Yep Ive heard numerous times over the yrs on forums that Bell was a tight with money Scot,
alleging he chose cartridges like 7x57 so he could skimp on the price of ammunition...but IMO
people have conveniently cherry picked from his writings and then exaggerated it.
Lets put it into perspective and listen to what Bell has to say in his complete statement:
" Again, the smallest bore rifles with cartridges of a modern military description, such as the -256, -275, •303 or -318,
are quite sufficiently powerful for the brain shot. The advantages of these I need hardly enumerate, such as their cheap-
ness, reliability, handiness, lightness, freedom from recoil, etc. " - (The brain shot on elephant) -Wanderings Of An elephant Hunter.
A person that purchased a long list of rifles from Rigby and other companies, doesn't at all sound like the kind of person that was
tight with money or that would be too concerned about the price of ammunition. But as an astute businessman, he noted that the
smaller calibres which he found did what he required of them, just so happen to also offer the financial benefit of less costly ammunition,
among other numerous advantages.
Bell at 21, despite his families wealthy didnt start out with lots of money on his first African ivory safari, rather, As he made money he
then attained new rifles like the two .256 bore Mannlichers and his first Mauser .275 bore. At that time he likely didnt have loads of
money to throw around on anything willy nilly. So certainly, greatly effective smaller calibre rifles that consume less expensive ammunition
formed a sensible choice....
but not because he was a scrooge.- The fact that as his financial success grew he then purchased various Rigby magnum mausers in
proprietary .350 Rigby and .416 Rigby and the corresponding supply of ammunition, shows he certainly didn't mind spending his money
when he had the financial means to do so.
