Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Osa Johnson's Oberndorf Mauser Type A 9.3x62

Pretty awesome rifle in a great caliber..A gun with that kind of documented history should remain in a gun closet and go unused, but I would be sorely tempted to shoot a Cape Buffalo etc. with it were it mine..It is beautiful..

How's the museum? It's a sub-2 hour drive from my house and I've never been there. My kids love that sort of stuff. It's a shame really, but I've only recently become aware of the doings of Martin and Osa Johnson and I'ma lifelong Kansan.

Great buy on that rifle.

MattO,

The museum is very nice but small. You can see everything in a couple of hours. It is worth going to see, IMHO, if you have an interest in the Johnsons (and especially since you're so close). We found Chanute to be a nice, small town with very friendly people.

Take a look at my thread "My trip to the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum" for a few more photos of the museum.

We stayed at the Tioga Suites Hotel http://www.tiogasuites.com/ in downtown Chanute and it is right next door to the museum.

The museum is in the restored Santa Fe railroad depot and the Tioga Suites Hotel is in the building that was once the Santa Fe railroad hotel.

More info about the museum at their web site:
http://www.safarimuseum.com/

Description from the Museum's website:

"There are two main galleries, one presenting the Johnsons' story and another of African ethnographic exhibits. Additionally, a smaller temporary display space features traveling and changing exhibits.

The museum includes a shop offering Johnson books and video copies of their movies. The Museum Shop also carries a selection of ethnic items from Africa and other parts of the world.

The museum has garnered state and national awards and has been named the No. 1 Museum in Kansas."


Go see it! IMHO, it would make a nice weekend trip for you since you're so close to Chanute.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

Great find and a GRAND Old Rifle. I look forward to seeing more photos, etc. when you take delivery of the rifle.

Those were the days.....and the rifles. A real working tool with class.

Bob Faucett,

What a magnificent rifle and history as well. Please continue the story and more about the rifle as you will.

Bob,

Thanks for the link to the other thread. Have to make a day trip out there once the bird season closes. Glad you enjoyed our state. The picture of the outside of the building surprised me. I've been in Chanute a few times and didn't expect a building nearly that large.

For other readers of this thread who occasionally pass through Kansas, the Sternberg museum in Hays is also worth a stop. It's very convenient from I-70.

I really wish I was good with photoshop. I would show you what rifle that would look like with a GAP camo McMillan, green cerakote, and a scope with 50 mm objective lens and turrets.

That would get another three pages of comments right quick.

No need for pics -- it would look like crap -- just like every other rifle that has been done to . Having seen pics of your woodwork...I 'spect you got a clue about that too.

What a wonderful old rifle, and with a known story. I have four old hunting rifles (6.5x54 Kurz, 8x56 MS, 9x57 Mauser, and 9.3x57 Mauser) that must have had great lives before coming to this country -- but no way to know their stories. This rifle has history...a terrific find and grand that others get to enjoy it as well.

Dennis

I love those old dark stained stocks.

Always great to see wonderful old rifles, especially those with history behind them. Thanks for sharing.

Way cool rifle!

I grew up 6 miles north of Independence, Kansas where Osa and Martin were married. In grade school we had a field trip to the old museum before it moved, but wasn't old enough to appreciate what I was seeing. I live about an hour from Chanute, and go through there quite a bit, will have to stop in sometime.

Bob,

That is so neat. Sorry I missed this thread earlier--working too hard evidently--but there is nothing quite like owning a good piece hunting history.

I have been lucky enough to shoot a few "historical" rifles in my time, that formerly belonged to famous hunters, but haven't ever had the chance to own one. Congratulations!

Bob,

Thanks for the pic's and the story. What a classy piece!
And representative of a better time in many ways too I think. May have to read the book.

You know, it doesn't matter what I think, but...I like it just as it is. Very nice.

Gdv

Well, you could always take it on a White Sands Oryx hunt, and still hunt African Game!!

Great piece of history!!

Richard

What a great find!
I grew up reading everything I could find by or about the Johnsons.
Congratulations!

Thanks everyone for all your kind remarks and kudos. It's not everyday one gets to see a rifle like this and I wanted to share the photos with my fellow Campfire members. Thanks again!

Cheers!
-Bob F.

Shoot it and show us the groups!

B: Yahoo!!,and I am glad someone who will appreciate it ended up with that rifle.That is really neat and I hope you enjoy it. Congrats!

Owning a rifle that belonged to a famous name in hunting and shooting is really cool. I owned Bob Chatfield-Taylors' Leonard Brownell 270 and have been kicking my butt ever since I sold it

ruraldoc,

Don't want to disappoint you but Eleanor's 7x57 is still in the O'Connor family. The rifle was put together in 1951 by the team of Tom Burgess doing the metalwork, and Russ Leonard doing the stock. Although the rifle was made for Jack, Eleanor tried it and took it for herself. She used it for the vast majority of her hunting after that. She did use another rifle some, a Len Brownell custom Model 70 in 30-06. She called it her "big rifle" and used it on dangerous game, including an elephant.

Tom