Is anyone familiar with the book _Recent Hunting Trips in British North America_ by F.C. Selous? I'm doing some research on Charles Sheldon, and I'm curious as to how much information there is about Sheldon in this book. Specifically, I'm intereted in any details about the rifle Sheldon used. Sheldon covers the hunting trip with Selous in his book _The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon_. My sources so far consist of Sheldon's books, but I'd like to get any more information possible.

Thanks,
Washougal Chris

There is a seller on eBay that has listed the Selous book, I believe. His/her moniker is "deepsix" and sells mostly outdoor and adventure books. The seller has also sold a couple of Sheldon books. I picked up "The Wilderness of Denali" a few months ago for a decent price. You might contact "deepsix" and see if he/she has the books you are looking for.

I have that F.C.Selous book by Wolfe pubishing .Its as new pm me and I can tell you more thanks Mike

I think it was a 256 mannlicher .I will have to check to be sure.Those 160 gr bullets in 6.5 kill way better for there size than expected.It has an awesome s.d.that will plow through anything.

DPhillips - thanks for the tip - I'll check out E-bay

dgr416 - I tried posting you a PM but, with the new software, I'm not sure it wen through. Check your PM's and let me know if you got it.

Thanks!
Washougal Chris

Where the heck is the new pm.I didnt see it on here?I had just read something about all the famous people who had used the 256 mannlicher and Selous was one of them.W.D.M.Bell used it on elephants which is nuts!He liked to use it shooting it off a ladder in the tall grass while natives held him up.

Dear DGR416,

Glad I'm not the only ones confused by the new software. Under "GO" in the upper left corner, go to "My Space" and then "Private Messaging" and see if anything is there. If I did it right hopefully you'll see something there.

Thanks,
Washougal Chris

Dear dgr416,

While we get the PM thing straightened out, here's my message:


My main interest is finding out as much as possible about the rifle Charles Sheldon used. I've read his four books, and other than identifying it as a 256 Mannlicher, he doesn't give many details. I'm wondering if Selous had any comments or observations about the rifle Sheldon used in his book. One thing I've been particular attention to is the sights Sheldon used - I think he had them changed between his Alaska/ Yukon trips and his trips to Mexico.

In Sheldon's Book _The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon_, he recounts an episode where he had a misfire while moose hunting, right in front of Selous. I wonder what Selous' take on the story was?

Any comments?

Thanks,
Washougal Chris

I have the book but have not read it yet.I have read the W.D.M.Bell Books about using the 256 for elephants.The 256 mannlichers they used had split recievers which ment no scopes.They sometimes drilled and tapped a peep site but I think Bell used the factory sites.I will try to read it soom.Here is my email by the way if you need any books:muskox1@excite.com thanks Mike

I finally read about selous other rifles he brought .They were a 303 british in a single shot Farquharson and a 375 in that gun also.I just read about it in the rifle book.

Have any of you folks tried abebooks.com?

"It would have come much nearer, Louis said, had it not seen Mr. Sheldon raise his rifle. After a moment of intense suspense there was a loud click, and the moose swung round and rushed off through the willow scrub.
The rifle had missed fire, and my friend's last chance of securing a really fine moose head- and I am quite sure it was a big one - was lost. True, he was able to throw the unexploded cartridge from the breech of his Mannlicher and fire three shots at the startled moose as it rushed through the willow scrub,....A more cruel mischance than this misfire I have never knowen, nor have I ever seen a man take a great disappointment better than my friend."

Pages 231 & 232 from Recent Hunting Trips in British North America

Dear Telly,

Thank you very much for the excerpt - that's exactly what I was looking for!

Does Selous mention Sheldon's Mannlicher anywhere else?

Thanks,
Washougal Chris

Its in the rifle book by Trusendell about Charles Sheldon using the 256 mannlicher mostly.It was the most popular rifle used by expert hunters world wide, when it first came out.They liked it so much because it was so light and very accurate.It became less popluar after the 30-06 came out in sporter rifles.

A brief scan and per memory, I don't think he mentioned it again by name. He killed sheep, caribou, and lynx with it though. Alas, no moose.

Dear Telly,

Thanks for looking some more. I guess there isn't any more info concerning Sheldon in Selous' book.

Dear DGR416,

Thanks for the lead on the Truesendell book - I'll have to look into getting a copy.

Thanks for all the help!

Washougal Chris

I just finished reading it.I am going to copy the Biography section and probally sell it.Its the book that inspired Elmer keith To write Keiths Rifles For large Game.I learded alot from The Rile book but John Taylors African Rifles And Cartridges is awesome too.It was inspired from Keiths Rifles book.Keith and Taylor were both big bore guys.When people tried to use the small bores on safari they usually got mauled or torn to pieces.It was only the expert hunters who could use these small guns on the Big Five well.I have all of these books by the way and too many more.I just have to thin out all multiple copies and get this collection down to size!

Its T.R Truesdell The Rifle Book.I can spell worth a dern.