Make: Krieghoff
Model: Classic "Big Five" Double Rifle, Grade IV Engraving
Serial Number: 070812
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Caliber: .470 Nitro Express & .375 Holland & Holland Magnum
Action Type: Side by Side Double Rifle with Dual Triggers with Extractor
Barrel Length: 23 5/8", 60 Centimeters
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade that is inline dovetailed and pinned to a ramped base. The rear sight is a shallow "V" notch fixed express sight with a white line aiming reference with two square notch folding leafs. The rear sight is dovetailed into a quarter rib and has a set screw.
Weight: 10 lbs, 7 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut with a Schnabel tip semi-beavertail forend, pistol grip with a right side palm swell, cheekpiece, engraved grip inlay,and rubber buttpad. There are a few light marks from handling and storage. The checkering is strong. The LOP measures 14 1/8" and 13 1/4" from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttpad.The buttpad has light wear. The stocks rate in Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Coin & Blue with Gold Accents
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with sharp rifling. There are traces of copper fouling, but no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate a 9.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. The barrel and forend are serial matching. There are some scattered light handling marks. There is operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes a Krieghoff Americase with a .470 NE test target, case key, and .375 H&H barrel set. The .375 H&H barrel set has the same sighting and forend configuration as the .470 NE barrel set, as well as the same length. The .375 H&H forend and barrel are serial matched to each other and the entire set. The forend is in Excellent condition with light handling and storage marks and sharp checkering. The bores are bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate a 10 out of 10. The barrel set is in Excellent condition.
Our Assessment: The world famous German firearms maker Krieghoff began in 1886 with the single mission to build the ideal hunting gun, a Drilling. The evolution from its founding as Sempert and Krieghoff to one of the premier manufacturers of fine hunting and sporting arms currently spans 5 generations. Krieghoff continues to build and offer top of the line hunting arms, such as drillings, double rifles, and shotguns, many of which can be custom ordered with embellishments and engraving. With their incredible elegance and craftsmanship, these masterpieces of the gunmaking art fall into the same category as the highly coveted “best” English or Italian guns. Nothing calls for the skill and experience needed for a successful hunt like taking game with a classic double rifle. Prized by dangerous game hunters for years, the classic double rifle provides the firepower and reliability that’s necessary when each shot counts. The Krieghoff Classic “Big Five” Double Rifle combines the heritage of the traditional side-by-side with modern design and manufacturing technology, and incorporates a wide range of features that ensure smooth, quick, and accurate shooting. In addition to the superb handling of the rifle, an important feature is the manual cocking device, which is located on the top tang, in the position usually occupied by a conventional safety. It allows the hunter to carry the rifle fully loaded with the hammers uncocked – the safest position since there is no chance of an accidental discharge. This is more than a standard no-frills Classic “Big Five” Double Rifle, it’s Grade IV custom engraved with the “Big 5” game animals engraved in relief amidst beautiful relief scroll engraving on the custom sideplates, all of which is set off with gold border inlays, matching the gold bands on the chambers of all barrels. The left sideplate bears an African buffalo and a rhino, the right sideplate is engraved with a lion and a leopard, and the bottom is engraved with an elephant. There is a myriad of matching, magnificent relief scroll engraving on most of the metal parts around the action, and, befitting such an exquisite “objet d’art”, the engraving is signed on the bottom of the receiver at the front of the trigger guard with the name “Nann”, a well known and almost certainly factory employed Krieghoff engraver. The rifle comes with two serial matching barrel sets, one chambered for .470 Nitro Express and the other for .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. The bores are bright with sharp rifling, and the mechanics of this beauty are Safari ready. If you have the fortitude to chase the African “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo), then you are undoubtedly worthy of owning this stunning set.
RIFLE