Pre-war WJ Jeffery 404 Magazine Rifle

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Great looking piece of history. Congratulations on the find.

+1














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[Dewald]

OK. So I don't hijack my own thread on this very fine 404, I have posted up the 470 NE in the Double Rifle section:
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...-rigby-rising-bite-470-ne-double-rifle.51775/

Thanks for all of the nice comments and any historic information additions guys. It is good for all of us to learn more and enjoy the history and pictures.

You Sir, have impeccable taste when it comes to fine firearms! Congratulations on acquiring these two lovely weapons.

 

[spike.t]

Thanks guys. I have been on a bit of a "Big Bore Bender" for the last 18 months or so. I just decided to post a few pics up to share as you don't see a ton of these posted up very often. There have been some interesting things surface in the last year I am have been fortunate to be able to pick up some of them.

On the rifle for the next Buffalo, it is hard to say. The 404 would work great but I also have a 416 Rigby that I am fond of. If I was using a double; I would probably grab another vintage rifle I picked up during this "bender" I have been on. It is a historic and vintage (1905) Rigby Rising Bite in 470 NE that was owned by a famed British Explorer named WP Thesiger. It is also slim and trim and feels absolutely tremendous in your hands and at the shoulder. I will try to get some pics of it up in the Double Rifle section if I can.

Thesiger wrote a few books if you are interested in that sort of thing. I know someone who was trying to acquire his 275 rigby and i had a look at the rifle at that time, but not sure if he managed to. I have his book the danakil diaries...

https://googleweblight.com/i?u=https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/wilfred-thesiger/215096/&hl=en-ZM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Thesigerr

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/gentleman-thrillseeker-how-wilfred-thesiger-blazed-a-trail-across-africa-and-arabia-1965597.html?amp

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Beautiful rifle in my favorite caliber.
Classic in every inch.

 

[CAustin]

Not near as pretty as vette's.


Jeffery Ledger Information:

W.J.Jeffery

Caliber .404 Jeffery
Hair trigger
Mauser action
Horn cap
24" Krupp barrel
Sights from 100 to 500 yards (spring leaves)
Pistol grip with trap in heel
Scroll engraving
Sling eyes
Date of manufacture (completion) 18th June, 1907
Cost to manufacture ï½£13-11-0 (thirteen pounds and eleven shillings)
Selling price ï½£25-0-0 (twenty five pounds)

Beautiful rifle!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If you started a museum I would pay to see it. Lovely rifles!!

 

[enysse]

Congrats, the wood on the rifle is stunning!

 

[Tony Landino]

Wanna sell?

 

[spike.t]

Wanna sell?

You check the date 2019....

 

[vette447]

Yes, that one has found a new owner as I have found a little nicer one and “upgraded”. Unfortunately you can’t keep them all.

I do have another prewar Jeffery 404 for sale right now but it is not as collectible as the one in this thread.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Yes, that one has found a new owner as I have found a little nicer one and “upgraded”. Unfortunately you can’t keep them all.

I do have another prewar Jeffery 404 for sale right now but it is not as collectible as the one in this thread.

Thanks for posting the image of the case. I'm about to build a case for my 404 and looking for design ideas. This rifle didn't appear to have original sight hood? Seemed too long for the ramp.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Thank you. I understand that finding one built on a magnum square bridge action is fairly rare.

Curious about the thumb cutout on a magnum action. Was that normal? Also, it appears there is remnants of stripper clip port underneath the bridge. Did Mauser/Jeffery make thumper calibers in magnum length actions that could be fed with stripper clips?

 

[Jack Stevens]

Yes, that one has found a new owner as I have found a little nicer one and “upgraded”. Unfortunately you can’t keep them all.
I do have another prewar Jeffery 404 for sale right now but it is not as collectible as the one in this thread.

Here or on one of the auction sites? …. Link to ad?

 

[Wheels]

vette47 is a good guy and easy to work with. He also has some sweet firearms.

 

[BonUm16]

You check the date 2019....

