So nothing under the tree yet in a long narrow box. Damn.



But wait, this can was empty last night...what has the garbage man delivered??





Looks like some old crappy thrift store luggage:



I guess this is the thrift store:



But lookee what's inside!









Kinda splinter-y and still with bright case colors:









Well, in all seriousness this is a W.J. Jeffery in .450 No. 2 NE made in 1906 for Lyon & Lyon. Both company's names are on barrel. It says "Made Expressly For" "Lyon & Lyon of Calcutta" and "W.J. Jeffery Makers" "13. King Street, St. James's St. London". There are three small capital L letters on the underside of the barrel, maybe that is Mr. Leonard's mark. No other serial numbers on the barrels other than the Jeffery number. Fellas, the bores on this rifle have to be seen to be believed, absolutely minty and perfect.

Personally, I think about the best way to mess up a nice rifle is to engrave animals on it, I much prefer the scrolls etc. But I have to say, I do like the old time tigers and gaur engraving on the English rifles. It just makes the rifle all the more nostalgic I guess. It's sort of like a really, really bad movie (Flash Gordon or Godzilla for example). It's so bad it's good.

So anyway, one day over the holidays when it isn't raining I'll shoot it and post a target. John LaSala at Safari Arms is loading me a regulation box of ammo, four rounds of five loads so we can see what the old devil likes. Sorry for the lousy photos, this rifle is really very nice in person and I am happy as a clam in a cesspool.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to All!

Paul,

I know who've been bad, so how does this happen. You are so into those Jeffery's now adays. The engraving kinda reminds me of Silka Henke from Merkel; always a caricature.

I agree with you about the game scene engraving of those days however. Today, the best engraving prefer game scene over rose & scroll. They can add things to cover up their mistakes.

Great rifle, and congrats. You always buy some class.

Paul, very very nice. Now you're set for that African hunt, for sure. There are a couple folks here (Retreever and 450 No 2 NE that I know of) that shoot the 450 #2 NE...probably a good source of load info. That's a BIG case, so a bit different to load smokeless for.

I think that Cal Pappas has one of those 450 #2's stuffed into his garbage can also.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
I think that Cal Pappas has one of those 450 #2's stuffed into his garbage can also.

Yep, I emailed Cal with questions about bullets and damned if he didn't call me from half way around the world to tell me all about his loads etc. for the No. 2. There's also a story in Dangerous Game Hunting about his No. 2 Lang and a big bear.

Anyway, thanks gents. I'll post a target if it isn't embarrassing. Maybe I'll shoot it at 10 yards and tell y'all it was at 50. Guess I will get a lump of coal on Wednesday if I do that though.

Mike Schwandt (that's where I traded all my "crown jewels" for this one) shot it at 35 yards and I think it was about 1" apart.

MAN! Old Santa knows how to get someone in the Christmas sprite!

....................................................................

Paul,
I was watching this on Schwandt's web site and Mjines talked me out of it... I am kicking myself now! Great grab! Merry Christmas!

Congrats, a ver nice Christmas present.

Give the man a cigar! Cigar sized cartridges! Nice!

quote:

Maybe I'll shoot it at 10 yards and tell y'all it was at 50.

Hey! Just how close to Todd Williams do you live? :-)

ENJOY IT WELL SIR!!! History in your hands, there's
nothin' like it! I love the long ammo it uses!

Paul:
What a treasure!
The garbage can was a nice touch and I think Shootaway began a great tradition here!
The no2 is the best looking nitro cartridge there is--perfectly balanced. You can use 350-grain Hornady bullets for inexpensive practice with the same powder charge--the 75% rule. 500-grain Hornadys for practice and 480-grain Woodleighs for hunting. You have my recommended powder charge but your rifle may vary it a bit.
Keep me (an all of us here) posed on your targets and load development. If you have the miles on your airline, feel free to fly up in May and join us for a double shoot. Stay at my place if you wish.
Before you do anything you must get your SSA certificate to legitimize any and all that you do and if you want to be accepted and taken seriously.
SSA = Shootaway's Stamp of Approval.
Cheers, and congratulations.
Cal

Wouldn't that be SSDA?

Shothiswads' Stamp of DIS- approval??

It is obviously a decent looking rifle but if you want the SSA you need to shoot it at 50 and video it so that we can see the bullets striking.
Dont post fake targets like Jines.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
It is obviously a decent looking rifle but if you want the SSA you need to shoot it at 50 and video it so that we can see the bullets striking.
Dont post fake targets like Jines.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
It is obviously a decent looking rifle but if you want the SSA you need to shoot it at 50 and video it so that we can see the bullets striking.
Dont post fake targets like Jines.

