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Curious why a guy in the 1890-1920 era would put up the substantial money for a buffalo/elephant gun in a single shot caliber when other guns were available.

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Because even then a true sporting gentleman knew that the proper way to hunt is with a fine single shot rifle.

Actually, prior to 1910 or so, there weren't many cartridges for magazine rifles that were truly capable of tackling dangerous game.
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True that; the old writings from the 1890’s and early 1900’s are replete with stories of cemeteries and hospitals containing nimrods that were all excited to use the “new” Cordite and small bore bolt guns like the .303 or 6.5’s and their flat trajectory on dangerous game. They “Killed like lightning”...until they didn’t.

In the 1800’s India, hunting with black powder rifles took a .500 or larger for dangerous game. (.500 was a popular Tiger caliber in India).
African “Big 5” back then required BIG black powder rifles, .577 3” and bigger.
The single shot and double rifle were the only types available in those large bores. Yes, there are rare historical accounts of some Winchester lever actions like the .50-95 being used on cats......& thin skinned game.

A “brace” of single shots plus a reliable bearer/loader were the less expensive alternative to a double rifle until about ~1905, the time the big rimless Cordite cartridges were being developed to fit in a 98 Mauser.
Once the over .400 sized Nitro repeaters appeared, the sales of large bore single shot rifles like the relatively contemporary 1902 Webley pretty much fizzled out.
- Mike

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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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