I just traded my Dakota Traveler (.416 Rem) on this J. & L. Wilkins .404 Jeffery. I hope to use it on my next (fourth) Cape buffalo, and maybe another tuskless or a ration/PAC elephant bull if I get lucky.

I did the trade for several reasons, for example, since the Traveler is not as accurate as I would like, I like Mausers, I like case coloring, and I like the .404 Jeffery. I just thought this rifle was cool.

I know the J. & L. Wilkins is a "made up" name to sound like an old British best guns maker, and I have read here on AR that some of these rifles were made by Trevor Proctor.

I'm no expert, but this appears to be an old military Mauser action, but how would the specific maker be determined? Were the single square bridge actions only made by Mauser Oberndorf?

Does anyone have any information on this type of rifle or Trevor Proctor (if he's the gunsmith)? Thanks.

That is a great looking rifle!

Trevor Proctor can be found here:

http://www.ttproctor.com

His work is very well thought of here in the U.K. He seems very accommodating, so why don't you just give him a call and ask him if it's one of his?

The gun certainly looks like a real cracker!

I have seen that one on Cabelas, I simply love it!

Beautiful rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by C.B. Bear:
Trevor Proctor can be found here:

http://www.ttproctor.com

His work is very well thought of here in the U.K. He seems very accommodating, so why don't you just give him a call and ask him if it's one of his?

The gun certainly looks like a real cracker!

Dropped him an email a while back; no answer yet. He has a rifle on his website and the lettering looks very similar to this rifle's.

Regardless of who put it together it is a nice looking rifle in a cool old cartridge and I can't wait to take it to Africa and use it on a buffalo. I just love Mausers.

I think that's the first I have seen both the bolt handle and bolt body color case hardened like that. Simply a beautiful rifle!

Joe

Guys Trevor is away right now over Christmas.

He did indeed do some of the stocking and barreling work for Chris Soysa the person behind the J&L Wilkins name, the work was done quite some time ago now as no guns under that name have been built for a while. Trevor did several or so .404 so it is quite possible the one pictured was his work, it appears to have one of the London Guns magazine boxes which was a type used by Trevor back in the 1980' to mid 1990's.

Bob Harvey was another maker in the English trade who did work for Chris under the Wilkins name, they turned out quite a few double rifles upto .700 both sidelock and boxlock.

Who ever made it it has great looking lines and should serve you well as both a great looker and a great calibre.

congratulations on your acquisition

Can't help you with your enquiry, but I'd drag my scrotum over hot coals to have that rifle.

PSmith

I am pretty sure I have handled that rifle and its near twin in 416 Rigby.

The 404 was definately the best feeling of the two.

That is one nice rifle, even if it only has one barrel.

Let us know how she shoots.

Congratulations on your fine rifle.
Will you have it set with a scope?
Any full pictures of the rifle?

quote:

ozhunter: Will you have it set with a scope?

Mr. Smith you have a lovely rifle.

That is a thing of beauty. I can certainly vouch for the 404 as I took mine to Zambia this year and took, among others, a nice buff and leopard.

Best of luck....you did good.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Wonderful rifle!

John

If the rifle was made by Trevor Proctor then you have a rifle of top quality and workmanship.
Trevor is one of the best.

Chris indeed did many of these rifles he was partnered with John Morgan of The Marksman Gunshop out of Glenview Ill. They also had the First 700 Nitro double rifle done before H&H finished theirs. One of the neatest guns they made was a double rifle in 22lr with a matching set of 410 barrels. All work was done in England and all the guns were sold thru the Marksman at least up until 1993 after that I don't have any first hand knowledge.
Michal J

I love the color casehardened action and bolt. Beautiful work!-Rob

Rob

The colour hardening and lacquering are by Ray St Ledger in the UK, he does the work for H&H, Purdey et all as this is his specialisation.

Chris Soysa has a US parnter for gun sales, from memory called Dick Correnti in California, they remain active in the main in importing from India double rifles left over from the days of Empire, bringing them back to the UK for refirbishment then for onward sale both here and in the US, Chris can often source quality doubles in any of the old N.E calibres.

As of date i do not beleive they are doing any new build doubles and certainly no more in .700, they did indeed build a neat little .22 LR double a while back.

The magazine rifles such as the one pictured were beautifully made and good looking. I spoke to Trevor last night and he beleives this one was one of his, the hardening done by St Ledger as above.

It was love at first sight for me. This is one of the nicest looking rifles I've ever seen and I feel privileged to (hopefully) be able to take it to Africa one day.

Fantastic case coloring.