This is why I need to restock this rifle:

Mike,

Great purchase. Ask Aaron if he can work the stock and make a splinter forend. As stated there is a lot of fine work in the build.

Send it over to Zambia and I will test it for a season!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
This is why I need to restock this rifle:

I thought so, too, Todd.

I have discussed this project with four eminent stockmakers/metalsmiths.

Today, one of these select four, a widely renowned custom gun maker and restorer, and member of the ACGG, and a great guy, agreed to take it on. His work is uniformly impeccable, truly top notch, and he works relatively quickly.

Nothing like this gets done quickly, only relatively quickly, and the times quoted, because of press of business, went as long as 3.5 years.

If I'm lucky, I'll get this job done in two years, plus or minus.

I am very happy, and will keep you posted.

Andrew, after it's done, maybe I'll bring it over for a test drive.

Yes, please keep all of us posted on the progress. Hopefully we will all still be alive to see pics of the finished project.

Why not send it back to the UK and get it done
By the best guys in the business?
Could even have case colours renewed bey St Ledger if the metal is up to it.

I say this because my hunting buddy sent his exceptional Rigby 450 to the guys at WR whom did an outstanding job.
They did all timber, recut the engraving, re did case colour and reblacked the barrels.

It was an absolute stunner when finished.

I’m doing the same thing with my WR 425 , getting restock barrel black case colours etc.

Just my opinion and thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by WR500:
Why not send it back to the UK and get it done
By the best guys in the business?
Could even have case colours renewed bey St Ledger if the metal is up to it.

I say this because my hunting buddy sent his exceptional Rigby 450 to the guys at WR whom did an outstanding job.
They did all timber, recut the engraving, re did case colour and reblacked the barrels.

It was an absolute stunner when finished.

I’m doing the same thing with my WR 425 , getting restock barrel black case colours etc.

Just my opinion and thoughts.

I did look into this.

Multiple reasons not to do it.

1. Too much red tape and needless cost on export/import and shipping and insurance.
2. Not even a response from Westley Richards. None.
3. Way more time. About 3-3.5 years for a new Rigby rising bite .470. And new work always takes precedence over repair work (just me, not necessarily official policy).
4. Cost far, far, far, etc., exceeds benefit. In other words, equal or better quality for far, far, far, etc. less cost, right here in the USA.
5. Re-casing a rising bite receiver is like playing Russian roulette. Warping is too great a risk. I like the patina, and would never run that risk on a vintage rifle like this one.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by WR500:
Why not send it back to the UK and get it done
By the best guys in the business?
Could even have case colours renewed bey St Ledger if the metal is up to it.

I say this because my hunting buddy sent his exceptional Rigby 450 to the guys at WR whom did an outstanding job.
They did all timber, recut the engraving, re did case colour and reblacked the barrels.

It was an absolute stunner when finished.

I’m doing the same thing with my WR 425 , getting restock barrel black case colours etc.

Just my opinion and thoughts.

I did look into this.

Multiple reasons not to do it.

1. Too much red tape and needless cost on export/import and shipping and insurance.
2. Not even a response from Westley Richards. None.
3. Way more time. About 3-3.5 years for a new Rigby rising bite .470. And new work always takes precedence over repair work (just me, not necessarily official policy).
4. Cost far, far, far, etc., exceeds benefit. In other words, equal or better quality for far, far, far, etc. less cost, right here in the USA.
5. Re-casing a rising bite receiver is like playing Russian roulette. Warping is too great a risk. I like the patina, and would never run that risk on a vintage rifle like this one.

100% on #5. Patina is hard earned and it makes no sense to me to renew a rifle you intend to use only to put the patina back on it. I had the pleasure of handling Tony Seth-smiths Rigby 450 (Sackville address - same as yours ?) and seeing all that worn blueing on the barrels and sidelocks told a wonderful story.

Yes, this rifle has the 43 Sackville St. London address on the barrel rib.

Which brings me to a question about some other markings on this rifle.

Does anyone know what the gothic "R.H" and, to me, anyway, indecipherable stampings on the barrels mean? They can be seen on the right in this picture.



They don't seem to be proof marks, at least not British proof marks, but I could be wrong.

The crowns over letters and arm holding the sword thing are London proof marks. The RH is (I am. 99 44/100% sure) the double- R Rigby stamp. It says Trade Mark, so that would infer the “brand” = Rigby.

Sorry - just seeing the far right ones…lemme think…

Ok I’m back, the squiggles are a rampant lion over the script letter G. Another London proof mark, potentially a provisional proof mark.

Thanks Baxter. Below are two targets I shot today at 25 yards with factory Federal Premium ammunition loaded with 500 grain Woodleigh Weldcore soft nosed bullets.



The rifle shoots better than I can.



I fired while standing and resting my left hand on a sandbag. Some rounds I fired using the 150 yard blade and some with the aperture sight.

