STERLING DAVENPORTS LAST RIFLE, A 500 JEFFREY BUILT FOR PROF. HUNTER MICHAEL FELL

STERLING DAVENPORTS LAST RIFLE, A 500 JEFFREY BUILT FOR PROF. HUNTER MICHAEL FELL

25-6377 | Cal. 500 Jeffrey. | S# 9306.

Sterling Davenport began making custom rifles in the late 70’s while working for Harry Lawson. He then built a number of rifles for Rigby after Paul Roberts saw his work at SCI. It is said that he made fewer than 50 rifles marked with his name. This good handling big bore has 21″ round barrel fitted with elongated island base for one standing one folding leaf express rear sight, sleeved on sling eye and NECG banded on front ramp with sight protector holding silver bead. Barrel is ported either side of the ramp. Top of barrel is marked “Sterling Davenport Tucson AZ”. Model 98 Mauser large ring standard length action has bolt handle turned down and new bolt shroud installed incorporating M70 type safety. Bolt body is engine turned. Top of action is drilled and tapped for scope. A commercial trigger is installed. Custom bottom metal made for single stack loading has deep hinged floorplate retained by button in trigger guard bow. Classically shaped trap steel capped pistol grip stock measures 14-5/8″ over Silver type pad and features shadow line right hand cheekpiece, closely space borderless point pattern checkering that wraps over grip and around bottom of forend. Stock is also fitted with two recoil bolts and a horn forend tip. The area on right side of stock that surrounds notch for bolt handle is also shadow line carved. An oval silver plaque on right side of butt is engraved “.500 JEFFREY” “MADE FOR” “PROFESSIONAL HUNTER” “MICHAEL FELL” “RIFLE BY” “STERLING DAVENPORT” “TUCSON, AZ” “STERLING’S LAST RIFLE”. Michael Fell is a well known hunter, naturalist and photographer based in Kenya who was wounded by a charging Cape Buffalo in 2022 and lived to tell about it. PROVENANCE: From the Buckstix Collection. STATUS: MODERN