John "Pondoro" Taylor

John Howard "Pondoro" Taylor (1904 - 1969) was a big-game hunter of Irish descent. Born in Dublin as the son of a surgeon he developed an urge to go to Africa and become a professional hunter. His parents paid for his passage to Cape Town. In Africa he expermimented extensively with calibers and different types of rifles which made him an expert in big game rifles. He is credited with developing the Taylor KO Factor, and authored several books. John Taylor died in 1969 in London.

Among the books he wrote include:
*"Big Game and Big Game Rifles" (1948)
*"African Rifles and Cartridges" (1948)
*"Maneaters and Marauders"
*"Shadows of Shame"

Although Taylor used various firearms for his work as a PH, he preferred the expensive, British double rifles over anything else, especially when tackling dangerous game. His fondness for such cartridges as the 450/.400 Nitro-Express and .375 Holland & Holland Magnum are expressed again and again in his writing. Of the 450/.400 he says, "It has ever been one of my favorites. I have used it extensively on all kinds of African game from elephant down with the greatest possible satisfaction." [Taylor, John. "African Rifles and Cartridges." Georgetown, SC., Small Arms Technical Publishing Company, 1948.] Speaking of the .375 Magnum (a cartridge still chambered in today's rifles) he writes, "Undoubtedly one of the deadliest weapons in existence. I've had five of these rifles--two doubles and three magazines--and have fired more than 5,000 rounds of .375 Magnum ammunition at game. One of them accounted for more than 100 elephant and some 411 buffalo, besides rhino, lions and lesser game." [Ibid] Having hunted over thirty years on the African continent, Taylor is credited with over 1,000 elephant to his bag. Admittedly, a great many of those were not under license.

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