Ron Thomson's 458 Win Mag FN Rifle Auction

[VertigoBE]

Cheap me thinks.....was thinking would be bit more....so got bit excited then the sensible monkey smacked me back of the head big time..........in my previous life I would be going big time on it...but that price isn't big at all ...shame.....

Indeed, I'm surprised that no big game hunting collector has jumped on this yet. Tomorrow is the live auction, perhaps then something will happen.

 

[VertigoBE]

And its for a good cause!

 

[saswart]

Interesting information. Thanks for the history.

It looks like there is a crack behind the crossbolt and some work on both sides of the stock towards the front of the action. Can you give us any more details about this?

Hi Wheels,

Sure attached some more pic's.

Kind regards

 

[VertigoBE]

Hi Wheels,

Sure attached some more pic's.

Kind regards

This needs to be in a framed case, with nice description on a plaque with it.!

 

[saswart]

Here is the letter from Ron, mentioned in OP, that will be added to rifle. * there is an error, the first sentence 375 will be fixed to 458

 

[VertigoBE]

[

Here is the letter from Ron, mentioned in OP, that will be added to rifle. * there is an error, the first sentence 375 will be fixed to 458View attachment 716312

What a life…

 

[deewayne2003]

Indeed, I'm surprised that no big game hunting collector has jumped on this yet. Tomorrow is the live auction, perhaps then something will happen.

Agreed, I think it is sitting low because the live auction hasn't started and people know that the winning bidder will never come from the preliminary silent auction.

There is good news though, the current bid as of 9/26/25 4pm central US time is 60,000R/$3,461.00USD

More than double, what it was yesterday.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Another really big name in dangerous game hunting who made his living with a bolt action instead of double rifle. Sixty years and he lived to tell about killing thousands of elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards. Look at that gun and you know it really did all of it too. Flat wore out. A shame it couldn't stay in his family or at least fetch a respectable price at auction.

 

[Wheels]

Can anyone tell us what the winning bid on the rifle was?

Is it staying in Africa?

 

[VertigoBE]

Can anyone tell us what the winning bid on the rifle was?

Is it staying in Africa?

It is staying in Africa, bought by one of the BASA members (Big Bore Association South Africa), for the sum of 60000 ZAR. Which is about 3400USD.

 

[Wheels]

Thanks for the update!

 

[saswart]

Thanks for the update!

Hi Wheels, thanks for interest. Thanks @VertigoBE for the update!

Yes, as mentioned, one of our members bought the rifle, which we are very pleased with, exactly for the question raised, the rifle will remain in Africa. Maybe some more information that the rest may find interesting. We already shared the letter Ron typed, he spoke a bit more about his exploits and the rifle specifically.

He used the rifle for quite a while (together with a few others), culling crop raiding elephants, buffalo's for camp rations and the general culling. It was for the latter where he recalled using the rifle to cull 30-40 elephants in a single session. We also asked him his opinion about the 458 WM, mainly due to the well known stories and history of it at the time, and he is of opinion that there was not really anything wrong with a 458 WM, then and now.

Here is a pic of him on the day.

Jerome @AfricaHunting.com , thanks for allowing us to post this here, appreciate it!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Hi Wheels, thanks for interest. Thanks @VertigoBE for the update!

Yes, as mentioned, one of our members bought the rifle, which we are very pleased with, exactly for the question raised, the rifle will remain in Africa. Maybe some more information that the rest may find interesting. We already shared the letter Ron typed, he spoke a bit more about his exploits and the rifle specifically.

He used the rifle for quite a while (together with a few others), culling crop raiding elephants, buffalo's for camp rations and the general culling. It was for the latter where he recalled using the rifle to cull 30-40 elephants in a single session. We also asked him his opinion about the 458 WM, mainly due to the well known stories and history of it at the time, and he is of opinion that there was not really anything wrong with a 458 WM, then and now.

Here is a pic of him on the day.

Jerome @AfricaHunting.com , thanks for allowing us to post this here, appreciate it!

He also has a .416 John Rigby & Co. Mauser. Does he still own that one ?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

He still looks very fit for 80 years old. Hope I hold up that well.

 

[saswart]

He also has a .416 John Rigby & Co. Mauser. Does he still own that one ?

No unfortunately not.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

No unfortunately not.

Did he sell all his firearms ?

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I love the FN Mauser style rifles. I have been fortunate enough to acquire a pair of fine FN Browning models in both 308 and 375HH cal. Both are 1960's era rifles and both have hunted Africa with fine result. Thank You Hunter Habib for sharing the FN Browning brochure and spec data as that confirmed my assessment that my 308 FN had a 1:12 twist bbl which struggles to stabilize some of the heavy for caliber 180g projectiles. Namely the Swift A-frame. Mr. Thompson's rifle being an FN (not Browning) was likely pre-1960 mfg and thus had the Mauser flag style safety. I have a similar version custom rifle in 270 that has that older style safety. It is a bit slower to take off safe and can be noisy if the hunter is careless with it, but with practice is not a handicap. Mr. Thompson's rifle has been well loved and carries many stories from a place that lives today only in memory (Rhodesia).

 

[saswart]

Did he sell all his firearms ?

He only has a 6.5x55 left, the rest I am not sure if he sold or gave them away.