I beginning the search for a really nice .416 Rigby bolt rifle. I already have the Ruger & CZ .416's, so that's not what I'm looking to buy; I want a REALLY nice .416 - something like a Johannsen, Hartmann & Weiss, or the best custom one that is available for under $15,000. (no $45,000. H&H or Westley Richards). I'm not at all interested in fine engraving, just the most dependable, best bolt .416 that I can find. What should I get ?

A Sterling Davenport custom. Contact Sterling in Tucson, Arizona @ 520-749-5590. He is a very nice man and a fabulous rifle maker.

I just went through the same process and decided Ralf Martini of Martini Gunmakers is the way to go. I have one Johannsen 375 and had a 416 and 500 Jeff. In my opinion Ralf will give you a nicer gun for equal money. Take a look at his web site and remember our dollar is pretty good right now.

German Ritterbausch or US Duane Wiebe seem to offer top class rifles.

LJS: Do you know the website for Martini Gunmakers ? Also, I've talked a couple of times with John at Hendershot's about the Johannsens that he has listed - I have bought three or four rifles from them. For some reason, I can't get my mind off the Johannsens - I really like them.

The nicest .416 Rigby that I have ever seen was a Johannsen at a Cabelas' that came fitted with German Claw scope mounts, and M70-style safety, for about 11K.
Hard to beat. Wish I had seen my way to it then.
That was a few years ago.
My Mauser Banner 450 Dakota with the same Prechtl action as the Johannsen (except un-cut square bridges and Mauser flag safety) is crude by comparison, but still cute.

Ralf Martini's site

Ralf


He does have 2 really nice BRNOs in 416 Rigby for sale on his site - maybe be too basic for you- but a nice rig....6400 Canadian dollars, and a Johannsen in 416 Rigby for 11,500 Canadian

Hi Frank,

may have a look at www.waffenjung.de

Handmade Magnum-Mauser Actions

Best
2RECON

2RECON: Is there an English version of this website ? Also, do they sell unbarreled actions ? Thanks.

Frank:

I don't know if this would qualify as the gun you are looking for but you might want to go to the American Hunting Rifles web site and take a look at what they have to offer. If you don't want to use a CZ action, they will build you a gun on a Granite Mountain action. I will tell you that they just built a .450 Dakota for me. I used a CZ action but did a wood upgrade and Fleur-de-lis checkering and it is SUPERB. Even with a Granite Mountain Action, I think you could put a .416 together for quite a bit under your target of $15000. Take a look and call Wayne and talk to him and see what you think. Just food for thought.

Dave

P.S. I would be willing to bet they could get it done for you in five months or less too.

Ralf martini is very very good, I would also look at Lon Paul www.lonpaulcustomguns.com
I saw his 416 rigby at the Luxus booth. It was one damn fine gun.

Ryan Breeding builds some nice stuff, he would be pushing your 15K budget, and is rifles have a certin look that some love and others don't www.rbbigbores.com

Tip Burns can build you a nice gun too get him a nice stick of wood, and a GMA action and he can make you a really fine gun. www.burnsgunrepair.com

Lots of good options out there, but for a first class custom in a rigby I think it will be 8K-12K min.

Ed

Having already referenced you to Ralf Martini- may I suggest also Duncan's Gun Works. They have been around for 60+ years. I know there are several others on here who have had DG made by them- they are old style and 100% top of the line and likely not terribly expensive.

Champlins has a 404 Jeff that they did for sale.
It is on a 1909 Argentine Mauser action- supplied by the customer I think.

link to 404


Laslo will likely do the metal- he is originally from Budapest and has done some "original" retro fits for vintage rifles I have. Bud would probably do the wood, and it will be top of the line.

Duncan's Gun Works
San Marcos, CA
760 727 0515

Here's one ready to go.


http://gunbroker.com/Auction/V...m.asp?Item=127877043

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
Here's one ready to go.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/V...m.asp?Item=127877043

Ready to go to the pimp convention.

No wonder it's for sale. That's the most hideous combination of otherwise decent craftsmanship I have ever seen. Someone just didn't know when to stop hanging bells and whistles on a Model 70. Damn that's awful!

What exactly pimped the ride for you Forrest?

