Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Here is your chance boys, get it while it's hot!

I can't remember for certain but I know over 1000 elephants and several hundred buffalos with Wally's .375

Wally Johnsons mod 70 375

Sure, that one's like a virgin. Can't you find me one a little more worn out???

Southwnd: I think this Rifle (as advertised) is GROSSLY over-priced!
Good luck to the seller but I would be surprised if it sells for 1/10th of that absurd asking price!
NO interest here at all.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have one almost just like it. Anyone can have it at half that price....

Wally Johnson was Africa's jack O'Connor...that's what is driving the asking price.

I think it's WAAAAAY over priced but seriously how much does a rifle have to be carried to wear the checkering off like that? If only it could talk.

I don't think it will sell for that but it is a legendary rifle. There was an article about the rifle about a year ago and it's hard to comprehend shooting over 1000 elephants and hundreds of cape buffalo and many other African animals to boot.

It was in Sports Afield, I wish I could fid a link to it.

Southwind I believe the article was written by Dan Peterson who posts on here as "ruffed grouse".

Mr. Southwind: I wrote that article on the Johnson .375 for the May-June 2015 issue of Sports Afield. I seriously doubt that there has ever been another M70 that has been used to the degree of that one. I had many, many interesting phone conversations with Walt Johnson, Wally's son, about the rifle, his dad and his many years hunting mainly in Mozambique. Neither Wally, or Walt, were/are gun guys. They used their rifles as tools. However, as I stated in the article, this tool worked remarkably well in some pretty harsh conditions for many, many years. Obviously no one knows for sure how many elephants and buffalo that rifle killed: I can tell you that Walt insisted that the numbers listed in the article be on the conservative side. Although Walt, who lives now in California I believe, no longer hunts, he told me he still has 5 ( I think) pre-64s, in I think, .270, 06',.338, .375 and .458. He wanted to know the dates those were manufactured, which I gave him.

While you read over and over again by the big name writers that the Mauser was/is "the" rifle in Africa, when you talk to people like Walt Johnson, you come away with the strong feeling that those old M70s were considered every bit as tough and reliable as the Mausers. It is those old 70s like Johnsons, Pinnells and Talifsons in Alaska (who also used old 70s in .375 for 40+ years) and others that have been used so hard, that I most enjoy. That's why I write about them. I use pre-64s for all my hunting, but unfortunately, non will ever get used like those were.

Its interesting to me that some of the OLD writers who had considerable experience, stated the fondness of the old 70s in Africa. John Jobson, the old Sports Afield writer, is one who stated that. You don't read that hardly at all today, more commonly reading by today's writers including some here on the campfire, that the old 70s were way over-rated. Walt Johnson would tell you he disagrees. I am digressing a bit here, but in trying to be honest, Wayne Van Zwoll, Phil Shoemaker from Alaska, and Brian Pearce ARE 3 men who aren't afraid to express in their writings how good those rifles are.

I believe that if you contact Sports AField, they might have a few copies yet available. If they don't, and you really want a copy, send me a pm and I'll e-mail you a copy of the article.

Dan Peterson

Thanks RuffledGrouse! I enjoyed your piece and then while browsing pre 64's on auction sites I was surprised to find that rifle listed.

Of all the great rifles and cartridges Wally certainly made a solid case for the Model 70 and the 375 H&H in Africa.

On a rare blue bird day here in Kansas in January after a nice walk about in the woods I enjoyed shooting my non-pre 64 model 70 Super Express in 375 today.

Thanks again for chiming in.

I know of one M70 270 Featherweight in 270 that has accounted for over 4000 head of game. Granted a lot of them are baboons, deer, impala, etc. that are not fancy or exotic but that's still a lot of animals. There is a little bit of rifleing left in it and the checkering is worn smooth.

When they announced the change in 1963 this guy bought 6 M70 Featherweights all in 270 so he would be set for life. He still has the other 5 sitting in boxes!

I love mine, it's my "Go to", now where does this guy live?

Really cool old rifle. You can only imagine the stories and history behind this rifle. The price is crazy high! You would think if someone paid $75K they would throw in the shipping for free, vs. $400. LoL.

Eric

Would rather have Elmer Keith's 458

Well....sure!

But Elmer's 458 never saw as much game or "experience" as Wally's 375. I doubt Elmer's 458 ever saw Africa. I believe he was there only once.

Bob, You are right about Elmer's .458 it never saw Africa.. He did make at least two trips to Africa..

While rifles like those of Elmer, Wally,& Jack have a historical and somewhat of a cool factor I wouldn't pay a premium for the provenance.

So, this begs the question "what do you think it is worth?"

In reality it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, but what do you gentlemen believe a firearm with the historical provenance like this would be worth?

It would make a nice addition to the Cody Museum or somewhere like that but I'm talking private collector.

Oh I bet it's worth it for somebody. I'm sure Selby's 416 Rigby was sold for a similar price and the new owner was happy to get it given the ink Ruark spilled describing it.

It would be nice if it stayed available to the public for viewing in a museum or the like.