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Thanks Sarg
In 1978 I was down from Alaska visiting a friend in Washington State. As we were visiting, he said a gunsmith he knew had a Marholdt Peterlongo .375 H&H scoped double rifle for sale. I was a bit skeptical as we often pulled pranks on one another and I thought he was setting me up for a joke? I said something to the effect of, "Oh sure..." I then asked about the rifle being a Marholdt Peterlongo? I knew there were cartridges that carried the name but was not familiar with them as a rifle maker? He said, "Let's give Elmer a call and you can ask him about the maker." "Elmer who?" I asked. "Elmer Keith." he replied. Now I knew he was pulling my leg. He then told me to go into the den and get the address book off his desk. Which I did. He opened the pages up to the K section and there was Elmer Keith's address and phone number listed!

He called and they talked like old friends, which I found out after the call he'd know Elmer for many years prior. After a few moments he handed me the phone and I had my first conversation with Elmer Keith! What a treat. Elmer told me the English, German and Austrian double rifles were the best ones to consider. He confirmed the Marholdt Peterlongo should be a quality rifle.

My friend and I then drove to the gun shop to look at the double rifle. Very nice it was. I handled it, went over it with my fledgling knowledge of double rifles - which was really limited. I told the gunsmith yes, I'd buy it, wait a moment while I go out to my old Ford stationwagon. I came back in with a double handful of cash, laid a pile out on the counter and told the gunsmith and my friend we need to count out the right amount - which was $3,800. I had been working in Alaska for 6 years, was single, and had some dough piled up. Oh the good old days!

The gunsmith let me know the .375 H&H double had been placed on consignment by Harry Baime(sp?) who was the western US representative for Weatherby firearms. That was my second double rifle, and last, a Marhold Peterlongo .375 H&H, claw mounted scope. It handled like a fine 20 ga. Same situation occurred as with the Manton mentioned above, it stayed tucked away in the safe in Alaska!

In the mid-1990's I found it a new home with a guide on Kodiak Island, Alaska. He was going to use it for hunting, as well as having and enjoying a fine quality double rifle...as I had.

You mention a bear charge. Much of my 27 plus years in Alaska was in the central regions of the State. A fair amount of time around King Salmon, Alaska - plenty of the coastal brown bears there. Could have shot one/several, but instead, would put the sights on them now and then, just never pulled the trigger! In my mind, I shot them... Had a time or two where had close (up to 25 ft close) encounters, but all went well - whew! Would rather watch and observe them, magnificent animals.

My personal hunting is for meat. Were a trophy moose standing there alongside of a nice plump 2-year old, I'd take the 2-year old. Makes for better, more tender eating when making moose pastrami! Also leaves the older bull to spread more mature seed amongst the cows!

With caribou, my first one harvested turned out to be the coveted 'double-shovel' rack...measuring 23" high and 19" wide! Folks, that is a small caribou rack, not one considered anywhere near a trophy size, except for it being a double-shovel. Nope, didn't know it was a double-shovel when took the slack out the trigger, the Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5x54 carbine belching flame! Only noticed the small double-shovel when walked up to the downed 'bou. As I then told my hunting buddy, "I can shoot any caribou now." "What do you mean?" he asked. "I've harvested a double-shovel rack." It's the only caribou rack I kept from my years in Alaska.

As with each of us, our mileage will vary...

Edited by awanderingbear (06/06/14 09:21 AM)

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