by The movie Out of Africa featured Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The movie won to win seven Oscars including wins for Best Picture and Best Director in 1986.
The movie was based upon the book of the same name (#commission earned) by Isak Dinesen which was the pen name of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, The movie and the book are an account of her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya, her marriage of convenience with Baron Bror von Blixen-Fiencke, and her affair with dashing British aristocrat and professional hunter Denys Finch Hatton.
On December 9th, Rock Island Armory is auctioning a Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1905 redone by George Gibbs that has been attributed to Denys Finch Hatton. It comes with a case, ammunition, and, most importantly, documentation. It is in .256 Gibbs Magnum caliber. The pre-auction estimate is that the rifle will sell for between $15,000 and $25,000.
Here is how the rifle is rated by Rock Island Auctions:
Fine as used in the bush of Eastern Africa, with 60% plus of the blue finish remaining on the metal surfaces, a few areas showing spotting and mild oxidation, and mild overall handling evidence. The stock has been repaired with a professionally made plate creating a mechanical hold around a crack off the right side of the action. Otherwise the stock shows numerous mild dings and scratches, high edge wear, and overall sharp checkering. The case is very good. Much of the ammunition appears to still be factory sealed and the rest appears to be very good. The magazine box is slightly loose, otherwise mechanically fine. Rifles with stories like this one do not often come along, do not pass up the opportunity to own this historic rifle from one of the most famous hunter of the “Golden Age” of safari hunting in Africa!
Rock Island has put together a short video in which they discuss the provenance of the rifle, Denys Finch Hatton, etc.
If I were a very wealthy man which I’m not, I could see this rifle gracing my walnut paneled trophy room. As it is, a man can dream, can’t he?