Does anyone know for sure what Corbett carried for a double rifle in India? Both make and caliber would be appreciated.

Also, is the one of his that Elmer Keith ended up with the only one he used with any frequency in India?

Many thanks in advance.

I think we went down that road before, but I forget. Maybe a 450/400?

I'm anxiously waiting to hear again.

Elmer claimed that the double he owned a W. J. Jeffery 450/400 3" was Corbetts rifle. I don't know what proof he had of that. The rifle is currently on display at the Cabela's store in Boise as part of the Elmer Keith display there. I posted a picture of it here a couple of years ago.

465H&H

Wasn't Jim's double a Manton?

Elmer bought the rifle from George Neary who may have got it from Corbett himself.

Jims heavy rifle was a 450/400 double; his light rifle a 275 rigby, aka 7x57 mauser.

You are correct Indlovu!

I'm re-reading Maneaters after several years. I found a copy in a used book store on my last trip to visit the inlaws.
He mentions the .275 and .450-400 but at one point mentions a .450. I kind of wrote that off to some one accidently or unknowingly editing out the -400.
Don't think I'd want to hunt tiger with a 7x57...

I think Ray Atkinson owned that gun. A Jefferey .450/400 renamed sweet Thang!-Rob

Best books I've ever read. But I wouldn't take too much notice of what he calls the calibres, as he obviously wasn't a gun geek.
IE. He doesn't describe them much, and when he got his new bolt action and didn't get a shot off on a man-eater, his reason was he didn't know it had a two stage trigger.

In other words, he hadn't dryfired it let alone fired it as a trial. Apparently the makers sighted it in and that was taken to be enough.

I have read his books a million times. I am not sure he ever mentioned the origins of his 450/400, but I know he got at least one 275 Rigby from Manton's. That was the one with the double stage trigger.

The 450 rifle mentioned may have been a Martini he used early on, from his volunteer unit.

I wouldn't hunt DG either with a 7x57, but then again we are talking about a guy who could easily drop game uphill at 200 yard plus ranges, with his express sighted rifles. From his way of story telling, I doubt he exaggerated much either.

In reading all of his books, I noticed he makes mention of several guns he used over the years.

In French translation of "man eater of Muktesar" it is mentioned "the power of the heavy .500" bullet deflect the tiger....".
It is confirmed by a notice from the publisher:"mentioned caliber is in 1/1000 " so it means 13mm".

I remember him using a 450/400 and not the make... During the time there that is when all the rulers owned the 450/400's.. We now see those guns today...

Mike

I'm whisking thru them again out of curiosity.
He shot some goats with a Martini Henry, probably 577-450.

He mentions a clip loading 275.
Another place mentions going to Calcutta, Mansons shop, and getting a .275 by Westley Richards, new model, with two-stage trigger he was warned about but didn't understand. It also took a "clip" of 5 rounds.

The 450-400 was called a D.B. and had a noisy safety. I presume that means it was hammerless?
He states he never carries "cocked" but I'm sure he means he always has the safety on.
From this. "And now, for the first time in my life, I regretted my habit of carrying an uncocked rifle. The safety catch of my 450/400 makes a very distinct click when thrown off, and to make any sound now would (bring the tiger right on top of me.")

Also a .500 is mentioned, using modified cordite. What ever that means?

Here is a passage I'd forgoten about. "Having first cleaned and oiled my 450/400 rifle- a very efficient weapon, and a good and faithful friend of many years' standing."

Bless the man.

Jeff Wemmer owns the Keith 450/400 3 inch W. J. Jeffery double rifle.

Modified Cordite = "flat strip cordite" instead of the spaghetti sticks?
Jeffery was touting the newer cordite as giving higher velocity at no higher pressure, in their old catalog advertisong.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Jeff Wemmer owns the Keith 450/400 3 inch W. J. Jeffery double rifle.

When I visited Keith's home in the early 70's, he had two Jeffery 450/400 rifles.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Modified Cordite = "flat strip cordite" instead of the spaghetti sticks?
Jeffery was touting the newer cordite as giving higher velocity at no higher pressure, in their old catalog advertisong.

No. Modified isn't flat strip. Flat strip referred to Kynoch's Axite and Eley's Moddite. Jeffery was referring to Axite. All rifle Cordite was the same form - long extrusions cut to the length of the case. Cordite MD (MoDified), like flat strip, had a lower percentage of Nitroglycerine and a higher percentage of Nitrocellulose than the original Cordite Mk 1.

I know the reference to the .500 Modified Cordite, and don't believe that it was to flat strip or MD. I think he was referring to a .500 NFB, but it's impossible to be sure.
------------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

quote:

Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Modified Cordite = "flat strip cordite" instead of the spaghetti sticks?
Jeffery was touting the newer cordite as giving higher velocity at no higher pressure, in their old catalog advertisong.

No. Modified isn't flat strip. Flat strip referred to Kynoch's Axite and Eley's Moddite. Jeffery was referring to Axite. All rifle Cordite was the same form - long extrusions cut to the length of the case. Cordite MD (MoDified), like flat strip, had a lower percentage of Nitroglycerine and a higher percentage of Nitrocellulose than the original Cordite Mk 1.

I know the reference to the .500 Modified Cordite, and don't believe that it was to flat strip or MD. I think he was referring to a .500 NFB, but it's impossible to be sure.
------------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Ye Olde English Powder magazine Contents:
Cordite
Cordite MD
Axite
Moddite
Troglodite

Now, what are the relative burn rates.

Re the .500 express, states it was an under lever model.

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:
Best books I've ever read. But I wouldn't take too much notice of what he calls the calibres, as he obviously wasn't a gun geek.
IE. He doesn't describe them much, and when he got his new bolt action and didn't get a shot off on a man-eater, his reason was he didn't know it had a two stage trigger.

In other words, he hadn't dryfired it let alone fired it as a trial. Apparently the makers sighted it in and that was taken to be enough.

JAL,

Corbett was definitely a bit of an oddity in some respects.

I seem to recall that he also went to deal with a maneater on more than one instance with just a few of rounds and found himself short when he used them up without killing it...

Very brave man, but a bit strange in some respects; maybe a product of the time?

Regards,

Pete

Yes, just skimming thru his books again, I noticed as few as 3 for the .500, and 5 for the .275, and where he came across 3 tigres togeather, using up 5 shots. And running out of ammo a couple of other times. He said the 3rd. round for the .500 was a "spare".

quote:

When I visited Keith's home in the early 70's, he had two Jeffery 450/400 rifles.

465H&H

465

With your info I think I am beginning to figure out a few things. Did the two Jeffery rifles show a visible difference in use and wear? I too, remember seeing one at Elmer's place but it wasn't wore nearly as bad as some stories I have heard that Corbett's was. I am now starting to think maybe I wrongly assumed it was the one Corbett was reported to have owned at one time.

I would also like to thank all those who have added so helpfully to this thread. You folks are a tremendous source of info and I truly appreciate it.