 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mortimer & Son .500 BPE 3” Hammer Double Rifle
Guns International #: 101265668 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Hammer Rifles - Double Rifles - English
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: MJ2016
Member Since: 3/19/16
First Name: Mark
State: Connecticut
Country: United States
Phone: (203) 885-3470
Number of Active Listings: 1
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Modern guns must ship to FFL Dealer; Antiques may be shipped directly to buyer if local laws permit. Buyer pays actual shipping and insurance unless otherwise specified.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Bank/Certified Check, Personal Check - All payments must clear before Shipping.
Description:
***Significantly reduced on 10/03 -- Need to complete payment for several guns purchased at/following Vintager's and have therefore signficiantly reduced price on this gun one final time to help pay for those. Now only $6500 shipped (firm) until this listing comes due for renewal on 10/25/19. After that time gun will be relisted at original higher price. Rare is the chance to pick up a double rifle from this well-regarded Scottish maker at any price, let alone at such a discount.***
Mortimer & Son .500 BPE 3” Hammer Double Rifle
DESCRIPTION
Scottish Mortimer & Son .500 BPE 3” hammer double rifle. Features include: Jones patent rotary underlever, percussion fences, sides of the action with plain border engraving, rebounding hammers, double triggers, extractors, splinter forearm with lever release, nicely grained English walnut butt stock with vacant silver oval, metal butt plate marked with original blackpowder load of 136 grains, horn pistol grip cap and rifle sling mount, 28” steel barrels with dolls head 3rd fastener, file cut top rib, left barrel marked “Mortimer & Son”, right barrel marked with “86 George Street, Edinburgh” address, underbarrel sling mount and iron sights (bead front sight, one fixed and one folding open rear leaf). LOP: 14 ¼ to front trigger; 13 ¼ to rear trigger. Weight: 9.0 lbs dead even. Manufactured circa late 1880's – 1890 (estimated by Scottish gunmaker John Dickson & Son who hold the records of Mortimer & Son); no visible serial number. Excellent condition (wood/metal/mechanical) with action tight on face and strong rifling exhibiting sharp lands and grooves. Antique/No FFL required.
Recently imported from the UK, this rifle was London re-proofed for Nitro Express (barrel flats stamped for modern loads to 3250 BAR, or approx. 47,000 psi) in 2001. Although I have a sample target of several rounds fired in the UK with full .500 NE Kynoch loads, I myself would not recommend using full Nitro loads in this gun to avoid possible rifle damage or personal injury (not to mention the ferocious recoil of using full Nitro loadings in a 9 lb steel buttplated rifle!). But the desirability of the rifle having been Nitro reproofed is that you can be assured that it will safely handle even the heaviest blackpowder or equivalent Nitro-for-Black smokeless loads.
PROVENANCE
This rifle belonged to the late Rolf Rohwer, a well known conservationist, professional hunter (PH) and wildlife biologist who hunted throughout Africa but extensively in Zambia and Tanzania. At the time of his purchasing the Mortimer & Son in 1962-1964 from a man fleeing the troubles in the Congo, he was working as chief elephant cropping ranger for the Wildlife Department of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). The rifle had been used for elephant in the Congo. During his time as a PH he guided, among others, Weatherby Award winners H.I.H Prince Abdorezza Pahlavi, Juan Luis Oliva de`Suelves, and Andy Samuels Jr. as well as Ted Williams, Jack O’Connor, Warren Page and many other illustrious hunters.
Rolf’s prolific career spanned over 4 decades. His diverse firsthand experience as a PH & wildlife biologist gave him the knowledge to become author and editor of many magazine articles, some scientific articles, and most notably his own book “Campfire Tales” published by Safari Press USA (copy of book is included with gun). He had PH license No. 3 in Zambia where he first started hunting, and was the first renowned American PH to achieve such a license. A towering man – surviving a lion mauling and also being hit by a buffalo – he passed away unexpectedly in January 2008 and rifle was purchased from his heirs in 2018.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Antique: Yes