Max:
While the picture is a bit vague, there is no doubt that the rifle is real and worth a good deal of money. From what can be seen in the pictures it is exactly right for its vintage. Congratulations.
There were less than a thousand Gibbs actions made, and yours is number 710. Curiously enough, number 709 is known to exist and is a Selous plated rifle like yours. One of the books I need is out on loan (to the aforementioned Mr. Mann) but when I chase it down I will be able to give you an approximate birth date.
The .465 Express is a product of Holland and Holland, made after the turn of the century. It was one of a number of chamberings introduced by the trade to circumvent the .450 caliber bans in India and the Sudan, and was in fact trade named the ".465 India". It is the .500 Express case necked down to .465. It is highly unlikely your rifle was originally chambered for this cartridge, but not out of the question that it was returned for rebarreling to this chambering. It is not impossible that it remained in stock and was rebarreled after 1905.
If you would like to have the bore measured and chamber cast, the rifle examined and get my genuine, don't try this at home, professional driver on a closed course, opinion of the rifle, I would gladly do this in exchange for the opportunity to view, measure and study the rifle. And take lots of pictures...
Please feel free to contact me at gfewless@tds.net or call at 262-534-5154. I probably won't be able to answer the phone during the day but evenings are good. Email is good anytime. <g>
Respectfully,
Glenn Fewless
Last edited by Glenn Fewless; 03/08/11 12:52 PM.
