser 98s, blued steel and walnut. Want to do it like Roosevelt, that kind of thing.

it occurred to me just now that those 450NE doubles and 404 Jeffery London best guns were actually cutting edge technology at the time people feel nostalgic for. The R8 of their day, if I may be so bold.

 

[CAustin]

It is clear that by and large, people who like to or dream of hunting Africa are a nostalgic bunch. Doubles, Mauser 98s, blued steel and walnut. Want to do it like Roosevelt, that kind of thing.

it occurred to me just now that those 450NE doubles and 404 Jeffery London best guns were actually cutting edge technology at the time people feel nostalgic for. The R8 of their day, if I may be so bold.

I think your right but also the best available at the time.

 

[Berettaco]

I’ve thought about the newer technology and the R8 - but I just can’t shake the old mausers. Fell in love with this Dumoulin 375 and it will be going to Limpopo this next spring

 

[ActionBob]

Yea and Kevlar or some other miracle is the best stock material. Modern stainless and carbon wrapped barrels...

But as another member so eloquently put it... they have no soul.

Those guns of old, often hand made or at least hand finished have soul. Starting with the sweat of their makers... Grown by the excitement of a new gun and what it is capable of. Then matured by the experience it gained over the years.

No for true hunting, and especially on an African Safari. That old technology is the best technology available

Nothing against a high grade wood stocked R8. Heck I may own one myself someday... But a nice double, a Rigby bolt gun, or anything of beautiful wood and fine steel just makes me enjoy the whole experience that much more

 

[Rem700stw]

I do not think nostalgia alone explains my choices in firearms. Not only were the 6.5x55, 7x57, 9.3x62, 300 h&h, 375 h&h, 416 rigby and 404 Jeffrey the best available when launched I would argue they are cutting edge 100 plus years later.

The 6.5 man bun does nothing the swede does not. The 7mm-08 pales when heavy bullets are used. The various modern 416’s offer nothing over the rigby. The 404 still rules in my book. My modern 300 mags beat the h&h by a few hundred FPS but do not feed and cycle like greased glass.

What modern rounds do anything in a double that my 450-400 and 470 cannot? How many of these modern rifles and cartridges will still be extant 100 years from now?

Perhaps I do wax nostalgic at times but I also owe my life to the wool I was wearing head to toe when caught in a Wyoming blizzard while hunting elk in the mountains.

Some things are timeless because they just plain work.

 

[Rare Breed]

I’ve thought about the newer technology and the R8 - but I just can’t shake the old mausers. Fell in love with this Dumoulin 375 and it will be going to Limpopo this next spring

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Beautiful gun in all ways!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

Beautiful gun in all ways!!!

I will say nostalgia is in the eyes of the beholder. For me it was buying a DR in 450-400 with beautiful engraving going to Africa and taking a Cape buffalo under 30 yards

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Not of the same level or ilk of gun of which you fellows are speaking, and not Africa, but in a similar vein, I think. Sunday I head out for a week and a half of moose hunting here in SW Alaska. I'll be wearing wool and toting a beautiful (in my eyes) Savage 99, made in 1947. I can't wait. I FEEL nostalgic.

 

[Berettaco]

Excellent rifle tundra tiger - it screams nostalgia. I killed my first elk with my grandpa’s 99 in 300 sav. I have that rifle today in the safe… any rifle that stirs emotion - either from personal experience or history / craftsmanship of the gun, makes the cut for nostalgia. In the spirit of the OP’s theme I would ask: Is the Savage 99 still cutting edge technology? Has the lever rifle really changed?

 

[Tra3]

@Bert the Turtle interesting observation. Leather boots, canvas shorts and a collared short sleeve shirt fit my need for nostalgia. And a .375H&H. But I’m in the R8 crowd because the rifle fits so well and packs down so easily. I certainly think some of the old timers would have quickly adapted to the R8 for simple practicality. I’m now curious to see what we will be doing when I hit age 75 (in 30 years!).

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I’ve thought about the newer technology and the R8 - but I just can’t shake the old mausers. Fell in love with this Dumoulin 375 and it will be going to Limpopo this next spring

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Beautiful rifle there’s one very similar for sale in 8x68S that would compliment it very well