I purchased this rifle from the seller on December 10. I'll probably receive it in the next 2 or 3 weeks. In the meantime, I thought I would post the seller's description of the rifle and the seller's photos. When the rifle comes in I'll take some new photos and post them.

Cheers!
-Bob F.



Dec 10, 2008
Category: Rifles - African Dangerous Game Magazine - Mauser Rifles Sporters Pre War
Title: Osa Johnson's 9.3x62 Type A Mauser
Description:
This is a highly desirable Oberndorf Mauser Type A in 9.3 X 62 owned by the famous explorer and film maker, Osa Johnson. Together with her husband Martin Johnson, she pretty much invented the wildlife documentary. Her book, "I Married Adventure", was made into a movie in 1940 starring Mrs. Johnson as herself. Google Osa to learn more about her life and the museum devoted to her exploits. Rifle is inlaid in platinum on the barrel, "Specially made for Chas. Heyer & Co. Nairobi". Comes with letter from auction house that handled her estate at the time of her death in 1953, identifying this rifle by serial number.
















http://www.safarimuseum.com/




Little ol' me on my recent visit to the museum.
(photo taken on November 22, 2008)

Bob, I saw the thread on NitroExpress. Congratulations! A very good buy and a very desirable Mauser, even more so due to the provenance. I was captivated by the Johnson's exploits as a youngster and have also visited their museum.

Holy crap, Bob! What a wonderful find. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent! What a wonderful keepsake.

Cool! That'll brighten-up any gun room!

Good grab!

JW

Congratulations, Bob! That's a classic rifle in every way.

Now that is some rifle.

Congratulations on a historic find. It would be fun to take on a Safari now if the baggage monkeys did not steal it.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Congratulations, Bob! That's a classic rifle in every way.

+1

Keith

Congratulations, Bob! A fine treasure!
Look forward to seeing the rifle in person some day.

Ahhhh....to run your nose along the stock and smell Africa! Sweet!

Nice post, Bob.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Thanks for the pics.That's a really nice rifle.

NICE!!
Where is this museum?
Robert

As Pondoro used to say, "what a peach".

To imagine if that rifle could talk.

ddj

WOW!!! As nice a classic as exists. SUPER

Bob! How cool. Good on you and thanks for the post and photos. Looks like Santa came early!

quote:

Originally posted by RVL III:
NICE!!
Where is this museum?
Robert

It's in Chanute, Kansas (Osa's home town).

see: http://www.safarimuseum.com/

-Bob F.

Bob, The rifle is stunning but the history even more so. You need to take some photo's over a hide (Zebra?) of one of the type of game that she is known to have harvested with that gun. If you do and need a red & yellow box of the Kynoch 9.3 ammo & some silver solids of the period to enhance the photo I would be glad to loan you some for the photo. The only thing that could be neater is if you had their Sikorsky float plane in the background!

m4220

m4220

Knowing how big a fan you are of hers, and African history buff as well, I can only imagine how much it means to have this in you collection.

Well done!

A very nice looking rifle with great history.Congratulations.

Best-
Locksley,R

How very cool! I love the Osa & Martin books. I also love that she was the hunter while he was the photographer.

A super addition to any collection! Thanks for sharing!
LLS

Ahh, what a piece of Continental garbage, calibre and all...

Thanks to member "Grogel_Deluxe" over at the 24 Hour Campfire forums who told me about these photos!!!!





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I believe these may be publicity photos for the movie "I Married Adventure".

Cheers!
-Bob F.

Very cool. A beautiful rifle.

When I see things like this I am reminded that you never really own things that have so much history, you only look after them for a while.

Enjoy your time with it.

Bob, just out of curiosity, what's the length of pull on the stock of that rifle? I seem to remember that Osa was rather petite, but the LOP on that stock seems to be normal.

Great photos, by the way.

Don't know the LOP. Wasn't stated on the web site and I forgot to ask the seller when I spoke with him on the phone. Oh well... doesn't matter. I'll measure it when the rifle comes in.

-Bob F.

One more photo.



-Bob F.

So ya gonna donate that rifle to the museum? (just kidding!)

Very neat Bob, would like to see some hi-res up closies when you get it in your hands (and wipe the drool off...)

_Baxter

Too cool. It is now in the hands of a good and appreciative guy. Congratulations.

Charlie, way to go... What a keep sake for an African hunter ALSO...

Mike

Bob, way to go... What a keep sake for an African hunter ALSO...

Mike

Just a quick follow up:

Osa's rifle arrived at my gunsmith's shop (Todd Johnson) on December 26. Todd called me this morning (Dec 27) with a preliminary report.

Serial number is 105930 which, according to Jon Speed's book, puts the year of manufacture as 1930-1931. "BUG" proof marks. Length of pull is 13.0 inches.

I have not seen the rifle yet but according to Todd the rifle is in immaculate condition; almost pristine. Todd said the seller's photos (see the photos I posted earlier in this thread) don't do the rifle justice. Blueing is about 95-98% with age related patina (which Todd described as beautiful). Stock and recoil pad are in excellent condition. Bore is in excellent condition and rifling is crisp. Fore end tip is authentic horn.

Due to the Christmas holiday (and out of town family staying at his house) and him being under the weather the past couple of days, Todd told me he had not pulled the action from the stock yet. He doesn't want to work on it until he's feeling better. So, no detailed report yet on other proof marks, etc. at this time. Rest assured that I will follow up with more information in the coming weeks.




Cheers!
-Bob F.

My wife just walked into the house after yard sales. She shows me what she thinks is a cool looking book that she bought for the coffee table. Has a brown on brown zebra striped cover and is titled "I married adventure" from 1940 by Osa Johnson! I am stealing it to read and to put into my gun room. I thought that the timing of our purchases was fun. A beautiful rifle and such history...........

Have two copies just like that on the shelf, one with dust jacket

Not much left to say.....I'm just happy to see folks that truly appreciate these things have custody of them!

Beautiful rifle!
Gotta wonder what the conversation was years ago in the Heyer & Co. showroom, Nairobi... "Osa you're going to need a "ladies rifle" try this nice little .303" "No thank you, I'm taking this Type A Mauser"...

And the rest is history.

A great rifle finds an appropriate home. Hey Bob, could you put me in your will?