Remember what your 'smith said, Shootaway, decent looking, yes, but crap on the inside, are these pre war UK doubles.

George: are you interested in joining us all here in AK for our May double rifle shoot? It would be an honor for me (and I'm confident I speak for the others) to have you examine and evaluate my (our) old doubles.
Cal

Cal, Do you want him to try out the "special" proof loads?

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Paul,
I was watching this on Schwandt's web site and Mjines talked me out of it... I am kicking myself now! Great grab! Merry Christmas!

Paul, I told you that Russell would take the bait hook, line and sinker. Lawyers have been snookering bankers for decades. Send the $100 to my home address.

Congrats. Looks like a beauty. Will be looking for a range report.

[P.S. PM me and I will tell you how to print up some of those show targets. The trick is to hold the barrels close, but not so close as to leave powder burns.]

Paul

Very Nice! And I am sure you'll enjoy the 450.

Congrats

Brett

That's one nice looking rifle. Congrats. However, since you opened it before Christmas, you should send it to me.........

Paul that is a great looking double and a great themed post.

Merry Christmas and happy shooting/hunting.

Best wishes, Chris

Congratulations on a wonderful rifle!

Saawwseeeettttt rifle. Merry Christmas.

quote:

Paul, I told you that Russell would take the bait hook, line and sinker. Lawyers have been snookering bankers for decades. Send the $100 to my home address.

Should have known better than to trust a lawyer.... ROFL!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

Maybe I'll shoot it at 10 yards and tell y'all it was at 50.

Hey! Just how close to Todd Williams do you live? :-)

Hey now Justin! Stop giving out my secrets.

That's just freaken cool...

For Cal...
Being that this gun was "Made Expressly For" Lyon & Lyon of Calcutta is the shooting public still seeing doubles made for and regulated for the tropics?
PSmith congrats on what you found under the tree..... is the case original to the gun? It would be fun to find out who C.J.S.T. was. A friend bought a lovely H&H dominion grade 16b with original oak and leather case with a name embossed on the out side and was able to find and trace the owners military career and some of his hunting exploits.
All the best

Zephyr:
Tropical loads are most common in the .450-400. This and any cartridge regulated and/or proved for a reduced charge will state so on the barrel flats. A quick look will show if it made for the standard load or (usually) 5 grains less. Same bullet weight, though.
My (former) Lyon .470 was made for the standard .470 charge.
While there are a lot of generalizations in the Rifle and shotguns from the UK, there are also a lot of exceptions--nothing is carved in stone.
Cheers,
Cal

Very nice rifle in a great caliber.

Enjoy it!

Proofed for 80 cordite 480 grains fellas.

One of the three rifles I traded for this was a Holland & Holland .375 H&H and its case had T E T Upton on it. I was able to find out a great deal about him.

This Jeffery is also in the original case and I will try to find out who the owner is. But with no last name it might be tough. Cal did look at the WJJ records for me but there is no information. I guess the place to look would be the Lyon & Lyon records since it was probably bought in Calcutta.

I bet this old rifle has had an interesting time between Birmingham England in 1906 and Birmingham Alabama in 2013.

Damn! I need to find a new Santa Klaus.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
Mike Schwandt (that's where I traded all my "crown jewels" for this one)

I was guessing that was the one he had for sale! Congratulations!

Brett

Paul:
Since the case has four initials on it you can narrow it down some. Do this: see if the military museum in Scotland has an internet searchable database. (If not, write to them). If the owner was in the UK military his bio is with this museum. I have found much info on my doubles and their owners suing the museum.

Secondly, use the data base of the Mormon Church. They have genealogical records on just about everyone. With two initials you'd be sunk before you started, but with 4 you have a good chance.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
It is obviously a decent looking rifle but if you want the SSA you need to shoot it at 50 and video it so that we can see the bullets striking.
Dont post fake targets like Jines.

Remember what your 'smith said, Shootaway, decent looking, yes, but crap on the inside, are these pre war UK doubles.

George: are you interested in joining us all here in AK for our May double rifle shoot? It would be an honor for me (and I'm confident I speak for the others) to have you examine and evaluate my (our) old doubles.
Cal

I am saving for Africa and I am going to SCI.
I dont know how I will feel in May but right now I feel tired as hell.
Rough road ahead-so dont know what is to become.
There are many things I would like to do but I have no control of things.

Nice Christmas-trash-can present.
Thanks for sharing .

Merry Christmas and Happy new year.

J.

WOW!!!! Awesome!!! Congrats!!!