Thanks for the "compare and contrast" report. Just a few questions/comments:

Were the Rigby's boxlocks or sidelocks? I understand they use the Merkel action for their boxlocks.

I also like the Merkels. They are more classically designed and dimensioned--although the sights, the long side panels on the stock (I'd prefer shorter, rounded ones with teardrops) and the rock hard buttplate all would need some attention if I were to buy one.

I had to spend Thursday and Friday in Philadelphia on business so planned a route back to upstate NY that would take me by the Hamburg,PA Cabelas store on the way home. Nice place, but they only got me for a backtag holder, lenspen and a box of 12 Ga. Hevishot. One of the nice things about being there is the ability to compare hands on and side by side. The binocular display especially, with the sheep mountain for viewing, was nice. Of course I have all the olive and khaki shirts I need and I'm not one the camoflage leisure suit types, so my attention immediately turned to the buffalo shoulder mounts and nice set of elephant tusks that mark the gun library entrance. Skipping over all of the shotguns and vintage lever guns brought me face to face with a pair of CA Rigbys 470 & 500, several dakota bolt guns, a Merkel 470 and a Kreighoff 470 as well as a new Ruger 458 Lott. I handled them all and found the ruger to be nice and heavy with a substantial forend, slightly light colored wood and a thin pad. I really like the way the Merkel handled and fit, though a plastic butt plate on an 8500 dollar rifle confuses the senses a bit. The big 500 rigby was a beauty, though very heavy if one were to carry it all day I'm sure it soaks up the recoil nicely and it fit perfectly, like a 14 Lb. shotgun. I was not as much of a fan of the fairly substantial beavertail forend, prefering the splinter forend of the Merkel and a leather glove held round the barrels. The merkel has what I'd call pistol sights and was fine with me but the big wide shallow V and gold bead of the Rigby were most natural and stylistically fitting. After spending some time with these doubles I am curious to see a Searcy and compare, 1st Impression being for 1000 more I can have it made to spec and get ejectors and a pad over the Merkel.

There is a very nice Ruger RSM in 300 Win Mag there to that has had a new pad added, more checkering, and what looks to the bolt release off a browning safari with a checkering, the floorplate release was also lightly checkered.

Overall, worth the detour if you are going by. If just to see the full body mount elephant in the african diorama display.

Have you ever tried Cabela's web site and cruised to the gun library there? It is a good way to spend a couple of hours.

I'd have to say that I don't honestly remember if the Rigbys were boxlock or sidelock, sidelock I believe. They were definately not the same action as the Merkel, which has cocking indicators which protrude from the side of the action.

Yes the website is nicely detailed too, but there is nothing like throwing a double rifle to our shoulder for real.

They are boxlocks.

Geronimo