I was watching King Solomon's Mine tonight and wondered what Stewart Granger's double was in the opening elephant scene???? It looked to be a 4 or 8 bore hammered double. Any thoughts or knowledge on this one?

Brett

One of the gun in that show belonged to William Holden and was given to the head of Warner Bros. studios and is now in the hands of his son who lives up in Sun Valley and I know him quite well...It is a Holland and Holland Royal in .470 N.E. and no hammers..I have fondled the gun on several ocassions..It is in as new condition and not for sale.

Good to see you back here Ray

I believe Grangers gun to be an 8 bore Holland. Omnivorous Bob's Thomas Bland 8 is purported to have been on the set of Solomons mines.

quote:

Originally posted by gatsby:
I believe Grangers gun to be an 8 bore Holland. Omnivorous Bob's Thomas Bland 8 is purported to have been on the set of Solomons mines.

Interesting! I'll have to ask Rob about that.

Brett

Stewart Granger owned a .465 H&H, an Italian friend bought it thirty years ago.

Hi,
You are talking about this rifle?




Martin

Thanks for posting those cool stills from the movie. I also noticed in this movie and at least one other Africa themed movie of the era that the safai hats appear to have 2 brims. Anyone know anything about that?

quote:

Originally posted by degoins:
I also noticed in this movie and at least one other Africa themed movie of the era that the safai hats appear to have 2 brims. Anyone know anything about that?

That kind of hat was called a "double terai." It featured a double thickness of felt, and was supposed to offer better protection from the equatorial sun.

Frankly, I have never understood that, since a heavier hat has always been a damn sight hotter on my head than a lighter one!

quote:

Originally posted by Martin Godio:
Hi,
You are talking about this rifle?

That's the one! What is it?

Brett

Considering the size of the bores, it looks like a 12 gauge. Hollywood rarely gets firearms facts or details correct in the movies or on tv.

I was hoping Omni Bob would chime in. his 8...err 7 bore rifle was once owed by Ray Meyer who worked for MGM. Ray bought sevreral rifles from the studio and hunted with them in Africa during the 50's. The story is there were several 8 bores used on the set of Solomons mines. Bobs 7 was used but none of the scenes dipicting it made it into the movie. A Holland 8 and an Army Navy were also used according to Ray. Ray shot many head of game with Rob's gun including elephant and a one shot stop on a charging rhino.

Gatsby, unfortunately I don't have much detail to add. I've got King Solomon's Mines on the desktop of my laptop and have watched it many times!

There's a 1999 copy of Sporting Classics that has a short two page article on the rifle and mentions the movie and Ray killing 6 elephants and 3 rhino with it, but they also got several things wrong, such as claiming it has an .835" bore (it is .875") and that a dram is the same as an ounce!

When I get some free time I'll get some pictures and make a post about the gun. It is hands down my favorite rifle!

Bob

Thanks Michael.

quote:

Originally posted by 375fan:
Considering the size of the bores, it looks like a 12 gauge. Hollywood rarely gets firearms facts or details correct in the movies or on tv.

I just saw the first ten minutes of the movie (fourth time because I have a 7-day rental). The German wearing the pith helmet - when he shoots his double rifle, recoil appears to be legitimate. The German with the unusual bolt action's recoil also appeared legitimate. Considering the movie was filmed in 1949 or 1950
for its 1950 release date, AND that at least one elephant was killed in this sequence, the likelihood the actors were firing live ammunition is not as absurd as it sounds. (I have a photograph of a stuntman preparing to shoot live ammunition from a Thompson submachine gun toward James Cagney in the 1930s Warner Brothers movie, "Public Enemy." See below!!). The only shots fired in the sequence that looked to be blanks were Stewart Granger's.

And while we're here, Richard Carlson and one of the Germans appear to be using similar/identical/the same bolt action rifle. It appears to have an under-barrel tubular magazine. Is this a sporterized 1871/84 Mauser or Lebel?

I may be getting my movies mixed up, but I think I remember reading somewhere that the elephant was killed in the opening scene, several cast members had their picture made, some setting on it, and then they went to lunch. When they returned, the elephant had taken off.

It was an 8 bore double. It was pictured on the cover of an American Rifleman magazine, I think in the 70's sometime. Use to have a copy of it, don't know if I still do. It had the studio name (MGM)? stamped on the locks.
There was also an article in a Guns And Ammo Annual where it showed a pic of a .577 WR that was his personal rifle he used while filming the movie THE LAST SAFARI. He is shown using it during the film on a couple of different occasions. I beleive the article said that he hunted several animals with it while filming the movie.
I may have some of the facts wrong, since it has been several years since I read either publication.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by degoins:
I also noticed in this movie and at least one other Africa themed movie of the era that the safai hats appear to have 2 brims. Anyone know anything about that?

That kind of hat was called a "double terai." It featured a double thickness of felt, and was supposed to offer better protection from the equatorial sun.

Frankly, I have never understood that, since a heavier hat has always been a damn sight hotter on my head than a lighter one!

It was not about heat. They thought at the time, mistakenly, that the suns rays would go through the felt to cook your noggin. The double felt was thought to have better protection. In reality, they probably caused more brain damage!

Micheal Kitchen's character in Out of Africa, Berkeley Cole, is wears one in the film.

Whatever that double is, it appears to have rifle sights, front and rear, when I zoomed in on it.

I don't think the ammo he is wearing on his jacket will fit. it looks like 375 H&H ammo. Maybe he had inserts.

Selous was said to have worn a double terrai hat. I tried to buy one a couple of years back, I couldn't find any makers. I spoke with one custom hatter who said that the material should traditionally be wild rabbit felt, which is still used by Akubra in Australia. The hat would be double crowned as well as brimmed.
The Brits were mad for sun protection.
I just wanted one to get my full Walter Mitty on.

quote:

The hat would be double crowned as well as brimmed.

Man, that would boil my pea brain in a hurry if I were to wear one around here....except for maybe in the dead of winter.....and then only in the mornings.

In addition to the double hat the Brits would also wear a spine protector made of similar material. All that in the African sun. Probably why the term "mad dogs and Englishmen" came about

jeeze!!! the term "heat stroke" springs to mid

Even Akubra's or the Aussie Army Slouch Hat (re bashed for bush use) are hot and both are made from Rabbit Fur. Though they are good for shading the face.

I have worn / wear a re bashed Aussie Army Slouch Hat but am starting to prefer the lighter material hats with Mesh around the head which let's a lot more air circulate.

Fashion that gives you heat stroke, no thanks.

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