Want To Sell The Nicest .505 Gibbs In South Africa?

[SStomcat]

Good morning All and greetings from Texas!
I see I'm being mentioned a lot on this thread, so I will fill in the blanks.
I have been in Texas for 6 years now, where I'm a consultant in the exotic wildlife industry.
Texas is the world's new Noah's Ark - there are 1.6 million head of exotics here, more than 100 different species.
I work with about 5000 head of exotic wildlife from giraffe and African buffalo all the way down to the smallest antelope species - about 50 different species, the majority of which are African.
These exotics are on 4 different ranches in south Texas, so I drive a lot, but I still get my buffalo and sable fix every week. The attached picture is the herd bull from the main breeding herd
I did sell my .505 - it went to a collector who willingly paid $ 25K for it. Sure was sad to see it go, but at least it is now in a place where it is appreciated.
I'm planning to retire next year and want to spend more time in the remote parts of Southern Africa, where I want to continue my work surveying free-ranging buffalo populations.

Wow, didn't know there were cape buffalo in the Ranches here in TX, where I live.

 

[Luvthunt]

Have read and enjoyed your books and want to wish you “the best” in your retirement.
Stay safe out there with them Dugga boys and girls!

 

[Wildwillalaska]

As I get older and more refined (still rough as a cob), I have seriously contemplated selling safes of rifles to get down to 5 or so and a couple shotguns. That being said, I would have serious angst about traveling to some places with $50,000 -100,000 in a checked rifle. However, once you spend time with a H&W or Jung etc. it truly starts to make sense.

Doubt I’ll ever own a H&W, but like fine art or large print b&w photography, I can’t help but appreciate them. They really are a blending of true art, dead nuts precision, and killing stick all melded into one.

I get nervous traveling by air with my Rigby 416 and Heym doubles, but insurance helps. I don’t have the bankroll for a collection 6-digit firearms, and have to believe if someone enjoys hunting Africa and owns a battery of those kind of bolt guns, there may well exist a stable of even more expensive and embellished, engraved doubles in the mix as well. I can’t imagine the cost of the guns factors into fear of loss, or signs of earnest use. It’s probably more akin to me putting a ding in the stock of a favorite rifle…more that I did it than the cost impact.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Also, bet your less likely to lose such rifles flying in your own jet…even private charter would increase the care of their handling.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Good morning All and greetings from Texas!
I see I'm being mentioned a lot on this thread, so I will fill in the blanks.
I have been in Texas for 6 years now, where I'm a consultant in the exotic wildlife industry.
Texas is the world's new Noah's Ark - there are 1.6 million head of exotics here, more than 100 different species.
I work with about 5000 head of exotic wildlife from giraffe and African buffalo all the way down to the smallest antelope species - about 50 different species, the majority of which are African.
These exotics are on 4 different ranches in south Texas, so I drive a lot, but I still get my buffalo and sable fix every week. The attached picture is the herd bull from the main breeding herd
I did sell my .505 - it went to a collector who willingly paid $ 25K for it. Sure was sad to see it go, but at least it is now in a place where it is appreciated.
I'm planning to retire next year and want to spend more time in the remote parts of Southern Africa, where I want to continue my work surveying free-ranging buffalo populations.

Doctari, thank you for joining in with updates as to your personal and professional life. Think so many of us have studied over your books and listened in to podcasts, etc., of you or advice on dangerous game cartridges, rifles, and shot placement, that it adds a level of added enthusiasm when folks as yourself participate in the forums. I also really appreciated your quick response to my PM a while back on loading for my new to me Ryan Breeding 505 Gibbs.

Hope we see you around here now and again. Enjoy South Texas…there are days I miss it, never enough to drag me back from Alaska.