I'm pleased with how the rifle performed, notwithstanding my old eyes!

I'll do some more shooting soon at 50 yards, as I didn’t have time today.

Nice! How does the stock feel under recoil ?

The stock doesn't really fit me all that well. The comb is a bit too high and there is no cast off to speak of. All the more reason to re-stock it!

Having said that, the recoil comes straight back and is quite manageable, even though the recoil pad has hardened over time and is useless.

Wouldn't it be nice to pair it with this one!
https://www.gunsinternational....cfm?gun_id=101902975

Lovely rifle. The Maharaja had good taste.

The Rigby catalogue from the turn of the 20th century (i.e., from 19th to 20th) advised that all a man really "needed" were three cordite double rifles, one in .303, a second in .350 and a third in .450!

Of course, that was before the 21st century, when everyone apparently wants to shoot game on the far horizon, rather than up close and personal.

Just as an FYI, I asked George Caswell about the gothic "R.H" stamped on each of the barrels.

He thinks they are the initials of Rowland Hill, who was a barrel maker to the high-end gun trade during the era when my rifle was made.

proofed prior to 1924?

Yes, probably in 1911 or 1912. The rifle was finished in March of 1912.

Here is a photo, from 1908, of the fellow who ordered and purchased my rifle in 1912:



I am inclined to like him, based only on this.

That is awesome Mike.

I am finding out some interesting things about my rifle's original owner, Sir John Hume Campbell, Bt.

This was his not-so-humble abode:



Marchmont, in Berwickshire, Scotland.

Cool! Waiting for the provenance on my H&H, they are moving so no one can reach the ledgers. Hopefully I can trace it back to someone and not just a H&H dealer at the time.

Montreal Gazette, 12 May 1915:

The Gloucestershire Echo (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England), 31 Jan 1916:

Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England), 29 Nov 1919:

Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England), 28 Mar 1931:

I am not sure what happened to Sir John after the mysterious gunshot wound to his jaw in Newfoundland in 1931.

His wife, whom he had divorced in 1919, on grounds of proven adultery, had died in 1929. He appears never to have remarried.

Was he despondent? Did he attempt suicide?

The gunshot wound did not kill him, I know that much. I have seen reports that he lived on to the age of 80, and died on the Isle of Wight in 1960.

But I have seen nothing in the press, other than a couple of birthday announcements, after he was shot, or shot himself, in 1931.

Also, oddly, I have found no obituary.

He seems to have been a bit of a bantam in terms of physique.

He looks rather slight, in his photograph above, and is referred to in one of the press clippings above, in reference to his skill as a horseman, as a "light-weight."

I am wondering if he needed a short length of pull, and if that is the reason a subsequent owner of my rifle had it re-stocked by Monty Kennedy in 1955.

Interesting story you have uncovered here.

I think you mentioned in the above that the Stock needed some more cast and that the comb was too high. You have not mentioned if the LOP pull needs correction...
Have you explored having the stock Bent.. and having the comb lowered ??

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
I think you mentioned in the above that the Stock needed some more cast and that the comb was too high. You have not mentioned if the LOP pull needs correction...
Have you explored having the stock Bent.. and having the comb lowered ??

The LOP of the stock is fine for me as-is. As a practical matter, however, the Kennedy stock cannot be re-worked to fit my needs (or wants). As examples, there is nothing to be done about the lack of traditional tear drops or the modern checkering.

So, I have decided to have the rifle re-stocked in French walnut in the traditional Rigby style, with tear drops, steel trapdoor grip cap, traditional mullered-bordered checkering patterns, splinter forearm, leather covered recoil pad, no cheek piece, etc.

Michael, it will be a splendid piece indeed.

Umm, great action. I’m a Rigby nut-case. Apart from restock I would consider re case colour the action (can see any traces left) and black/blue relevant furniture. The barrels have been re-blacked. They would benefit from a English re-black to get the depth and shine back. Lots of work but go for it.

I’d recommend NOT recoloring the action.

I’m interested why you wouldn’t? Unless you prefer the bright finish, the action almost certainly would have been colour hardened when new.

Although the chance is small, the possibility of warping always exists which opens a can of worms. The steel composition of this vintage gun is absolute trash by todays standards.

The chances of warping or cracking the action is simply too great to take the chance!!

I WOULDN'T EITHER, AND I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL!!

Yep, there is a chance but if it’s annealed and then re-hardened correctly it should be ok.

I’ve seen catastrophic failure despite everything being done “right”.

Try this. Call any person who does CCH and see if they’ll guarantee their work, and in the event of failure replace the weapon or pay it’s value, or in the event of warpage repair or pay to have repaired an off-face or tight condition.

Sounds like you’ve have some tough times with CC. There’s one company in the UK I would use as does most of the trade. Each to their own and not intending to criticise you.