Don’t know if that’s some kid, a drunk, mental issues or what but they/them is constantly digging up clearly marked as “sold” .404 ads and asking if they are still available. I seem to recall a clearly marked sold MRC 1999 .404 that they/them drug up 3 or 4 separate times to ask if it was still available. When someone (krish?) did offer a .404 that he had but wasn’t listed, they/them found every excuse not to buy it. Sumpthin’ queer going on there….

 

[vette447]

I agree that the sight hood was 100% replacement on that one. I always wondered if the sights weren’t replacement as well but likely done by Jeffery during a refurb in prewar times. It came out of a collection from a gentleman that had passed away and was sourced for me by a friend in the UK. I then imported it. Thus, any work that was done to it was done in England.

The thumb cutout and appearance of remnant of guides is correct and matches my other magnum square bridge action prewar Jeffery 404 and 333.

The one I have for sale now is listed on GI. I am not sure if I am allowed to post a link but it isn’t hard to find. As I said, it is not as collectible but also not nearly as expensive/valuable.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I agree that the sight hood was 100% replacement on that one. I always wondered if the sights weren’t replacement as well but likely done by Jeffery during a refurb in prewar times. It came out of a collection from a gentleman that had passed away and was sourced for me by a friend in the UK. I then imported it. Thus, any work that was done to it was done in England.

The thumb cutout and appearance of remnant of guides is correct and matches my other magnum square bridge action prewar Jeffery 404 and 333.

The one I have for sale now is listed on GI. I am not sure if I am allowed to post a link but it isn’t hard to find. As I said, it is not as collectible but also not nearly as expensive/valuable.

Interesting. I'm thinking for the early magnum actions maybe Mauser just added some metal to front of locking ring, stretched the loading/ejection port forward a bit, and lengthened the bolt. Minimum of retooling from standard action needed that way.

 

[towserthemouser]

Thanks guys. I have been on a bit of a "Big Bore Bender" for the last 18 months or so. I just decided to post a few pics up to share as you don't see a ton of these posted up very often. There have been some interesting things surface in the last year I am have been fortunate to be able to pick up some of them.

On the rifle for the next Buffalo, it is hard to say. The 404 would work great but I also have a 416 Rigby that I am fond of. If I was using a double; I would probably grab another vintage rifle I picked up during this "bender" I have been on. It is a historic and vintage (1905) Rigby Rising Bite in 470 NE that was owned by a famed British Explorer named WP Thesiger. It is also slim and trim and feels absolutely tremendous in your hands and at the shoulder. I will try to get some pics of it up in the Double Rifle section if I can.

Congratulations @vette447 on a stunning Jeffery! My vote would be to take the Rising Bite and the Jeffery both..... ask a tracker to carry one and you carry the other. Use whichever one seems best suited to the shot opportunity you are presented in the moment......

Then give your gunbearer a nice tip.

Can't lose that way.

Do you plan to use iron sights for both of these?

P.S. - no need to climb back on the wagon from your bender, you're on a heater!

 

[PCC600]

I agree that the sight hood was 100% replacement on that one. I always wondered if the sights weren’t replacement as well but likely done by Jeffery during a refurb in prewar times. It came out of a collection from a gentleman that had passed away and was sourced for me by a friend in the UK. I then imported it. Thus, any work that was done to it was done in England.

The thumb cutout and appearance of remnant of guides is correct and matches my other magnum square bridge action prewar Jeffery 404 and 333.

The one I have for sale now is listed on GI. I am not sure if I am allowed to post a link but it isn’t hard to find. As I said, it is not as collectible but also not nearly as expensive/valuable.

I am rather late to this thread . The Jefferey 404 in your 2019 photos is glorious and with a matching case to boot . I have an original 1925 Mauser Type A magnum . It has the thumb cut out and stripper clip guides which appear to be operational . I think the Jeffery were simply the Type A refinished and rebranded . I have used stripper clips on my 425 & 318 WRs and everything looks to be there on the 404. Here are a few photos of the action.

 

[vette447]

PCC, that is a dandy Type A. I am big time jealous of that one. Thank you for sharing