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Rare Hoffman .416 rifle
spider_1968
Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
Hello All! My Grandad has a Hoffman .416 rifle that is in awesome condition. It is my understanding that George Hoffman told him that was starting to build a .416 rifle. And that he was only going to build 5 of them, and my grandad has one of the original 5. I believe that this happened before Remington got involved and started building the .416. Does anyone know what this rifle would be worth? Thanks for any help.
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Pictures are necessary to help you arrive at a value.
"It is my understanding that George Hoffman told him that was starting to build a .416 rifle. And that he was only going to build 5 of them, and my grandad has one of the original 5."
While I would always take the word of a grandparent over anyone else, this simply amounts to hearsay in the world of firearms. In my opinion, what you need is some form of 'provenance', a written, historically certain letter stating that this is indeed 1 of 5 original Hoffman rifles or historically proven records that this is one of the original 5 produced by Hoffman if such a limited edition exists or existed.
Help us with some good, sharp, properly lit photographs.
Best.
Professional hunter George Hoffman, an American, took the full-length .375 H&H case and necked it up to .416, creating the .416 Hoffman.
Here is a book written by and about him:
https://www.trophyroombooks.com/trbpubs/countryboyinafrica.htm
"Someone once said, "A professional hunter started his career with very little money, a new rifle and two young trackers. At the end, he had no money, an old rifle and two old trackers." But what adventures they had. It's been a long road from Missouri's back woods to Africa's game fields, but George Hoffman made that trip and his life has never been the same. In addition to a long, successful hunting career he's developed the popular big game cartridge; the .416, a cartridge respected and used by clients and professionals alike.
Throughout his long career, George Hoffman has done it all. He's learned that the PH has to know what the animal might do AND what the client might do when the time comes. Be prepared. Whether the hunt has been easy or hard, George has stood up to the task. Whether it went as planned or not, George tells it in his own inimitable style that has pleased readers for many years.
This is, indeed, a very candid big game hunting book. And, yes, there is a long story on the why and how of the .416 development. The chapter on Safari Rifles, Bullets, etc. is now considered a classic on the subjects. George is one of the few professionals that have capped off a career by developing a cartridge that will live on. He's added to that legacy with this truly enjoyable book. "
Best.
rhmc24,
Two different folks.
"Hoffman Arms Company started right after WWI in Cleveland, Ohio, then moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma (cheaper rent?), then finally to Amarillo, Texas just before WWII where they made .50 caliber machine gun barrels during the war, and then disappeared. Hoffman imported some experienced rifle makers from the London gunmakers and created wonderful bolt action rifles, even offered double rifles, but I don't know if they ever made any of those."
Best.
I have seen Hoffmans command prices in the many Ks.
Do you (or anybody) know if George Hoffman is of the Hoffman Arms that date from early 1900s, with manufacture located at different times in Ohio, Oklahoma,Texas and possibly other? I have seen Hoffmans command prices in the many Ks.
Hoffman Arms Company was started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1923 by Frank L. Hoffman with money from Snyder. NOTHING at all to do with George Hoffman.
Nice Rifle.