Frederick Courteney Selous (1851-1917).
Our own Dave Allen has scouted up a most enticing tribute to one of the greatest of the Frontier Partisans.
As those who frequent this campfire know, I am deeply enamored of Frederick Courteney Selous. The great hunter was, in many ways the archetype and ideal of the Frontier Partisan, playing a role similar to that of Daniel Boone in Kentucky, only more than a century on and a world away. A legendary long hunter in southern Africa, he scouted the road for the Pioneer Column entering what would become Rhodesia, and fought in her wars with the Ndebele (Matabele).
At the venerable (and unusually robust) age of 64 he served the British Empire with distinction in Africa during the First World War and met his death in battle.
Theodore Roosevelt eulogized him in words that describe the epitome of the Frontier Partisan spirit:
“He led a singularly adventurous and fascinating life, with just the right alternations between the wilderness and civilization. He helped spread the borders of his people’s land. He added much to the sum of human knowledge and interest. He closed his life exactly as such a life ought to be closed, by dying in battle for his country while rendering her valiant and effective service. Who could wish a better life or a better death, or desire to leave a more honourable heritage to his family and his nation?”
I’ve written of the auction of his walking stick and of his zither-playing, and profiled him in Warriors of the Wildlands.
Now, lookit this beauty that Dave found…
Uberti, an Italian maker of quality historical reproduction firearms of the Old West has released its 1885 Courteney Stalking Rifle. Waugh!
By the 1890s, the West had been all but civilized, bringing to an end the days of lawlessness, exploration and Indian fighting. On the other side of the world, however, another era of exciting adventure had begun: big-game hunting and exploration. Not unlike the Easterners who had settled the West, many British hunters ventured into the unknown of Africa and Asia to become legendary names—and their hunting rifles the most sought-after by collectors worldwide.
It is in this spirit that Uberti USA offers the 1885 Courteney stalking rifle. Named after the celebrated English hunter, explorer and naturalist Courteney Selous (1851-1917), this rifle gives today’s shooter the looks, feel, and usability of the turn-of-the-century British single-shots that were first taken to the British colonies—but at a fraction of the cost. The 1885 Courteney is built on the ultra-strong 1885 action and makes its debut in the classic .303 British cartridge—the most used caliber in the British Empire.
Quixotic Mainer says
As Boss Spearman would say; Damn fine weapon! I bet it will cost a pretty penny too.
JimC says
MSRP is $1,800, which really ain’t bad. Not while there’s tuition to be paid though, that’s for sure.
Quixotic Mainer says
Hah, I feel that pain. I’ve just barely polished off my own! Luckily my little guy will give me a decade or two of breathing room before I start over.
wayne says
On my budget, I’ll stick with my trusty .270 H&R Handi-Rifle. Not as beautiful a firearm, but it still has the romance of the break action single shot. Plus, when broken, I can carry it over my shoulder, held by the barrel, in the style of the old African hunters with their double guns. It’s a nice feeling at the end of a hunt.
Dave Allen says
Hey Jim, thanks for the hat tip. Knowing you are a Frederick Selous aficionado prompted me to post the find. Wayne, I am with you on the H&R Handi-Rifles. I let a Buffalo Classic in 45-70 slip through my hands a few years back and am still regretful of it as they are now discontinued and very hard to find.
wayne says
I found the Buffalo Classic on a Cabela’s site. It’s a beautiful and, I’m sure, a functional rifle!
Ugly Hombre says
Ye gads! thats a helluva rifle!
I am on the hunt for a Ruger Number one in 308 or .30- 06, and if I find one- will go with that .
Uberti makes damn nice SAA clones as well.
JimC says
I’ve always thought the Ruger No. 1 “International” in .30-06 with a full stock would be a prize. We had some customers at Pachmayr who were No. 1 collectors. Any caliber and configuration, they snagged it.
Roger Holl says
Roger Holl says: I have now mounted a 2×7 Leupold on my Frederick Courtney Selous Stalking Rifle. I have also been reading several books of his writing. If you buy those books, you will not be bored. I put a Cape Buffalo rifle sling on mine with Zebra accents to add a flair. I have hunted South Africa and would not hesitate to take this rifle there.
Several points of interest. This rifle extracts the empties half way, which means you need to reach in and try to grasp and control the round. My original High Wall, built in 1886, extracts the cartridge all the way out, making it much more easy to grasp and to get out of the way for a reload.
