I saw a rifle at a gunshow awhile back and the guy said that it was Bell's 275. The rifle had a nameplate on the bottom of the stock that said "Mark R Selby From Uncle Bob Ruark".On the floorplate it was engraved WDMB, the owner had a letter from Rigby's that said it was Bell's, it was an honor to hold the rifle and ever since I have wandered what a Historic rifle like that would be worth, any idea's.

If it is the real thing......
If you have to ask.............

Gail Selby & Harry Selby at Xugana airfield
in the Okavango Delta in the late 1970's.


I can't say for sure, but that may be the rifle that Gail is holding. It's a photo from Gail Selby's web site.

Her web site is worth a look:

http://gabrimaun.tripod.com/

-Bob F.

Bob,
I just cruised through Gail's website. It is interesting for certain, but she doesn't mention the passing on of her dad, and her website hasn't been updated since FEb., 2006. Has she left Maun? I thought her parents returned to Kenya in the last years. Is that true? I tried to find Mr. Selby at Khwei River Camp in July, 2000 and was told that he had sold out and gone back to Kenya. Just curious is all.
Nice Rigby.

Yellowstone,

you have some off news there... They are still in Maun and Harry (and Miki) are alive and well, I just got two notesd from Gail this morning. They have been in Bots since they left Kenya and the last time I talked with Harry about it, they were quite pleased with how things are im Maun.

_Baxter

Whoa!
Did I ever get bad dope. Thank you for the correction. Kind of like Mark Twain's remark about the reports of his death being much exagerrated. Seven years ago though, my guide said they had moved back to east Africa and there wasn't an opportunity to meet the man. Nevertheless, thanks for setting me straight.

There was an article in the American Rifleman a few years back on Bell's .275 Rigby. From your descrition it sounds like the same rifle.

I recall the article as well and if memory is correct Robert Ruark bought the rifle from the Bell family and gave it to Selby. Does that sound right? That would be quite an honor indeed to hold such a rifle...if only it could talk!!!

Eterry

it was bought from Westley Richards, not from the Bell family. _Baxter

Any idea where it is now???

JW

quote:

Good luck and good shooting.
In Memory of Officer Nik Green, #198, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop G...Murdered in the line of duty 12-26-03...A Good Man, A Good Officer, and A Good Friend gone too soon

AMEN!

The article I have is in the Nov. 2004 issue of the American Rifleman.

His guns were consigned to WR by his widow. Ruark bought 2, both for his god son Selby. That is when the silver name plates were done. It does not indicate what happened to the Bell Rigby.

I know Mark Selby fairly well.

He has a 450-400 that Ruark gave him with that same inscription on it. Ruark was Mark Selbys God Father.

I have never heard of this other gun and tend to be suspecious inasmuch as the inscription is the same and Mark has never mentioned it? nor has anyone else I know, but the 450 has been mentioned in several articles I have been told. I don't know about this other rifle, but I would be careful if I purchased it and I would want a letter from Mark, that should not be a problem if its legitamate.

Ray,

The article is by a Joe Coogan. He does mention the 450-400 also. I don't know if it is true or not.

Ray, if you know Mark that well, then you know he no longer has the 450, and hasnt for many, many years.

the 7x57 is genuine and as I stated above, IO have seen the sales slip from WR for it. No need to doubt that it is genuine. PLus, Ruak wrote abotu it in his article Karamojo Safari.

_Baxter

I saw an Rigby 275 with a Zeiss 2,5-10x50 in the G&H sidemount a month ago, wonderfull rifle whvi came with an oak 6Leatehercase for 6000 Dolalrs here , wonderfull rifle, filled with quality and history.

But i didnt have the money, it would have been an wonderfull heirloom and hunting rifle.

/

From Gail Selby's web site:

----------------------------------------------
Harry Selby - An African Legend
By Joe Coogan

"Like Harry, his children Mark and Gail grew up in the shadow of acacia trees and within the sound of roaring lions. At the age of 14, Gail hunted an elephant with her father taking a bull with 50-pound tusks. On that hunt she used a Rigby .275 originally belonging to the legendary elephant hunter Karamoja Bell, and which had been given to her brother Mark by his godfather, Robert Ruark."

http://gabrimaun.tripod.com/HarrySelby.html
----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------
from About Me - Page 2:

"I shot my first elephant when I was 14 years old and was up in the Botswana bush on holiday from boarding school in Zimbabwe - none of the kids believed me when I got back to school and told them what I had done! It was quite an experience and had good tusks - it was the only elephant I ever shot but went on many more hunts with my father over the years."


Gail & Harry Selby with Gail's elephant

http://gabrimaun.tripod.com/AboutMe2.html
----------------------------------------------



-Bob F.

