Continued from Part I

http://forums.accuratereloadin...0101804/m/4161056321

After having imported the rifle from India, we had not used it for quite a few years as it needed some TLC. Finally sent it off to JJ at Champlin to completely restore it to as new a condition as possible. A few years later, it showed up last week and here is the result:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ar...niDg&feat=directlink

For those of you who know JJ, he has done a super job. You can click on the full screen option to see full screen images.

We decided to scope it with claw mounts, given that it's future will probably hold Cape buffalo and the like......the balance has not changed that much. One point worth mentioning is that the scope is a little bit high so a cheek pad will be used to compensate.

We look forward to the next chapter in our lives!

Here is a story from the past that comes to mind......

One dark cold winter night Limba, a gond tracker and a teenager (yours truly) set off to deal with some blue bulls that were raiding our crops! We set off on a Java motorcycle, the 375 in a sling strapped across the front of my chest and a flat box of 300 grain kynoch rounds in my jacket pocket. Limba had an old Everready 5 cell torch to provide the illumination...for the fireworks!

After a few miles ride on jungle tracks we reached the fields where herds of blue bull were said to be raiding the crops. The edge of the dense and dark teak jungle was about 200 yards away. Since it was a large open area we figured we would try and ride around slowly till we spotted a herd of animals and then get off the bike and stalk up to them! We had proceeded a few hundred yards bumping along on ploughed up fields, Limba sitting at the back doing his best to not fall off while sweeping the torch from side to side. Suddenly out of the darkeness infront of us a monster blue bull appeared out of a castor field in which he had been grazing and took off at the sound of the bike. His rocking gait was a great sight to behold and we immediately gave chase. The faster I chased him on the bike the faster he ran, he was gaining on us and the jungle edge was now not too far away. I quickly told Limba that he was to jump off the moment I stopped the motorbike.

In one motion (hey your quick when you are 16) I stopped the bike and we both jumped right off it, I unslung the rifle led the galloping blue bull and let fly in the light of the weak torch. While in full gallop the bullet from the right barrel hit the bull at the base of the neck killing the big animal instantly and he collapsed in a pile of dust.

"I would like to dedicate this little story in memory of Limba and the good times we shared. He was a simple Gond tribal who was born in a small thatched mud hut in a jungle clearing, grew up to be as strong as an ox and died before seeing his 30th birthday".

Absoloutly beautiful, I hope when I'm 75 someone puts me back togather like that.

I have always been a proponent of a good refinish when the time comes. A great old rifle "IHO" deserves good maintanence and the scope and claw mounts are a great upgrade and modernization that can be brought back to the original configuration with the pull of the claw release.

This rifle already has a history with someone from long ago. Now it's your turn to add to the history please post and if possible put into print the next generation of the adventurs of this great double. I commnd you by posting here in the way you have so far.

P.S. It is wonderfull the way this rifle has been handed down through the generations. Feel free at any time welcome to adopt me, That is if you don't mind 50 year old children still at home wanting to borrow the keys to the car and a box of .375 flangged.

A friend of mine who is a forester in Germany Hunts with many rifles but amoung them are a couple that were his Grandfathers, then his father who was also a forester before my frind got them. I had the privledge to hunt with two of my frinds Grandfathers guns and an honor it was.

My frind has two sons that I'm sure will be useing their great grandfathers guns.

Great stuff Reddygaru! The rifle looks good enough to hunt another 75 years.

The hunting story reminds me of the times in South India when we walked the hills at night...a different type of hunting but very exciting. Snakes, thorn bushes, mosquitoes, elephants in some areas.

Thank you for sharing the pictures and the story! JJ's work, as usual, is awesome.

I remember JJ working on this rifle...beautiful gun!!! Wonderful, that you restored it.
Please continue to post the stories of your childhood hunts...I enjoy them very much.
Thanks, ND

That's a fine rifle you have and a great history to go along with it. Must be very satisfying to hunt with such a treasured rifle.