*THE JIM CORBETT MAN-EATING TIGER RIFLE (MAN EATERS OF KUMAON) W. J. JEFFERY GRADE 2 BEST BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND ICONIC DOUBLE RIFLE EVER OFFERED FOR SALE!.

SN 20176. Cal. .450/400 3″ Jeffery Cordite. Best Quality cased boxlock ejector double rifle made by W.J. Jeffery and Co. London, ca. 1909. 24″ Krupp Gussstahl CHOPPER LUMP bbls, with dolls head extension, proved Cordite 55-400 Max. Bbls with concave engine turned quarter rib, sunken concave engine turned mid-rib and engine turned caterpillar ramp, with gold bead sight. Rear sight with one standing & four folding leaves from 100-500 yards with shallow Vs and platinum center lines. Front swing swivel mount soldered to bottom rib including orig 1″ swing swivel. Right bbl engraved “W.J. JEFFERY & Co LTD” and left bbl “13 KING STREET St JAMES’S St”. Breeches are engraved with 1/8″ border band & dolls head with flowing scroll engraving. The flowing scrollback top lever action has double underbolt & recess for dolls head extension and DOUBLE TRIGGERS. Breech face with disk-set strikers. “NON AUTOMATIC” top tang safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”. All action, top lever, trigger guard and grip cap surfaces are covered with bold Best Quality flowing scroll engraving. Left & right action bars are engraved with “WJ JEFFERY & Co Ltd LONDON” in flowing banners. Splinter forend is checkered with fine bordered flat top checkering. Forend iron & tip are engraved in matching flowing scrolls. Full pistol grip buttstock of fine grained relatively plain walnut, with engraved steel grip cap and checkered butt finished with Best Quality scroll, heel and toe plates that are engraved with matching bold scroll. A sling swivel & vacant silver oval are on the toe line. Forearm & buttstock are checkered with orig fine line flat topped multipoint checkering. The rifle is cased in its orig Best Quality beveled edge brass-cornered oak & leather case, and includes a rare & wonderful orig canvas & leather outer case cover. Interior is lined with red baise. Case lid includes the orig W.J. Jeffery trade label. Included in the case are several fired cases & loaded cartridges along with two rounds with rare soft nose split bullets and one round with rare L.T. capped bullet, all well-suited to tiger or leopard shooting. Also included are 3 5-rnd boxes Kynoch soft and 3 5-rnd boxes Kynoch solid Elmer Keith’s .450 x 3″ ammunition for this rifle. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. Numerous articles by Elmer Keith where this gun was mentioned, and in one he states: “I own the late Jim Corbett’s tiger rifle – the best quality, box lock .50-400, 3″ double rifle by W. J. Jeffery & Co – with which he killed so many man-eating tigers for the Indian government. He also used it in Africa. Brass cornered oak and leather case is in fine shape. Canvas cover for the case is in bad shape and the rifle shows more use and less abuse than any rifle I have ever seen. The metal is as bright as a silver dollar. The action in that good number 2 Jeffery is sound and tight as a rat trap. Engraving shows up even better on the bright steel. Only traces of the checkering are left. The stock ears are actually worn away from the frame, as is the butt of the stock from the engraved heel and toe plates. The bores are gray in the grooves from cordite and the lands are worn down about half way from the original, but there are no pits from neglect. With Corbett lying out in tree crotches and machans in the rain waiting for tigers, this rifle was exposed to all kinds of weather. Jim Corbett had no Hoppes no. 9 or Rices X-10 solvent, but I would bet he poured many gallons of hot water through these tubes. In spite of external wear, it is as effective and accurate a hunting rifle as when turned out by W. J. Jeffery & Co. I fired both barrels at a 6″ bull’s eye – at 80 yards- shooting from a car window. They landed 1” apart, one directly over the other, both cutting the center line of the target. Jim sold this rifle to a man in Vancouver and my friend George Neary got it from him. I swapped a perfect .350 Elliot caliber, Daniel Fraser double ejector for it. I would like to have known Jim Corbett. His book “Man Eaters of Kumaon” is a masterpiece on the Indian tiger and proves he knew more on the life and habits of that beast than any living man. I treasure his old rifle. You can judge a man by the condition of his rifle.” Copy of letter from Jim Corbett when selling his rifle to a Mr. Davis. Internet info on Jim Corbett’s rifles. Factory letter stating that Jeffery records were destroyed in WWII. Other correspondence regarding this rifle and its exhibition at Cabela’s in Boise, Idaho. Factory letter, Aug 1, 2012, with specifications for rifle no. 20176, and ledger page with the only note “This rifle belonged to Col. Jim Corbett”. “Ref G. Whittome”. Most recently the Corbett Rifle was the topic of a fine article in the Spring 2013 edition of the Double Gun