The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Older Rigby rifle - thoughts?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
I have been offered a Rigby bolt rifle built by Rigby in the 1950's. It is in excellent shape. Looks a bit like the new stalking rifles. What is your opinion on the new vs old Rigby rifles? | ||
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| One of Us |
Well it has Rigby on the barrel and will have some form of mauser action and it will have well finished. I have a 275 Rigby from the mid 1970’s and its a nice rifle and shoots well. As it has a montecarlo style stock it shoots well with a scope, and indeed was delivered with a scope on redfield / leupold type mounts. Friend has a Parker Hale from the same period built on pretty much the same action and that too shoots very well. Mine has a nicer stock and better open sights. If its a rifle that fits you, you like it and the price is right then why not. Any better than any other hand finished mauser actioned stalking rifle - probably not, but no worse either. | |||
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I have no experience with Rigby rifles at all. But if it’s a Mauser 98, in really good shape and the barrel has not been shot out with corrosive ammo and the price is right I would buy it. Even though it’s from the 1950’s it’s a piece of history. Also what caliber is it? Some calibers bring a premium price because not too many were build. Just my thoughts on the matter. | |||
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Inletting on the older rifles have to be better than the machined inletting on the new onees (highland stalking) unless they expect the wood to swell into the gaps. | |||
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It appears unfired and is the .275 Rigby caliber. Comes in presentation case. | |||
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I'm not up on the high end collectables, but it predates the California Rigby disaster. Its in good shape (you state). If you want a Rigby, its a matter of how much you want it. Its not really an issue of it being a unshootable collector type gun... 50's were part of the second golden era of Safari hunting, Rigby is associated with that; and the rifle is not so old and rare that you would feel silly hunting it and be unwilling to let it get a little honest wear. Personally, I refuse to buy something I am unwilling to use, so I would need to see hows much different the price is compared to other rifles. If he's asking too much premium because its "unfired" I'd walk. I would also check with Rigby- English guns were refinished all the time, and if it was refinished, while it doesn't affect the value as much as US refinished rifles for collectors, it could be a bargaining point. If I had the money, and I liked the looks of the rifle, I'd buy it and hunt with it. | |||
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If you need help with pics, let me know ...we’re all dying over here...:-) | |||
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^^^^^^ What he said....... | |||
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I am not into that sort of stuff but I think it is simply a case of .... do you want the rifle ...... Sort of like would you buy a Pre 64 in 300 H&H or a new M70 in 300 Winchester. On a purely logical basis you would pick the new M70 in 300 Winchester. However, logic does not always win the day. In my opinion as soon as you look at a Rigby in 275 Rigby you have moved from "logical to want" | |||
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Glorious rifles! I have shot one from the 1950’s, it was the first vintage English rifle I had shot. Claw mounted modern scope, it is used regularly in Montana. It was given to an elk guide as a tip in the early 1960’s. That guide got old and sold it to my my friend. It is very well worn, carried in the field for decades, and still shoots around 1.5” out of the original barrel. | |||
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I think the vast majority of this forum membership will take the older older rifle. I am included in that observation. | |||
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My thoughts, exactly! | |||
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| One of Us |
275 Rigby is a really nice calibre. Its the same as the 7x57 of course that is sweet shooting, not much recoil but deadly at the other end. Some factory ammo is a bit anaemic, the original load was a 140g at 2800fps, most is now trundling at c2600fps. Mine will shoot Federal, Hornady, RWS and Remington all pretty much into the same 1” group. Mostly I know use the Fox non-toxic ammo which I find works very well on Roe to large Red deer and wild boar. Mine was built for a friends father and has accounted for many many deer. Original scope is S&B 4x36 with a No1 reticle. I have put a leice 2.5-10x 44 on it and that works even better. | |||
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| one of us |
Rigby in the 1950s is known as the Harriss years 1951 to 1968. Harriss was a solicitor, investor and shooter died in 1965. His Widow sold the business 3 years after his death. Harris held the Royal Warrant on behalf of Rigby. He bought the company when Theodor Rigby son of John Rigby 3rd died in 1951. Of interest in this time is the fact that Mauser no longer existed so we now see Rigby rifles built on all manner of Mauser and Mauser clone actions. For instance Brno Actions and actions with tang safeties. Early 1950's rifles ( up to 55 have the Sackville address and from 56 to 63 the King street address | |||
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One of Us |
If it is in near new condition & in original presentation case, they it will be worth a lot more than a current new one IMHO. The current new ones look very well finished but they are just a bit more chunky & heavier. They just miss that really sleek OLD Rigby look. A 275 Rigby should have a scope IMO. Please post some photos if you can. "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
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When I get it I will. | |||
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Current new Rigby Highland Stalker is c£7,700 plus depending on final spec, The London Best starts at c£24,000. Most older Rigby Rifles seem to go for quite a lot less. A couple on Guntrader - https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/...city-191102092430005 - although Stock screws are Torx and thus not original and https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/...r-98-191204130025008 | |||
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I have had a good look at the latest offerings from Rigby in the flesh - spent a couple of hours a few months ago at their Emporium in London. They are very nice rifles and don't feel at all clunky etc and given that they are all put together one the premises and hand finished they will accomodate the buyers preferences. Sadly only the London best comes in a left handed version ;( | |||
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Having examined the models on display at SCI I agree about the excess bulk of the new factory rifles. And personally don't care for the comb height either, but realize it's for modern high mounted scopes and they are quality rifles. If you really wants to match the style and feel of the old Rigby you almost need to contact one of the better custom builders in the USA like Lon Paul, Reto Bueler, James Tucker and Joe Smithson . Or Canadian Ralph Martini and Dorleac & Dorleac in France . Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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I like the price of the second one better. If all the old ones had such short barrels, no wonder they felt so light. | |||
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| one of us |
If I were to buy a Rigby today it would be an older one..Thank goodness I have that option. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Older Rigby rifle - thoughts?
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