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** C. FLETCHER JAMIESON. W.J. JEFFERY & CO. A FINE .500 (JEFFERY) 'MODEL NO.2' SINGLE SQUARE BRIDGE MAGNUM BOLT-MAGAZINE BIG GAME RIFLE, serial no. 25554, 26in. blued nitro barrel signed 'SPECIALLY BUILT FOR C. FLETCHER JAMIESON. BY W.J. JEFFERY & CO. 9 GOLDEN SQUARE. REGENT STREET. LONDON. W.1. 25554', matt ramp-mounted bead fore-sight with tunnel-cover and flip-up moon-sight, matt quarter-rib with rear-sight of one standing and two folding leaves calibrated to 300 yards, the standing leaf with platinum-inlaid centre-line, border and scroll engraved receiver with matt receiver-ring, 14 1/2in. well figured pistolgrip stock including 3/4in. rubber recoil pad (minor setting crack behind receiver), chequered grip and fore-end, dark horn fore-end cap, border and scroll engraved case-hardened pistolgrip-cap with hinged trap-cover, border and scroll engraved magazine floor-plate and trigger-guard each retaining traces of original blued finish, silver escutcheon engraved with the initials 'C.F.J.', sling eyes, in original brass-cornered oak and leather full length rifle case lined in red baize, the lid with W.J. Jeffery leather trade label, with spare coil spring for the bolt, two spare fore-sight elements and a spare tunnel-cover. Provenance : C. Fletcher Jamieson, the famous Rhodesian rancher, professional ivory hunter and pioneer photographer. Other Notes: Fletcher Jamieson began his hunting career with a Holland & Holland .500/.450 nitro express double rifle but following an accident changed to a W.J. Jeffery .500 (Rimless) Mauser bolt-action rifle which he used exclusively for a decade taking over 300 elephants with it. He had seen a German-made .500 bolt rifle by Schuler at Mitchell & Fallon's gun shop in Salisbury (Harare) and was taken by the ballistic capabilities of the .500 round but was not impressed with the German rifle. He straight away ordered a .500 from W.J. Jeffery in London which was completed in July 1937. Jamieson was a close friend of John 'Pondoro' Taylor, famed hunter and author of African Rifles and Cartridges, and supplied all the photographs that illustrate Taylor's book. Specific mention is made to Jamieson's Jeffery rifle in the chapter on large bore rifles, Taylor noting that Jamieson specified a 26in. barrel over the normal 24in. to aid balance given his great height. Jamieson died in 1947 in an unfortunate accident whilst working on a well, cutting short the career of one of the last of the great African hunters. Estimate £20,000-25,000 As was listed above: http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp...;t=1206232& |