Journal. CONDITION: Rifle remains in extraordinary untouched orig condition. While the overall rifle shows evidence of the countless miles & hours it was carried in Jim Corbett’s hands, it also demonstrates no abuse and the kind of loving care that Jim Corbett would have lavished on the one thing that regularly stood between him and death by the claws & teeth of man-eating cats. Two patches of light to moderate external pitting about 5″ back from each muzzle. Bbl blacking is worn to soft silver patina over most of their exposed surface with most of the orig blacking present under forearm. Sights are mostly soft silver patina on outer exposed surfaces with protected under surfaces & platinum lines with most of their orig blue finish. Receiver & furniture are worn to a soft silver patina with very slight traces of fire blue remaining on action bottom plate & trigger guard bow, and traces of case color where protected by action beads, trigger guard, and top lever. Heel & toe plates are also a similar soft silver. Engraving remains crisp & undamaged, and in a way, is set off and more beautiful without color hardening to conceal it. Significant orig case color remains on the protected forend iron inside forearm. Orig checkering shows considerable wear with a few dents & loss of border in places. Generally filled with old oil, grease and perhaps tiger blood. Wood is considerably below metal at interface with action, and at heel and toe plates. Action is slightly loose, bbls are somewhat off face, trigger pulls are fine & ejectors are in time. Moderate to significant flame cutting to breech faces (much more on the right than left) around the periphery of the rims (no doubt caused by ruptured cases). Bores are bright with some frosting in grooves. Right bbl shows some modest wear & light Cordite burn. Case interior remains in overall good condition with some wear & chafing to baize lining. Orig case label intact with a few small tears. There is a probably recent 3″ long splintered impact damage to front bevel & a similar much smaller 1″ impact to left bevel. Exterior of case clean & well preserved with a few minor scuffs; orig lid straps present & worn. Outer canvas mail case worn & tattered but still in one piece & functional with two of three straps & all buckles present. 4-47962 RJS134 (75,000-150,000) – Lot 1038

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1038	$264,500.00	THE JIM CORBETT MAN-EATING TIGER RIFLE (MAN EATERS OF KUMAON) W. J. JEFFERY GRADE 2 BEST BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND ICONIC DOUBLE RIFLE EVER OFFERED FOR SALE!. SN 20176. Cal. .450/400 3″ Jeffery Cordite. Best Quality cased boxlock ejector double rifle made by W.J. Jeffery and Co. London, ca. 1909. 24″ Krupp Gussstahl CHOPPER LUMP bbls, with dolls head extension, proved Cordite 55-400 Max. Bbls with concave engine turned quarter rib, sunken concave engine turned mid-rib and engine turned caterpillar ramp, with gold bead sight. Rear sight with one standing & four folding leaves from 100-500 yards with shallow Vs and platinum center lines. Front swing swivel mount soldered to bottom rib including orig 1″ swing swivel. Right bbl engraved “W.J. JEFFERY & Co LTD” and left bbl “13 KING STREET St JAMES’S St”. Breeches are engraved with 1/8″ border band & dolls head with flowing scroll engraving. The flowing scrollback top lever action has double underbolt & recess for dolls head extension and DOUBLE TRIGGERS. Breech face with disk-set strikers. “NON AUTOMATIC” top tang safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”. All action, top lever, trigger guard and grip cap surfaces are covered with bold Best Quality flowing scroll engraving. Left & right action bars are engraved with “WJ JEFFERY & Co Ltd LONDON” in flowing banners. Splinter forend is checkered with fine bordered flat top checkering. Forend iron & tip are engraved in matching flowing scrolls. Full pistol grip buttstock of fine grained relatively plain walnut, with engraved steel grip cap and checkered butt finished with Best Quality scroll, heel and toe plates that are engraved with matching bold scroll. A sling swivel & vacant silver oval are on the toe line. Forearm & buttstock are checkered with orig fine line flat topped multipoint checkering. The rifle is cased in its orig Best Quality beveled edge brass-cornered oak & leather case, and includes a rare & wonderful orig canvas & leather outer case cover. Interior is lined with red baise. Case lid includes the orig W.J. Jeffery trade label. Included in the case are several fired cases & loaded cartridges along with two rounds with rare soft nose split bullets and one round with rare L.T. capped bullet, all well-suited to tiger or leopard shooting. Also included are 3 5-rnd boxes Kynoch soft and 3 5-rnd boxes Kynoch solid Elmer Keith’s .450 x 3″ ammunition for this rifle. