ASSRA Forum - Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ????

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Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? (Read 4276 times)

graduated peep Ex Member	Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Sep 21^st, 2013 at 11:29am	Print Post
	I was viewing a 45-90 Rem. Hepburn on an internet auction site recently, and am curious about a comment the seller made about Hepburns . In the description, the statement was made that - Hepburns were "used extensively in the Arctic for shooting seals along the coast line" Really ????? I don't doubt a few found their way to that neck of the woods; but "EXTENSIVELY" ??? Any substance to this, or is it just creative salesmanship ??


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16290 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #1 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 11:56am	Print Post
	I wouldn't doubt that Rolling Blocks might fit the statement better, but I doubt a Hepburn was used "extensively" for seal hunting. Pretty rare and expensive gun, even back in that era, to end up in the Artic on a seal hunt.

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Arctic Participating Member Offline Posts: 49 Location: Yellowknife, Canada Joined: Jan 7^th, 2013	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #2 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 1:37pm	Print Post
	I think they used whatever the ship's captain deemed suitable, as I've seen rolling blocks, Remington-Keenes, and Alex Henrys marked with the ship's name. Gotta remember that although they were after seals, polar bears were animals of "opportunity".


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QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #3 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 8:06pm	Print Post
	I'm assuming that we are talking "fur seal" hunting. In the heigh-day of the fur seal hunt many were taken by long-range shooters from elevated platforms and cliff top shooting stands along the pacific coast. FRom what I have read it was similar to the commercial buffalo hunters but with a shooter and teams of boat-bourne retrievers and skinners to process the hides. Long range accurate rifles would have been in order and I can imagine that some may have found their way aboard fur seal hunting ships. However singling out Hepburns for that purpose sounds like a real stretch. Sounds like someone pumping up a provenance to promote an inflated price to me.

	sacred cows make the best burger
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sureshot Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 305 Location: Snohomish Joined: May 27^th, 2007	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #4 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 10:54am	Print Post
	I think that they are more likely refering to Sea Otter hunting. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otter There is a very good article in the 1962 Gun Digest on the hunting of Sea Otters on the west coast in the 19th century. Seems they used rifles very similar to what the buffalo hunters used. Steve


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QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #5 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 12:43pm	Print Post
	absolutely right, it was sea otters, not fur seals I was erroneously recalling. I remember that article too, vaguely.

	sacred cows make the best burger
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16290 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #6 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 8:15pm	Print Post
	Regardless, I'd still doubt they were "used extensively". Seems entirely believeable a Hepburn could be used, but totally unbelievable when you add "extensively".

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John in PA Oldtimer Offline Posts: 580 Location: Hollidaysburg, PA Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2009	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #7 - Oct 15^th, 2013 at 9:17pm	Print Post
	Color me ,"dubious", too. (at least on the "extensively" modifier.)

	John Wells Hollidaysburg, PA Peabody and Peabody-Martini's Wanted!
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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2846 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #8 - Oct 16^th, 2013 at 3:23am	Print Post
	Some time back, I picked up the burned remains of a Hepburn in .45-100 out of a second hand shop in coastal Humboldt County, CA. I always thought that one was used for Sea Otter & Sea Lion hunting per the Gun Digest article. It was in the right location.


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graduated peep Ex Member	Re: Hepburns in the Arctic, say what ???? Reply #9 - Oct 16^th, 2013 at 2:16pm	Print Post
	45-100 ??? That ought to knock the bejeebers out of any otter or seal !!! Well, maybe a bull elephant seal might shake it off .....


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