doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Holts July 2023

Eights can be imported easily, four bores can only be imported if they are antique. The ATF does not recognize any sporting purpose for the four bore, they have no authority over the importation of antiques.

I think fours ought to be imported as religious artifacts. I for one, would say a few prayers before pulling the trigger, and perhaps a Hail Mary or mutter a Sweet Jesus afterwards. Perhaps you could get around the bore size if it identifies as a slug gun instead of a shot gun. One of the famous ivory hunters used a four and his main complaint was it gave him nose bleed every time he shot it. Recoil for that cannon was brutal. But that was a single shot not a double.

I believe that KY Jon may be thinking of Sir Samuel Baker. However, his 4 Bore rifle was a double. He also on occasion used a 2 bore single shot that he called "Baby". Here is what he had to say about his "Baby":

"Among other weapons, I had an extraordinary rifle that carried a half-pound percussion shell—this instrument of torture to the hunter was not sufficiently heavy for the weight of the projectile; it only weighed twenty pounds: thus, with a charge of ten drachms [270 grains] of powder, behind a half-pound shell, the recoil was so terrific, that I spun around like a weathercock in a hurricane. I really dreaded my own rifle, although I had been accustomed to heavy charges of powder, and severe recoil for some years. None of my men could fire it, and it was looked upon with a species of awe, and it was named "Jenna-El-Mootfah" (Child of a Cannon) by the Arabs, which being far too long a name for practice, I christened it the "Baby;" and the scream of this "Baby" loaded with a half-pound shell was always fatal. It was far too severe, and I very seldom fired it, but it is a curious fact, that I never fired a shot with that rifle without bagging: the entire practice, during several years, was confined to about twenty shots. I was afraid to use it; but now and then it was absolutely necessary that it should be cleaned, after months of staying loaded. On such occasions my men had the gratification of firing it, and the explosion was always accompanied by two men falling on their backs (one having propped up the shooter), and the "Baby" flying some yards behind them. This rifle was made by Holland & Holland, of Bond Street, and I could highly recommend it for the Goliath of Gath, but not for the men of A.D. 1866."
— Sir Samuel White Baker-- The Albert N’Yanza, Great Basin Of The Nile, 1866 pp.138

It's a safe bet that Sir Samuel Baker would not suffer from computer mouse dystopia (flinching while clicking a mouse).

I see that the 4 bore is available in Holt's after action sale.
Will be interesting to see if it sells.

Someone bid £12000...

On average, what does it cost to have a gun shipped from the auction to The US? Thanks.