A second small item is that the holes in the sling swivel bases are not large enough to accept American sling detachable sling swivels. I drilled the holes out to a size large enough to accept the sling swivels studs and used cold blue to recolor the disturbed areas.
All in all, this is a beautiful rifle that you will be proud of. Accuracy is probably good enough for most hunting with the 303 British cartridge and I had no problem hitting the 200 yard 12″x12″ metal plate/gong.
JimC says
Welcome to the campfire Roger and thanks for this rundown on the rifle. Wonderful stuff.
Bryan L. Wierwill says
Where can you find this rifle for sale today?
JimC says
It appears to be out of stock everywhere. Supply chains are weird right now.
Darryl Caillouet says
Living in Arkansas, I didn’t expect to see one of these rifles so I was surprised to see it on the Mack’s Prairie Wings website (a store located in Stuttgart, AR) last month. It was sold out so I went to my local Uberti dealer and had him order me one which they said might take a couple of months to arrive.
A couple of days ago, one of the sales people at MPW sent me an email to let me know that they had gotten another one in. As of 09/29/20 it is still there for about $230 less than MSRP. If I hadn’t already bought one, I would have driven down there and grabbed this one.
https://www.mackspw.com/Uberti-1885-Courteney-303-British-24-Single-Shot-Stalking-Rifle
JimC says
Let us know how she shoots.
Darryl Caillouet says
I also have the Ruger No. 1 in .303 British so I can do a shootout and let you know how they compare! 🙂
JimC says
Perfect.
James Truesdale says
I have a ruger # 1 in 303 British a really nice shooter
Shot a 8 pt buck on my farm last season.
'Doc' Dempster says
Gorgeous rifle but wrong calibre!
Selous’ rifle was a Holland & Holland single shot chambered for
the rimmed .256 Mannlicher (2430 fps with 160-grain bullet.)
mannlicher…Very similar to currently svailable (Prvi Partisan)
6,5 x 54 Mannlcher-Scboenauer ( 156-grain bullet
at 2,395 fps). Selous deseverves a more authentic tribute!
Uberti add 6,5 x 54 chambering for this fine riflel!
JimC says
True. Guess .303 is more readily available or something.
Darryl Caillouet says
In late 1894, Selous ordered a .256 from Holland & Holland (which sold at auction for £ 32,400 a decade ago) followed closely by a .303 British (H&H started making them in 1895) which he had rebored as a .375 in 1902. He also shot with a .303 Lee-Metford as a loaner when his .461 Gibbs went missing.
But I’m going to have to agree with both Doc & JimC above that he was more closely associated with the .256 Mannlicher (when he was shooting a “small bore”) & that the .303 was probably chosen based on availability of ammo.
My only hesitation with buying the rifle was not the caliber but that I would have preferred it to have a Farquharson-style block on it. But I decided that even without any historically accurate connection to Selous, I liked the rifle. It just arrived but unfortunately due to an overwhelming project I’m involved in, I haven’t had the time to test it out yet.
Another interesting side note is I had looked up the .256 Mannlicher while reading some of Selous’ journals and saw that it was referred to as a 6.5×53.5R while the 6.5x54MS appeared to be rimless. But not being familiar with either cartridge, it was hard to tell exactly what he was shooting with and how interchangeable these similar cartridges are. So while it might be possible to to make a more accurate tribute by switching to a 6.5, it’s possible some concessions might need to be made if Uberti expects to sell them in any quantity. I expect a more obscure chambering would make the MSRP move upward.
Jon parker says
Better yet – add a Shooters Box 32acp/303 British cartridge adapter. Makes this rifle a.beautiful fun gun to quietly pop varmits in the garden or back 40. Inexpensive and fun to shot. Very nicely done rifle.
Richard Anderson says
Personally I’d love to see a classic single shot offered in some of the classic Brit black powder rounds. I’m a fan of #2 musket and the .450 BPE. I’ve got both in Alexander Henry actions, but those rifles are getting a bit too valuable to haul through my eastern brush and swamps hunting.
Hans Wimberly says
Nice article!
Jeffrey Adams says
Have you guys heard of problems handloading for the Courtney Selious Uberti Single Shot rifle in .303? Sometimes Uberti rifles have oversized chambers and you can’t get the fired case into a resizing die.