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. Numerous articles by Elmer Keith where this gun was mentioned, and in one he states: “I own the late Jim Corbett’s tiger rifle – the best quality, box lock .50-400, 3″ double rifle by W. J. Jeffery & Co – with which he killed so many man-eating tigers for the Indian government. He also used it in Africa. Brass cornered oak and leather case is in fine shape. Canvas cover for the case is in bad shape and the rifle shows more use and less abuse than any rifle I have ever seen. The metal is as bright as a silver dollar. The action in that good number 2 Jeffery is sound and tight as a rat trap. Engraving shows up even better on the bright steel. Only traces of the checkering are left. The stock ears are actually worn away from the frame, as is the butt of the stock from the engraved heel and toe plates. The bores are gray in the grooves from cordite and the lands are worn down about half way from the original, but there are no pits from neglect. With Corbett lying out in tree crotches and machans in the rain waiting for tigers, this rifle was exposed to all kinds of weather. Jim Corbett had no Hoppes no. 9 or Rices X-10 solvent, but I would bet he poured many gallons of hot water through these tubes. In spite of external wear, it is as effective and accurate a hunting rifle as when turned out by W. J. Jeffery & Co. I fired both barrels at a 6″ bull’s eye – at 80 yards- shooting from a car window. They landed 1” apart, one directly over the other, both cutting the center line of the target. Jim sold this rifle to a man in Vancouver and my friend George Neary got it from him. I swapped a perfect .350 Elliot caliber, Daniel Fraser double ejector for it. I would like to have known Jim Corbett. His book “Man Eaters of Kumaon” is a masterpiece on the Indian tiger and proves he knew more on the life and habits of that beast than any living man. I treasure his old rifle. You can judge a man by the condition of his rifle.” Copy of letter from Jim Corbett when selling his rifle to a Mr. Davis. Internet info on Jim Corbett’s rifles. Factory letter stating that Jeffery records were destroyed in WWII. Other correspondence regarding this rifle and its exhibition at Cabela’s in Boise, Idaho. Factory letter, Aug 1, 2012, with specifications for rifle no. 20176, and ledger page with the only note “This rifle belonged to Col. Jim Corbett”. “Ref G. Whittome”. Most recently the Corbett Rifle was the topic of a fine article in the Spring 2013 edition of the Double Gun Journal. CONDITION: Rifle remains in extraordinary untouched orig condition. While the overall rifle shows evidence of the countless miles & hours it was carried in Jim Corbett’s hands, it also demonstrates no abuse and the kind of loving care that Jim Corbett would have lavished on the one thing that regularly stood between him and death by the claws & teeth of man-eating cats. Two patches of light to moderate external pitting about 5″ back from each muzzle. Bbl blacking is worn to soft silver patina over most of their exposed surface with most of the orig blacking present under forearm. Sights are mostly soft silver patina on outer exposed surfaces with protected under surfaces & platinum lines with most of their orig blue finish. Receiver & furniture are worn to a soft silver patina with very slight traces of fire blue remaining on action bottom plate & trigger guard bow, and traces of case color where protected by action beads, trigger guard, and top lever. Heel & toe plates are also a similar soft silver. Engraving remains crisp & undamaged, and in a way, is set off and more beautiful without color hardening to conceal it. Significant orig case color remains on the protected forend iron inside forearm. Orig checkering shows considerable wear with a few dents & loss of border in places. Generally filled with old oil, grease and perhaps tiger blood. Wood is considerably below metal at interface with action, and at heel and toe plates. Action is slightly loose, bbls are somewhat off face, trigger pulls are fine & ejectors are in time. Moderate to significant flame cutting to breech faces (much more on the right than left) around the periphery of the rims (no doubt caused by ruptured cases). Bores are bright with some frosting in grooves. Right bbl shows some modest wear & light Cordite burn. Case interior remains in overall good condition with some wear & chafing to baize lining. Orig case label intact with a few small tears. There is a probably recent 3″ long splintered impact damage to front bevel & a similar much smaller 1″ impact to left bevel. Exterior of case clean & well preserved with a few minor scuffs; orig lid straps present & worn. Outer canvas mail case worn & tattered but still in one piece & functional with two of three straps & all buckles present. 4-47962 RJS134 (75,000-150,000) – Lot 1038 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*THE JIM CORBETT MAN-EATING TIGER RIFLE (MAN EATERS OF KUMAON) W. J. JEFFERY GRADE 2 BEST BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND ICONIC DOUBLE RIFLE EVER OFFERED FOR SALE!.