GunDog,

If I recall correctly, Bell worked for Fraser at one time and maintained a relationship with him afterward. I believe the rifle he used for his first job in Africa (supplying meat for the railway work gangs) was a single shot Fraser in .303. I seem to recall he also had a heavier Fraser double rifle with him on later safaris.

As to the Fraser-customized Steyr-Mannlicher that Huvius mentioned, here is an excerpt about it from Sam Fadala's 'Famous Riflemen' column in Rifle Magazine's 1986 September-October issue:

'Bell experimented with a .256, whittling
away on the rifle until it weighed
but five pounds. It was a custom to
begin with, as was his favorite .275.

Bell was a rifle-lover. Listen to his
own words describing a custom rifle
made by Fraser of Edinburgh, “A
genius in his own line,” according to the
hunter. “I shall never forget the unpacking
of that .256 in the wilds of the
African bush; the ripping open of that
tin-lined case that looked so incredibly
small. There, wrapped in grease-proof
paper, lay the oily little rascal. Out in
the hot sun it was but a moment’s work
to strip off the mercurial grease Fraser
used for protecting his steel work on
tropical voyages.”

One can all but see the little rifle in
Bell’s hands. His deft writing allows us
to relive that long ago moment with
him. “What a thrill to just handle it,”
said Bell. Then he went forth and bagged
12 good bull elephants with 12 shots.'

Obviously, Bell had a lot of respect for Fraser's work.

J