Professional Hunters Double Rifles

[Africa is calling]

Without wishing to sound stupid ( which I am) how do some PH's manage to afford nice doubles which must cost many 10's of thousands. I don't know what a PH earns but can't guess it's that much ( $20-30k is my guess).

Are they just the wealthy chaps or treat it like an investment knowing a good double doesn't devalue much?

In Europe some well known hunters get free rifles from the likes of Blaser etc and wondered if it worked the same on the dark continent?

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

A thread some may be interested in reading as it is related to this topic: Professional Hunters - What rifle do you carry?: http://www.africahunting.com/threads/professional-hunters-what-rifle-do-you-carry.10664/.

 

[siml]

Two years ago, we could pick up a good double for less than 10k$ in Africa.

 

[Africa is calling]

www.jroberts-gunmakers.co.uk are a great source for doubles and safari rifles in the UK.

 

[siml]

Wasn't referring to the real high stakes ones.

 

[Africa is calling]

I understand , but even a used extractor Heym here is around 9000gbp.

Chapuis are good but don't seem available in over 9.3x74.

 

[stug]

You also have to remember that you can only sell it for what someone wants to pay.

 

[CAustin]

Africa is Calling,
I think you must consider that the rifle is what it takes for the PH to do his job! It's much like a mechanic and his tools or a trucker and his tractor! In order to make a living he must possess the tools of the trade.
I suspect many start out with a used bolt action and work their way up.

 

[Patrick R]

They are expensive, yes, and there are some PH's i know that ONLY have his rifle and cruiser on his name, nothing else...but this is what we do and like.

Double are always very nice weapons to look at, especially when clientele own one.

Perhaps PH's think doubles are the best to hunt with that is why they have one...I probably will never have one, but did shoot with them a lot - don't like them that much. I don't have gun bearers, I carry it myself and they are bloody heavy if you walk 30km's per day with them...and to put a sling on it, hell that doesn't look like it belong on the rifle...

If you have a double in SA, I can bet that his father bought it or still owes the bank money - obviously not all of us. I also know of Outfitters in SA that have been sponsored by rifle companies with doubles.

 

[TokkieM]

Picked up a Krieghoff 470 NE last year for around 6000$, was brand new.

 

[Africa is calling]

6000$ was a cracking purchase.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Merkel .500N.E - After deducting tax, I paid $4650 for it.

 

[Africa is calling]

They are expensive, yes, and there are some PH's i know that ONLY have his rifle and cruiser on his name, nothing else...but this is what we do and like.

Double are always very nice weapons to look at, especially when clientele own one.

Perhaps PH's think doubles are the best to hunt with that is why they have one...I probably will never have one, but did shoot with them a lot - don't like them that much. I don't have gun bearers, I carry it myself and they are bloody heavy if you walk 30km's per day with them...and to put a sling on it, hell that doesn't look like it belong on the rifle...

If you have a double in SA, I can bet that his father bought it or still owes the bank money - obviously not all of us. I also know of Outfitters in SA that have been sponsored by rifle companies with doubles.

Ok, interesting thanks. Yes my friends .470 is too heavy for my liking.

 

[Africa is calling]

Merkel .500N.E - After deducting tax, I paid $4650 for it.

I will get a quote today from my dealer and see what I get get the most basic Merkel or Heym ejector for. I would place money on it being over 12,000€.

 

[PeteG]

Merkel .500N.E - After deducting tax, I paid $4650 for it.

Wow! Thats a good deal.
Did it come with barrels for that price??
I was in the Safari and Outdoor in Pta on Monday and they are still selling Merkels and Heyms for reasonable rates... but not for $4,650!

 

[sierraone]

Picked up a Krieghoff 470 NE last year for around 6000$, was brand new.

Is that normal for Sweden, or did you just get lucky?

 

[TokkieM]

@sierraone not many folks this way that see the need for a Double in 470,so they tend to sit around a bit and prices are cut to the bone eventually. If I was to order a new one today it would be double the price. Does make one hell of a driven boar hunt gun

 

[cal pappas]

My comments would be that the PH's I have seen with vintage (read expensive) doubles are the older gents that had their rifles decades ago when they were relatively inexpensive. Young and new PH's without the income to afford a vintage double, begin with an inexpensive bolt rifle and then buy a European double they can afford (Kreighoff, Merkel, Chapuis, etc.) and may gradually work up to a nicer VC or Heym. I really don't see many vintage doubles in the field, but my experiences are limited. I gathered my opinion from personal hunts but mostly from hunt videos. Yes, it is difficult to take a vintage rifle to the field. I have taken my 1914 Wilkes .600 on two hunts in Australia, four in Africa, and it took a moose in Alaska last year. I worry more about theft and foreign problems and loss than I do damage whilst hunting. My Wilkes will come with me to Zim in July for elephant and then I will retire her and use Jack Lott's .500 Watson Brothers for a big game rifle.
Just my two cents.
Cal

 

[Bullhunter]

Jack Lott's .500 Watson Brothers for a big game rifle.
Oh, Cal...
This is a great one.
Can you post some more infos about this rifle?

 

[Art Lambart II]

I would hope that many of the double used by PH's are inherited. A well maintained quality firearm lasts for generations not just a lifetime.