BaxterB,
No I didn't know Mark no longer had the rifle, he never told me he had gotten rid of it, which does not surprise me as he only mentioned it on one ocassion while we were discussing double rifles..I have not seen Mark in a few years, since he quit coming to Dallas SCI and since the Merger. I booked for them at one time. I have not seen Harry in about 15 years I guess...

quote:

Originally posted by yellowstone:
Bob,
I just cruised through Gail's website. It is interesting for certain, but she doesn't mention the passing on of her dad, and her website hasn't been updated since FEb., 2006. Has she left Maun? I thought her parents returned to Kenya in the last years. Is that true? I tried to find Mr. Selby at Khwei River Camp in July, 2000 and was told that he had sold out and gone back to Kenya. Just curious is all.
Nice Rigby.

Yellowstone - Hi there. I see Baxter put you in the picuture! Yes, my dad is alive and well and we are all still living here in Maun! Everything on my website is basically up-to-date - I just haven't had time to add stories etc.

_Gail

Gail asked me to post a large pic of the elephant and the rifle.



Enjoy,

_BAxter

Ain't the internet amazing? Instant historical information.

I don't know which looks best... a fine elephant, a pretty girl or a historic Rigby?

All in all, a wonderful photo.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Gail asked me to post a large pic of the elephant
_BAxter

Cool! That photo shows much more detail. Thanks Gail and Baxter for posting that! I really wish Gail would add more photos of that size/resolution to her web site! She has a lot of really neat photos and stories on her web site.

-Bob F.

quote:

I don't know which looks best... a fine elephant, a pretty girl or a historic Rigby? -Judge G

I pick pretty girl every time.

Very interesting thread.

Thanks, Demo.

Judge G: I'd say all three!

Where are the girl and the elephant in the picture?? I tried hard but could only find a nice looking rifle.

The rifle now resides on the east coast with a collector I have spoken too. He sent me pics of the lovely lil gun. I would LOVE to own it. It is a very neat piece of history.
Steve

Back to one of the questions, what is a historic rifle like that worth?

quote:

Originally posted by danlfraser:
Back to one of the questions, what is a historic rifle like that worth?

I heard that it was selling at a gunsmith for $11 000 (from quite a reliable source)...true or not, I have no idea!
_Gail

I heard from a friend who works fine weapons in London that Bells 22 Savage mauser was up for bidding soon at acution, startinpoint 1500 pounds.

Hi Gail, nice of you to join us here at AR, wonderfull page you have.

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Gail asked me to post a large pic of the elephant
_BAxter

Cool! That photo shows much more detail. Thanks Gail and Baxter for posting that! I really wish Gail would add more photos of that size/resolution to her web site! She has a lot of really neat photos and stories on her web site.

-Bob F.

Hi Bob.
Glad you like the pic I promise to upload some more of that size to my website when I have the time - will let you all know when I do! I shot that elephant when I was 14 years old with Bells .275 ... great rifle. Will write about the hunt sometime and put in on my website as well. I hear the .275 now has a good home with someone in Virginia...
Cheers
_Gail

Hello Gail,

I hope you become a regular here. I bet you have lots of stories to share and personally, it would be nice to have another lady member here to help me keep the guys in line! Welcome!

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Hello Gail,

I hope you become a regular here. I bet you have lots of stories to share and personally, it would be nice to have another lady member here to help me keep the guys in line! Welcome!

Hi Ann,

Many thanks for the welcome! Sure nice to find some 'girl power' in amongst all this testosterone!!! Nice to be here and will be fun sharing stories.

Cheers
_Gail

quote:

Originally posted by mr rigby:
I heard from a friend who works fine weapons in London that Bells 22 Savage mauser was up for bidding soon at acution, startinpoint 1500 pounds.

Hi Gail, nice of you to join us here at AR, wonderfull page you have.

Hi and thanks for the welcome! Good to be here!

_Gail

We have had the privilege of meeting some extremely interesting people here on AR (by way of their posting)....some of the finest artists (gunsmiths) the world has ever known, some of the best known hunters, some statesmen, some business leaders but for my opinion we've never had a more distinguished poster than Gail Selby......I, for one, thank you Gail for honoring us with posting here!

Gail,

Thanks for joining the forum and again, Welcome! Your website is great.

I've considered doing a trip to Botswana just to be able to say 'hi' to you and your dad. Any chance of getting him to check in here every once in a while? Maybe with a story or two that haven't been published?

Dennis

I think the rifle is a rare bit of history and has to be worth more than most realize. Are there any other rifles that have been owned/used by WDM Bell,Robert Ruark, Harry,Mark, and the beautiful Gail Selby.I've read Ray Atkinson's crap for awhile here and it seems that he is a keyboard expert on all things Africa, I guess if he has never heard of it it doesn't exist.I would like to see the rifle and be able to touch a true piece of History.That's my nickels worth on the rifle.

Hello Fellows...and Gail too...the rifle is here in the US, in ol' West Virgini no less, in quite a knowledgeable collectors hands...a good friend would kill me if I told anyone where or how much...but whispered, it's supposed to be offered quietly in the $20's...maybe, maybe not!! My friend also owns the Selous Fahrquarson, sideplates and all. It came in from Canada from a collection about 10 years ago now...