Reeder Custom Guns - As my fascination with the 1895 Winchester continues

I ran across one of the manifest descriptions of Osa & Martin Johnson’s expeditions. The one where they lived by the small lake a couple years around 1930. The arms were notably extensive. Their (2) SxS doubles were .470’s. Bolt guns in 9.3x62 and .30-06. They listed (3) 1895 Winchesters all in .405 caliber. One lone listing was a 1895 Winchester lever gun in “.32”. Now that is likely a misprint. I’m thinking a “1894” in .32 Winchester Special. There were no ‘95’s in .32 anything. A ‘94 in 8mm would have been quite handy!

That one previous post with Osa potting an antelope at 600 yds. (Pardon Mr. Keith) and the Saddle-ring Carbine 1895. It would have been .30/40 or .30-06. Might have been a different expedition.

At least I’m pretty sure the others were all .405 Winchesters. It seemed to fill the bill!

[image]

Post reply

- No text -

Post reply

Even a really good one, there are given allowances. The gal was into hats, and they needed them there. If you notice that staged setting in the wild, the products are positioned so the labels can be clearly seen. They made a living in promotion. It supported their adventures. They did make documentaries, but Osa was a cash cow with product endorsements as well. Her pluck and intrigue resonated with women of the day, two generations removed from the pioneer days of their Granny. I bet she moved some products.

After her husband’s death in 1937 (she was seriously injured as well, a plane crash stateside) or so she never was her former self. She spoke and made appearances, put together books and movies. OSA married twice more I think, but took to drink to numb her sadness. After living such a full life pioneering foreign frontiers and bringing it back to civilization, how could one be happy with a “normal” life. Her first love and ticket to that life was gone, never to be replaced. A sad ending to such a once vibrant soul.

Post reply

As my fascination with the 1895 Winchester continues

I wonder if she had a separate tent for her hats

If you have ever traveled with a woman…