While doing a search for Magnum Mauser actions I found a really great article on the restoration
of a Rigby bolt action. As it turns out the rifle and its owner hold a very unique place in the
history of African hunting. The rifle in question was built in 1908 for a man named Edward
North Buxton. As is turns out Buxton was a very close friend of F.C. Selous and Teddy Roosevelt.

Another interesting note regarding the rifle is that it is fit with Rigby's own QD scope mounts that
are also "see thru" and allow the shooter to use iron sites w/o removing the scope. I wish the article
had a close up of that particular...unique feature!

I really enjoy articles like this and I hope you will to....Oh the stories they could tell!!!

http://www.basc.org.uk/content/biggamegun

Regards,
Dave

Dave,

Thanks for passing that along! I found the article interesting though I wish the author had gone into more detail about the restoration work. A grand old rifle! A bolt action in .400/.350 Nitro Express (the flanged cartridge) is a rare one.

-Bob F.




No.3169 is a bolt-action rifle built on one of the square bridge Magnum Mauser actions which were made in Oberndorf exclusively for the firm of John Rigby in London. It is chambered for the rimmed .350 Rigby cartridge, more commonly known as the .400/.350 Nitro Express.

I spent a couple of years restoring a Holland and Holland 375 H&H, it was in horrible shape but had a like new bore stuffed with grease..It was a love of labor project, but alas our own Mickey 1 obsconded with the rifle, having caught me in a weak moment..He won't re-negociate, answer his emails from me, had his phone taken out and hides in a cave in Southern Arizona except on weekends when he comes out and posts on AR, he don't even write!!

That's a real tearful story. Tearful but untrue. The truth is I did not abscond with that little beauty, she ran away to be with me. The Rifle in question ran away from Ray when he started talking about making a .416 Remington in it's presence.

Being a classy thing, she could not bear to have her Geppeto speak of such an upstart and false creation.

I asked if she wanted to go back to Idaho and the answer was no. She is very happy here, cuddled between a .404 Jeffery and a .275 Rigby HV. Other Rifles of nobility and education.

While I'm not in Arizona, although it was 103 today, I am popping out of my cave long enough to say it is a very nice job. Well done.

I remember something of that project, you posted about it a while ago now. Can't remember, did you re-stock it or restore the original stock?