W.J.JEFFERY & CO. Hand Crafted Big Game Rifles

[geoff rath]

@geoff rath
If you want a does of jealousy mate a friend who will remain nameless bid on a left handed 404J Weatherby MKV because no one else had bid.
He got it for 1,600 dollars.
Yes you did read the price correctly.
Bob

I wuz born a "southpaw" but circumstances, and the scarcity of proper tools to suit has force me to be ambivalent... errr ... ambidextrous

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I wuz born a "southpaw" but circumstances, and the scarcity of proper tools to suit has force me to be ambivalent... errr ... ambidextrous

@geoff rath
I to was born left handed but I'm right eye dominant so I have to shoot rifle right handed, shotgun used to be either side but now mainly RH, hard gun left handed.
Confuses the shit out of people when you say your left handed then shoot right hand.
Bob

 

[Daniel Cary]

I like that there's not a million options/layers. Rigby never did return my request to "See" their London's Best 500 Jeffery that was @ DSC, or a "quote", after forwarding my correspondence, address, etc.

They do appear a little different: The Last W. J. .Jeffery .500 Built

 

[Green Chile]

I like the 500j except for the mag release as mentioned previously. I was curious on the price...starts at £52,000.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I like the 500j except for the mag release as mentioned previously. I was curious on the price...starts at £52,000.

@Green Chile
A real bargain compared to a H&H Royal Double. Ten years ago you could get on for a measly £250,000.
Bob

 

[FlowHamed18]

Well, I am really sorry to say that, but those beautiful rifles - and yes they look gorgeous - are very expensive for their manufacturing parts.

AFAIK they are using FZH actions and Walther barrels, which is a very high (maybe the highest) standard for building rifles, that's true.

But those parts aren't worth 50.000 £ or € or $... even with a high grade piece of wood...

I adore the .404 Jeffery, but that's just too expensive for what you get from a "technical" point of view...

 

[BeeMaa]

Well, I am really sorry to say that, but those beautiful rifles - and yes they look gorgeous - are very expensive for their manufacturing parts.

AFAIK they are using FZH actions and Walther barrels, which is a very high (maybe the highest) standard for building rifles, that's true.

But those parts aren't worth 50.000 £ or € or $... even with a high grade piece of wood...

I adore the .404 Jeffery, but that's just too expensive for what you get from a "technical" point of view...

At the same time one could argue that a Ferrari is just a car. But the fact is that it’s more and it appeals to a certain person.

Jeffery isn’t looking to sell the same numbers as Winchester, but the buyers of the Jeffery will appreciate the extra touches, even if it’s just the name on the barrel and their name in the books.

Everyone has their own preferences. IMO - don’t own anything you aren’t willing to possibly damage in the process of using. Rifles, shotguns, cars…etc. To me they are all tools to do a job regardless of the price.

 

[FlowHamed18]

At the same time one could argue that a Ferrari is just a car. But the fact is that it’s more and it appeals to a certain person.

Yes, you are absolutely right.
I wouldn't buy a Ferrai too, if I would need a fast car.

Those rifles are beautiful and of course they have a nostalgic touch, which is great.

All the best to their owners!

 

[Daniel Cary]

I'll attest, W. J. Jeffery. does return any enquires asap!

 

[Daniel Cary]

I just saw a used J. Smithson sell for almost close to a W. J.
There was a Paul Roberts .500 , built in the 80's with the "Jeffery Name" Sold $50K .. a member here explained it was Not a W. J. & provided closeups of really shotty workmanship.

 

[Green Chile]

Love my Sterling Davenport 500J...as close as I have gotten to having a Rigby since he worked for them.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Love the look of these rifles. But I must be a bottom feeder - my 404 Jeffery (custom made by Reto Beuhler to my measurements) cost just under one third the price of the Jeffery 404J on their website.

I know, 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'!

 

[Daniel Cary]

Love my Sterling Davenport 500J...as close as I have gotten to having a Rigby since he worked for them.

That's as good as it gets, .. I think you posted a photo of it before .. ?

 

[BeeMaa]

Love the look of these rifles. But I must be a bottom feeder - my 404 Jeffery (custom made by Reto Beuhler to my measurements) cost just under one third the price of the Jeffery 404J on their website.

I know, 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'!

Bottom feeder 'ehh? I've seen your 404J...hardly bottom of the barrel my friend, but nice try.

 

[John Telford]

I would say that due the scarcity of originals in .500 that WJ are well within the market value for a new one made with modern steel.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Every time I'm on this page, I'm constantly surrounded by ..

 

[geoff rath]

@geoff rath
I to was born left handed but I'm right eye dominant so I have to shoot rifle right handed, shotgun used to be either side but now mainly RH, hard gun left handed.
Confuses the shit out of people when you say your left handed then shoot right hand.
Bob

Used to be fun, playing squash; folks would back me up into the "backhand" corner, then I'd change hands

 

[RETD16]

I wuz born a "southpaw" but circumstances, and the scarcity of proper tools to suit has force me to be ambivalent... errr ... ambidextrous

Right there with you!!!

 

[Tam Dl]

The argument that these guns should cost a lot because nobody wants them, is one way to go. It would not have been the argument in an earlier time. To get the precision at one time required a lot of hand work. Today it does not. At one time there were trade secrets, today there are not. At one time there was poor access to decent quality ammunition, and proprietary cartridges, today anyone can make a Rigby chambering. Even the cost is not all that exclusive, when a best quality rifle costs what a pickup truck does.

Wood is always a bit of a diddle. I used to make a few guitars for fun, and could get an extra flat 500 dollars for simple, plain rosewood, that in 2000 cost me 40 dollars for back and sides. I would loose that upcharge in maple, which cost me over 100, to start. Exotic woods sell, but how exotic they really are is another mater.

 

[W.J.JEFFERY & CO.]

Thank you for all the encouraging comments. We are building the rifles as 'Best' rifles and the price reflects the hours that are put in by the craftsmen to achieve this standard.