WDM (Karamojo) Bell was, argueably, the greatest of all elephant hunters. Bell wrote this book and published it in 1923.

In Wanderings, Bell writes of his passion for elephant hunting. Incredible accounts of the excitment and danger, shot placement, armory selection, and methods of hunting.

A very interesting and exciting look into turn of the century Africa and the hunting available then. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Africa.

I agree, great book. Bells description of Liberia is very interesting.

Funny how much history you can learn from hunting books! I don't recall ever being taught in school that Liberia was founded by freed U.S. slaves, who in turn, took slaves of their own.

Very interesting read, Bell was a very interesting fellow.

338 - Bell has to be the most interesting hunting author I've ever come across. That's a great book.

Maybe it was the time that Bell spent in her majesty's service, but he was a master in reading people and his ability to get things done. One thing that has bothered me about Roosevelt and Selous was the disdainment they held for the locals. While Bell treated the locals extremely well and always found good in the natives that worked for him, both Roosevelt and Selous considered them to be nothing more than animals that were meant to work for them. Selous, on one occasion, hired a local native to work for him for three solid months in extremely harsh and trying conditions. He paid the native one cotton blanket...

Roosevelt and Selous are men to be respected for their contributions during their lifetimes, but were very haughty. John Muir appeared to be the same way, through his writings.

I'm sure the time with which these men lived did have a lot to do with it, but Bell's adventures weren't long behind Roosevelt and Selous. Given the opportunity to hunt with any of these men, I'd prefer to hunt Bell any day of the week.

Bell, also seemed to respect the game he hunted much more than the others. It seemed to worry on him when he made a bad shot and he thought the animal might suffer for his mistake. He did own up those mistakes and made every attempt to sort things out. He also tried as hard as he could to get the locals to take the meat from the animals he shot, instead of leaving the carcass to rot in the African heat. Sometimes the locals would end up causing the hunt to go awry because of their excitment, but Bell took that as part of the adventure. Selous could not be bothered with such.

I hate to sound so down on Selous and Roosevelt, but Bell provides such a grand contrast that, at least to me, shows so much more character and endearing qualities. John Hunter also reflects much of Bell's character.

were could i get that book from

You might be able to find a used copy at a used book store somewhere or try eBay at www.ebay.com

Other sources would be:
Safari Press http://www.safaripress.com/
Trophy Room Books http://www.trophyroombooks.com/
Book Trail http://www.booktrail.com/

I own reprints of all three of Bell's books. Everyone is a good read. I agree with 338 on Roosevelt and Selous concerning their attitudes toward the locaL people. Bell was a blood brother to two African chiefs in the Karamojo region where he did most of his hunting. His respect for the native people made it a lot easier for him as they helped locate elephants to keep his production high. Many African explorer/hunters had similar attitudes to Roosevelt's and Selous'. Roosevelt was also a poor shot and showed a real lack of judgement. He took shots at more than 400 yards and wounded a number of animals.

I found it interesting that he left Africa forever in 1931. That year the price of ivory hit an all time low. This is according to a chart published in "White Hunter" by John Hunter. Bell, after all, was Scottish.

Weren't Bell, Hunter, and Selous all Scottish?

Roosevelt was a fairly impressive man, but his policies in Alaska and and his hunting ventures have always tainted the myth of Roosevelt for me. Whether he was ill informed about Alaskan issues or if his hunting judgements in Africa were common of the day still leaves a good text of how not to do things.

I found it extremely interesting that Selous declared most of the big African elephants shot out during his expeditions, his biggest ivory weighed less than 70lbs. Bell came along, of course hunting Kenya and Sudan, taking elephants 150lb + on each side.

Selous did probably do more to bring Africa to the attention of the western world than anyone else. As a hunter, as an explorer, and as a naturalist.

As you fine gentlemen are speaking highly of W.D.M.Bell, I want to add that I totally agree on everything said.
Bell was a first rate hunter, explorer, diplomat, and few people know, Yachtsman, and artist. His yacht Trenchemer, almost won the Bermuda race againt Stormy Weather in 1935 with him at the helm. He was in many races after that, and sailed extensivly.
His art is excellent, recently sold by Bonhams. When Bell drew an elephant charging, you can almost hear it trumpeting.
Here is a treat. Bell's 318 Westley Richards, made by Thomas Bland in 1911. He had it made for his famous trip into the African interior. He shot Commurants( probibly misspelled) out of the air with it at fairly long range.
This gun has impeccable provinance, and is lettered by Thomas Bland and Sons. Glenn, the owner of Thomas Bland confirmed the provinance this summer, when we took it too him for inspection.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/gunsmithing/001RJ.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/gunsmithing/001RJ.jpg

I have no idea why the link will not print out correctly. Maybe someone does not like Bell. The missing part is 45/gunsmit.

The links get shortened onscreen because some are very long, but all the characters are still there. You should be able to see them if you hover your mouse over the link. Ignore that and get your picture up.

BTW, wasn't Bell a WW I fighter pilot too?

