W.J. JEFFERY & Co .475 No.2 Double Rifle

JEFFERY

Rifles

Category : C

Caliber : .475 No.2 3½" NE

 

Mythical "Big Bore" express rifle made circa 1909 by H. Leonard in Birmingham for W.J. JEFFERY & Co.

Built on a strong Webley Anson & Deeley boxlock action this ejector double rifle is fitted with a pair of Krupp steel 24" chopper-lump barrels caliber .475 No.2 3½" NE.

This scoop-back treble-grip action uses Purdey double sliding bolts with doll's head rib extension.

The raised matted quarter rib supports a wide V rear sight followed by four folding platinum lined express sights marked for 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, the whole set regulated on a strong front bead under sliding protector.

The tubes are engraved "W.J. Jeffery & Co. 13 King Street. St. James's St. London." as the maker closed the King Street premises in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI and moved to a smaller shop at Bury Street.

The action, which retains a large part of color case hardening, is engraved in India style with animal vignettes bordered by large acanthus scrolls.

The A & D mechanism uses two triggers and the safety, the position of which is marked with a gold inlaid SAFE, is not automatic, as is appropriate on such a dangerous game gun.

The firing pins are bushed with retaining setscrews and don't show any cratering.

The stock, made of excellent French walnut (Juglans Regia), is perfectly sound, with no signs of cracks or defects.

The length of pull has been extended to 15¼" by the addition of a 5/8" Bakelite extension between the wood and the 1" Silver's red rubber butt pad.

The grip is black horn capped, the splinter forend bears an Anson release button while the checkering is remarkably preserved and lively for a working rifle more than a century old.

On this well-balanced double rifle, despite a weight of 11.7lb, the barrels bores are remarkably preserved, the action is tight on the face and the ejectors are in time

Excellent convergence is ensured at 65 yards.

 

This JEFFERY presents the epitome of the African big bore express gun, inseparable from the stories of John Hunter and other heroes of the gone era of early 20th century great safaris.

 

*The .475 No.2 Nitro Express cartridge is still produced by KYNAMCO LIMITED under the KYNOCH brand, loaded with a 500 grain Woodleigh bullet* CIP