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Spencer's double rifle from the 1923 TV Series

Last May I had the privilege of shooting my PH's 450 nitro express double rifle. One of my dreams is to shoot a cape buffalo with a double rifle up close. I'd love to own one but even cheap used ones are the price of a buffalo hunt. I think I'll adopt the same position for doubles I have for boats "rent only never own".
 
WildWill said:
Last May I had the privilege of shooting my PH's 450 nitro express double rifle. One of my dreams is to shoot a cape buffalo with a double rifle up close. I'd love to own one but even cheap used ones are the price of a buffalo hunt. I think I'll adopt the same position for doubles I have for boats "rent only never own".
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It's really fascinating how the double rifle, much like the straight pull, just never took a foothold in North America, whilst the lever gun never took a foothold across the pond
 
WildWill said:
Last May I had the privilege of shooting my PH's 450 nitro express double rifle. One of my dreams is to shoot a cape buffalo with a double rifle up close. I'd love to own one but even cheap used ones are the price of a buffalo hunt. I think I'll adopt the same position for doubles I have for boats "rent only never own".
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Well shit, i own a boat, so I probably need to own a double...
 
KingOfTagSoup said:
Also, while not always the most practical design, Double Rifles are the sexiest looking rifles mankind has ever produced. Change my mind 😂
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Idk they seem pretty damn practical if you’ve got a man eating lion or pissed elephant or buffalo coming at you through thick bush! You’re only gonna get those two shots off if your lucky lol The English might be bat s#it crazy now but they still make some sexy firearms!!!
 
The people that sold guns to the movie set, also provided leather and other accessories. Casey is a leather worker in Weatherford, Texas, and he made the leather case for Spencer’s rifle. He made 2 for the movie.

He and a couple other guys come here to Montana to buy guns and take back to Texas. I told him that they need to be more accurate in their selection of guns, because Harrison Ford shoots a 30-30 that has sights that weren’t put on model 94’s until 1932.

Casey told me they sell them stuff, but aren’t advisors to the show. Spencer was picked to play the part because of his look and not because he knows how to handle a gun. He looks awkward shooting his rifle, while Helen Mirren shoots a gun like she’s done it her whole life.

It is an interesting show, a bit slow at times, but much better than 1883…


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shrapnel said:
The people that sold guns to the movie set, also provided leather and other accessories. Casey is a leather worker in Weatherford, Texas, and he made the leather case for Spencer’s rifle. He made 2 for the movie.

He and a couple other guys come here to Montana to buy guns and take back to Texas. I told him that they need to be more accurate in their selection of guns, because Harrison Ford shoots a 30-30 that has sights that weren’t put on model 94’s until 1932.

Casey told me they sell them stuff, but aren’t advisors to the show. Spencer was picked to play the part because of his look and not because he knows how to handle a gun. He looks awkward shooting his rifle, while Helen Mirren shoots a gun like she’s done it her whole life.

It is an interesting show, a bit slow at times, but much better than 1883…


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I've noticed that too when Sklenar holds the double, even though he seems to be getting better at looking more natural when shooting bad guys. It's his aim that makes it appear he's not familiar with firearms IMO. He doesn't appear to be holding the rifle high enough to be looking closely down the barrel as one might expect with a rifle. He also hesitates a bit when specifying the .416 as a "Rigby" as would not be the case with someone familiar with the caliber. Perhaps Sheridan should have put the actors through a shooting school like he did with their skills in riding a horse and handling cattle.

Even my wife agrees that Helen Mirren appears more capable in those scenes where she takes on critters and men with a shotgun.
 
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Glad someone started this; I told my wife it was likely a .450 or a .404 Jeffrey, so I was wrong as revealed in the last episode.

My wife and I stopped by one of the last "real" Abercrombie and Fitch stores, in Dallas, when we were just kids, obv not buyers, but the guy was very nice about letting us handle the double rifles and shotguns, all very fancy.
 
I finally tuned in last night, didn’t bother to go back to previous episodes. Only a brief glimpse of the rifle last night, pretty dang sure it’s not a Rigby rifle. Kinda looks like a Sabatti but will continue to monitor the show see if I can figure out who’s rifle it is.
A current production Rigby rifle, box lock, can be had for the cost of $60,000 us.
 
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shrapnel said:
The people that sold guns to the movie set, also provided leather and other accessories. Casey is a leather worker in Weatherford, Texas, and he made the leather case for Spencer’s rifle. He made 2 for the movie.

He and a couple other guys come here to Montana to buy guns and take back to Texas. I told him that they need to be more accurate in their selection of guns, because Harrison Ford shoots a 30-30 that has sights that weren’t put on model 94’s until 1932.

Casey told me they sell them stuff, but aren’t advisors to the show. Spencer was picked to play the part because of his look and not because he knows how to handle a gun. He looks awkward shooting his rifle, while Helen Mirren shoots a gun like she’s done it her whole life.

It is an interesting show, a bit slow at times, but much better than 1883…


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Shrapnel, thanks for the info! I'm enjoying the heck out of 1923, from the first episode to their current problems. I like the way the story weaves several related threads together show after show. Ranch problems, native gal fleeing the school, the two newlyweds making their way halfway around the world to Montana... It's a pretty cool story. Every week they leave me hungry for the next episode.

I too was curious about the rifle - figured it might be a 470 NE or something, was surprised to hear him call it a 416.

Regards, Guy
 
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