The Accurate Reloading Forums
Osa Johnson's Oberndorf Mauser in 9.3x62
11 December 2008, 20:28
BFaucettOsa Johnson's Oberndorf Mauser in 9.3x62
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 MauserDescription:
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)
11 December 2008, 20:36
fla3006Bob, 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.
NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.
11 December 2008, 20:36
Bill/OregonHoly crap, Bob! What a wonderful find. Thanks for sharing.
There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
11 December 2008, 20:48
David HulmeExcellent! What a wonderful keepsake.
11 December 2008, 21:29
Jeff WemmerCool! That'll brighten-up any gun room!
Good grab!
JW
11 December 2008, 22:19
Michael RobinsonCongratulations, Bob! That's a classic rifle in every way.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
11 December 2008, 22:27
Cape BankerNow that is some rifle.
12 December 2008, 00:09
PalmerCongratulations on a historic find. It would be fun to take on a Safari now if the baggage monkeys did not steal it.
ALLEN W. JOHNSON - DRSS
Into my heart on air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?
That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.
A. E. Housman
12 December 2008, 00:51
Hog Killerquote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
Congratulations, Bob! That's a classic rifle in every way.
+1
Keith
IGNORE YOUR RIGHTS AND THEY'LL GO AWAY!!!
------------------------------------
We Band of Bubbas & STC Hunting Club, The Whomper Club
12 December 2008, 00:55
RustyCongratulations, Bob! A fine treasure!
Look forward to seeing the rifle in person some day.
Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member
"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836
"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
"for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
12 December 2008, 00:57
GarByAhhhh....to run your nose along the stock and smell Africa! Sweet!
Nice post, Bob.
Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC
12 December 2008, 01:08
shootawayThanks for the pics.That's a really nice rifle.
12 December 2008, 01:38
RVL IIINICE!!
Where is this museum?
Robert
Robert
If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802
12 December 2008, 02:00
pichon1As Pondoro used to say, "what a peach".
12 December 2008, 03:15
trouthunterdjTo imagine if that rifle could talk.
ddj
The best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back - Robert Ruark
12 December 2008, 03:23
swampshooterWOW!!! As nice a classic as exists. SUPER

velocity is like a new car, always losing value.
BC is like diamonds, holding value forever.
12 December 2008, 03:41
HarryBob! How cool. Good on you and thanks for the post and photos. Looks like Santa came early!
You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family.
12 December 2008, 04:29
BFaucettquote:
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.
12 December 2008, 04:56
m4220Bob, 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
12 December 2008, 05:09
Charles_HelmKnowing 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!
12 December 2008, 05:12
RobinOLocksleyA very nice looking rifle with great history.Congratulations.
Best-
Locksley,R
"Early in the morning, at break of day, in all the freshness and dawn of one's strength, to read a book - I call that vicious!"- Friedrich Nietzsche
12 December 2008, 06:44
cjwHow very cool! I love the Osa & Martin books. I also love that she was the hunter while he was the photographer.
12 December 2008, 10:11
MCA manA super addition to any collection! Thanks for sharing!
LLS
12 December 2008, 10:42
ozhunterAhh, what a piece of Continental garbage, calibre and all...

12 December 2008, 22:05
BFaucettThanks to member "Grogel_Deluxe" over at the 24 Hour Campfire forums who told me about these photos!!!!
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
I believe these may be publicity photos for the movie "I Married Adventure".
Cheers!
-Bob F.
12 December 2008, 22:16
GraftonVery 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.
13 December 2008, 00:03
Michael RobinsonBob, 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.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
13 December 2008, 00:21
BFaucettDon'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.
13 December 2008, 00:29
BFaucettOne more photo.
-Bob F.
13 December 2008, 01:46
fla3006So ya gonna donate that rifle to the museum? (just kidding!)
NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.
13 December 2008, 04:30
BaxterBVery neat Bob, would like to see some hi-res up closies when you get it in your hands (and wipe the drool off...)
_Baxter
13 December 2008, 14:55
WillToo cool. It is now in the hands of a good and appreciative guy. Congratulations.
-------------------------------
Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR
_________________________
"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped.
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.
red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________
If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.
13 December 2008, 19:36
retreeverCharlie, way to go... What a keep sake for an African hunter ALSO...
Mike
Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
13 December 2008, 20:59
retreeverBob, way to go... What a keep sake for an African hunter ALSO...
Mike
Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
28 December 2008, 01:39
BFaucettJust 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.
28 December 2008, 02:15
GaryGMy 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...........
28 December 2008, 02:21
AfricanHunterHave two copies just like that on the shelf, one with dust jacket
28 December 2008, 02:55
vapodogNot much left to say.....I'm just happy to see folks that truly appreciate these things have custody of them!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
28 December 2008, 03:05
Rick RBeautiful 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.

28 December 2008, 04:06
BlacktailerA great rifle finds an appropriate home. Hey Bob, could you put me in your will?
Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark