quote:Originally posted by ALF: The 500 jeffery for instance of which there are only 21 in the world was finnished by Lenord, 3 more were built by Lenord for Gibbs giving a total of only 24 known 500 Jeffery rifles. ( they are all built on imported Mauser barreled actions)
Not to forget the German originals, under their proper name :-).
Carcano
Posts: 2452 | Location: Old Europe | Registered: 23 June 2001
Alf: I have done this with my Holland and Holland had the gun numbers checked and a copy of the companies log with the specifics for my rifle photo copied. Do you know who owns the jeffery books...Holland has sold them . I would like to find out who my rifle was built for.
Thanks urdubob
Posts: 945 | Location: TN USA | Registered: 09 March 2002
Paul Roberts (J. Roberts & Sons, Gunmakers, Ltd.) bought W. J. Jeffery & Co. and, I presume, their records, from Holland & Holland in 2000. Paul was previously owner and managing director of John Rigby & Co. which he sold in 1997.
They have a web site. Go to Google and do a search for "W. J. Jeffery & Co." or "J. Roberts & Son, Gunmakers, Ltd." --------------------- "Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."
Paul Roberts does indeed have some (but not all) of the Jeffery records, as they helped date two Jeffery rifles that I bought in Zimbabwe (a 333 from 1908, and a 375 from 1952).
Jim
Posts: 1206 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 21 July 2000
The Jeffery company is owned by a US individual from whom Paul Roberts is licensed to make Jeffery guns. Paul does not have the company records, they are in the US. He will however forward enquiries to the owner bi-annually. Regrettably, the records do not show the original owner.
Posts: 243 | Location: Darwin, Australia | Registered: 12 April 2003
It's too bad that much of the history and records of great companies like Jeffery seems to get lost with time. Worse, often people have knowledge of important information which they don't or won't share, sometimes because no one is interested at the time, and it eventually goes to the grave with them.
Posts: 9487 | Location: Texas Hill Country | Registered: 11 January 2002
fla3006: Regrettably what you say is only too true. However, there has been considerable light shed on the British single-shots by Wal Winfer in his marvellous series of books (Vol.3 covers Jeffery's contribution, including all known serial numbers). If only someone with Wally's drive would tackle the British doubles!
I don't yet have a copy of 'Birmingham Gunmakers..', which I understand goes some way towards unravelling the mysteries of the trade. Its high on my list!
quote:The Company was founded in 1950 by my father, Joseph Roberts. I joined the firm in 1959 and by the mid 1970s as well as dealing in second-hand guns and rifles, we started producing fine new shotguns and rifles. In 1984 we amalgamated with John Rigby & Co, Britain's longest established gun and rifle makers and assembled our own team of gunsmiths.
By 1990 we were producing 40 guns per year, specialising in large calibre double-barrelled and bolt action rifles, some stalking rifles and 'best' shotguns. In 1997 the Rigby name was sold to a US gunmaker whilst we continued to produce fine guns under the J Roberts & Son brand for our traditional big-game hunting and game shooting market. In 2000 we acquired the sole manufacturing rights for WJ Jeffery & Co, one of Britain's most innovative gunmakers, having introduced the most popular big-game calibres such as .404 and .500 Jeffery. Paul Roberts Chairman J. Roberts & Son (Gunmakers) Ltd
Hey Alf, how about some pictures of your rifle, I can never get enough pictures of classic rifles. I say pictures of fine rifles are right there after playboy. :-)
Red
Posts: 4740 | Location: Fresno, CA | Registered: 21 March 2003
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. I would like to find out who my rifle was built for.
