Harry Selby Has Passed: RIP

[Dashriprock]

One of the legends of the hunting world has gone over:

Harry Selby, Renowned Hunter and Safari Guide, Is Dead at 92 - The New York Times

I recently re-read Robert Ruark's "Horn Of The Hunter" and was as impressed as I had been the first time I read it. Selby was the stuff of legend.

 

[Onomea]

RIP. Of all Ruark's books, Horn of the Hunter is my favorite. It is so evocative of the time and place...

 

[woodsltc]

R.I.P. Mr Selby.........what a fascinating life he had. A hunting legend.

Don

 

[Texas Star]

What a loss!

I read about him in Ruark's books and read an article or two by Selby, himself.

I understand that he sold his famous .416 Rigby some years ago. I hope it's in good hands.

I'm sure the fictional white hunter hero of Ruark's African novels was based on Harry Selby. These were, "Something of Value" and "Uhuru!" Both are great reads that let the reader see Kenya as it was then, warts and all. Bob Ruark was the only US journalist and author who really understood and revealed Mau-Mau and Jomo Kenyatta for what they were. Those books probably couldn't be published in today's PC climate.

Those interested in the great white hunters should seek out Brian Herne's book, "White Hunters." Has some good photos and the account of the business by a man who was part of it.

 

[JayFramer]

A man who lived his life unabashedly, but I wouldn't count him as a "hero".

 

[30-30remchester]

Harry is a legend. His 416 went to a collector so I assume it is well cared for. While waiting for it to be re-barreled he bought an over the counter post 64 Winchester model 70 in 458. He got so used to it and liked it so, he kept it and sold the 416. We all know that in this forum and many like it, "Bear" threads are all the rage. What super boomer magnum would be appropriate is the common theme. About everyone has a different opinion. I think we can all agree, Africa has far more thing that will make a hunter leak out his vital fluids than North American has. Harry Selby also carried a handgun nearly everywhere he went. He used it to shoot small game and finish off many wounded big game animals. He even told of shooting a very large non-wounded head of big game with his carry piece. Like so many older knowledgeable American woodsmen he carried but one handgun, a Colt Woodsman 22 pistol. He gave it to the gun writer Joe Coogan a few years back, so I believe it will be well cared for as well.

 

[Dashriprock]

One can only hope that Mr. Coogan decides to write a biography. I bet he was privvy to some excellent tales!

 

[jtcarm]

I was surprised he was still around.

I remember that picture with the impala from "Horn Of The Hunter".

 

[Badger Matt]

This news really bummed me out. My research paper at the Army War College was about the Mau-Mau Rebellion in Kenya. I wrote to Man-Magnum Magazine in South Africa to ask them to get me in contact with someone who could give me some first hand information about the conflict. Much to my delight, they gave me Harry Selby's e-mail address. He was a patient and generous man and is cited in my paper. He even allowed me to send one of Robert Ruark's books to him in Botswana which he kindly inscribed and returned to me. What a man. What a decent and humble man. I believe Jim Casada was working on a book about/with him. I'll have to follow-up on that.