After the runaway success of the Big Five Masterpiece series of rifles in the early 80s, Safari Club International commissioned another series of five lavish custom rifles from some of the best names in the industry featuring masterwork engraving, copious gold inlays, and exotic and highly figured stocks. Dubbed the "World's Most Dangerous Game" series, the first and last in the series were produced by Master Gunsmith John Boliger. This rifle, "The Elephant" was the last in the series and is pictured on pages 120, 121, 146, and 147 of "Modern Custom Guns: Walnut, Steel, and Uncommon Artistry" by Tom Turpin. This fantastic rifle features a heavy weight solid rib barrel with hooded, ramped beaded blade and flip up moon bead front sight, center barrel band with sling swivel eye, raised quarter rib with two leaf (one standing, one folding) express notch rear sight graduated from 50 to 200 yards with gold inlaid markings and center lines, "Safari Club International" in fine gold inlay on top of the rib between the rear sight and the breech, "John Boliger/RIFLEMAKER " on the right side of the chamber, and the caliber notation on the left. Double Square bridge magnum Mauser type action with integral scope mounting points with sliding covers held in place by ball and spring detents, jewelled bolt body, Model 70 style safety, and hinged floorplate. As stated the rifle is lavishly embellished starting at the muzzle with a gold inlaid band ahead of the engraved muzzle band/sight base featuring tight flowing scroll in a contrasting bright finish with decoratively pierced front sight hood, textured barrel rib with gold inlaid side borders terminating in splashes of light scroll, and matching engraving and gold borders on the center band and quarter rib. On the action the scope mount covers are finely engraved in the highly detailed bulino style and feature an African elephant on the front and the Safari Club International "walking lion" and "shield" logo on the rear. The left receiver rail is inscribed "World's Most Dangerous Game Series" in gold inlay with "Loxodonta africana" (scientific name for the African elephant), and matching bright finished scroll engraving against punch dot backgrounds on the balance. The bolt shroud, handle, and safety wing are engraved to match with "SCI/No5" marked in gold inlay on the shroud. The floorplate is engraved with gold inlaid scroll borders around matching bright finished leafy scroll designs and a gold inlaid African bull elephant tromping through tall grass at the center. The action and trigger guard feature extended tangs with matching engraving and gold inlays. It seems no detail was too minor to not warrant some engraving and gold, as even the rear sling swivel stud is engraved with gold borders! Mounted on an incredibly highly figured walnut pistol grip stock with ebony forend cap, engraved blind forend screw and escutcheon, fine crisp checkering at the forend and grip with fancy scroll and fleur de lis carved borders, matching engraved and gold inlaid grip cap with an other elephant, swept shadow line cheekpiece, and checkered bare butt with a fully engraved center/heel and toe plate featuring two elephants engraved and gold inlaid in the same style as the floorplate, and inscribed "RICHARD STICKLEY - METALSMITH/LISA TOMLIN - ENGRAVER". Includes a glass top credenza display case (similar case by Tom Julian pictured on pages 6 and 7 of "Custom Firearm Engraving" by Tom Turpin) with faux elephant hide lining and mirrored base with fitted areas for the following included accessories: three matching blued turnscrews with matching engraving and fluted handles, Pendelton custom knife with engraved and gold inlaid elephants on both sides of the bolster, matching engraved and gold inlaid blued cleaning rod, 7 rounds of .505 Gibbs ammunition, canisters for patches, grease, oil, solvent, and parts, all engraved with elephants, and matching engraved Swarovski Habicht scope. The elephants depicted on the included accessories are known as the Magnificent Seven Elephants. The Magnificent Seven were seven bull elephants made famous at Kruger National Park, South Africa because of their immense size, and the amazing 50 plus kilograms of ivory in their tusks. The Seven are named on each of the accessories on which they are depicted: Dzombo, João, Kambaku, Mafunyane, Ndlulamithi, Shawu, and Shingwedzi. The elephants were staples of the Kruger National Park with all but Dzombo and Kambaku who were poached and euthanized respectively living there lives at the park and dying of natural causes. Most of the tusks from this amazing assemblage of elephants are on display at the Elephant Museum at Leteba Rest Camp at Kruger National Park.

Fantastic, absolutely excellent with 99% plus bright original blue finish, sharp engraving, complete gold inlays, a few very light handling marks, and just a few small specks of discoloration on some of the gold. The stock is also excellent with crisp checkering and highly attractive figure. Mechanically excellent. The credenza is excellent as are the included accessories. A stunning example of custom rifle making, fabulous engraving, and wonderfully matched full suite of accessories, sure to hold a high position in any big game collection!