Bye
Jack

I have no idea why the link will not print out correctly. Maybe someone does not like Bell. The missing part is 45/gunsmit.

I recall seeing and holding this rifle in FRED WELLS shop years ago, does this rifle have animal inlays in the butt stock?

In the event that I can't get to read about it,does Bell mention the 6.5 and 7mm that he allegedly used in Africa?

Yes Bell was a decorated WW1 flyer. In Tanzania,and around Greece. He was discharged due to shell shock,(nervous athsma, they called it on his dischage papers.) He shot down one plane with only 1 bullet, as his gun jammed, and another with a gun that the sights were not alighned with the bore,strictly by luck. He was awarded the VC twice, and made officers rank. He went home,Married, bought a home in Corriemoillie,Garve, and only went back to Africa once that I can tell, with the Forbes group.(Gerrit and his son) This was in the 1920's.
His ashes were scattered in the flower garden at Corriemoillie.

In the event that I can't get to read about it,does Bell mention the 6.5 and 7mm that he allegedly used in Africa?

Yes, another good place to read a bit on thoughts about “Small Bore Vs. Big Bore” is in the December 1954 issue of the American Rifleman. Bell wrote an article of that title. <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell</st1:City>’s thought about “Small Bore Vs. Big Bore” is in the December 1954 issue of the American rifleman where <ST1http://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell's</st1:City></ST1http://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell</st1:City></ST1:p did some remarkable shooting with his 6.5mm including shooting some birds on the wing which impressed a few British Army Officers who were watching. <st1:City w:st="on">Bell</st1:City> remarked that if he could return to Africa the new 308 <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pWinchester</ST1:p</st1:City> with solds would be his choice.<O:p</O:p

Yes, another good place to read a bit on thoughts about “Small Bore Vs. Big Bore” is in the December 1954 issue of the American Rifleman. Bell wrote an article of that title. <ST1:pdid some remarkable shooting with his 6.5mm including shooting some birds on the wing which impressed a few British Army Officers who were watching. Bell<FONT color=#444444> remarked that if he could return to Africa the new 308 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell</st1:City>’s thought about “Small Bore Vs. Big Bore” is in the December 1954 issue of the American rifleman where <ST1http://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell's</st1:City></ST1http://shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=Bell</st1:City></ST1http://www.shootersforum.com/ /><st1:City w:st=<font color=" /><st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pWinchester</ST1:p</st1:City> with solds would be his choice.<O:p</O:pThanks William. I was able to find the book by Bell through the university library at work. He was obviously a very skilled hunter and it was a darn good read. Like to find the other article you mentioned but I don't know if I'll be able to.
Thanks again. Bill

Thanks William. I was able to find the book by Bell through the university library at work. He was obviously a very skilled hunter and it was a darn good read. Like to find the other article you mentioned but I don't know if I'll be able to.
Thanks again. Bill

If it is the AR article I would bet a nickle this fellow can fix you up

http://www.frfrogspad.com/service.htm

If it is the AR article I would bet a nickle this fellow can fix you up

http://www.frfrogspad.com/service.htm

Thanks for that J35. I'll check it out. Been there before and Frog seems to be quite the character.
TA,Bill.

Thanks for that J35. I'll check it out. Been there before and Frog seems to be quite the character.
TA,Bill.

Excuse me, but that's Father Frog to you (John really is a Verger in the Episcopal Church).

He looked pretty good in his clerical collar, too, until the folks at Henson told him he had to remove the picture from his home page. . .

The Old Guy

Excuse me, but that's Father Frog to you (John really is a Verger in the Episcopal Church).

He looked pretty good in his clerical collar, too, until the folks at Henson told him he had to remove the picture from his home page. . .

The Old Guy AWIGHTDEN...Father Frog it is.:D

Sorry old chaps but I must interrupt. Bell shot the birds with his 318, not the 6.5. I know because I own the gun he used. It has a nasty problem of splitting the brass in the right barrel,due to excessive headspace. He would not have known about this, only that the casings split, and the gun was unreliable because of this. He spent his supply of ammo shooting at cormorants going over a falls. This is written in Bell of Africa.

The book is available on Amazon.

I’ll have to go back and read Bell of Africa again. It’s been awhile. I thought it was Bell who had the 256 case split at the head in his Mannlicher rifle, two different stories I guess. I’ll go back and look at Stigand; perhaps it was in one of his books.

I’ve said this several times in the past but if you wait long enough you will see everything on the internet. What are the odds of ever meeting anyone who has one of Bells rifles? For your 318 are you able to load for it using formed brass to make up for the headspace issue or are you down to a single shot?

I am knee deep in James Forsyth’s book: The Sporting Rifle and its Projectiles. While looking at it I re-read Bells American Rifleman article: Small Bore Vs Big Bore – December 1954. The discussion over killing power will never be settled but there is some well reasoned and thoughtful writing on the subject if you look for it. Bells thoughts on killing power and hunting in general were sound when he wrote them and hold true today.