One too many fleurs-de-lis?

I like ugly rifles, but that M70 .416 Rigby makes even me squeamish.
Looks more like the streetwalker than the pimp.

I really hate the tall quarter rib look that has become so common, but to make it even worse it is on a m70....

I don't recall seeing the cartridge designation spelled out like that(Four Sixteen Rigby).

www.expressrifles.com Julio Acum 775-846-8015

amd as far as people saying Ryan breedings work is 15k maybe 2 years ago a 416 will run about 22k from ryan

The 416 that Lon Paul had at SCI is still for sale and within your price range. to give you an Idea of how nice it was - I was carrying it past Paul Robert's booth ( he worked for and owned Rigby when it was still and English made gun).
John called me over to see the rifle and while he was holding it he quickly looked at it and told me that he could tell me ( to within 20 numerals ) the serial number of the rifle and what date it was made. he actually thought it was an pre-war RIGBY made rifle.
Craig Boddington and Jerry Fisher also stopped me to look at it and both were highly impressed as well.

Give Lon a call and talk with him and if that doesn't work I'll second the opinion of Ralph Martini. He also knows how to build a seriously beautiful working rifle

arrent lons guns based off the cz action

Duncan's Guns in San Marcos is one of the most unethical shops I have ever dealt with. A simple re-barrel for a 30-06 was supposed to take 3 months, took eight months after they lied to me on several occasions and had never even ordered the barrel. They told me on several occasions that Pac-nor was behind in the delivery, when I contacted Pac-nor they said the barrel had never been ordered. This was after I talked to Duncan's and they had told they had checked on the status of the barrel several times. Totally unacceptable

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
Here's one ready to go.


http://gunbroker.com/Auction/V...m.asp?Item=127877043

I had to return for a second gawk.
Some really incredible work there,
proudly proclaimed by John Bollinger on the billboard scroll on the side of the receiver.

A Winchester Model 70 opened up for .416 Rigby:
I heard a few had been done. These are the first images I ever saw of one. It is a doozie!

Drop-box bottom metal and extended tang added to the action and beautifully inletted back to the comb of the stock,
more floral motif, like a vine growing into the wood.

Looks like an integral quarter rib that doubles the weight of the seemingly pencil-thin barrel.
The faux square bridge scope mount bases can be seen to be add-ons, and they have to be pretty high to clear the view over that quarter rib!

I thought it was a Dakota 76 at first glance, and was just shocked to see it was an M70.
That is a tour de force in gilding the lilly.

Having that in your safe would be better than having a 425 WR on a CZ 550 Medium, but you could get 4 or 5 of the latter for the price ... no bids so far.

Cut the price in half and it might sell. Custom rifle, as custom as it gets!!!

Frank:
PM sent to you

There's a very nice custom 416 Rigby up for sale at AHR .

470drshooter

Sorry to hear of your bad experience at Duncans. They can get way behind because they are in demand. Do you remember who you dealt with there? If you like you can PM me so as not to hijack the current thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
A Sterling Davenport custom. Contact Sterling in Tucson, Arizona @ 520-749-5590. He is a very nice man and a fabulous rifle maker.

+ + +

My rifles from him are in a word : Sterling

PS: I like Duane's work Too

Frank,

Lots of opinions and mine is based on experience and that is a Dakota 76 African. Mine is in 416 Rigby and I have never had a single complaint about the gun. I will say it is a Don Allen Dakota and that is the only qualification I will make. Some guys bitch about the price and yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for. Most of the guys that have complained are not Dakota owners and shooters. It will also maintain or increase in value even while you use the gun. Just one mans opinion but I give it whole heartedly. Good Luck & Best Regards.

Might want to also check out the Mauser Magnums. Sig was the importer (don't know if that is still the case). I believe Mitchell's Mausers is now the US retailer.

Certainly no flies on the Dakota African series, either.

quote:

Sevens: There's a very nice custom 416 Rigby up for sale at AHR

I agree, especially for the money. CZ550 actions may be commonplace now and lack the snob appeal of more expensive limited production magnum Mausers but when they are cleaned up they are every bit the equal.

I wouldnt say all of that about cz equaling the mausers cleaned up with work put into them they are decent at best but to compare to a gma or satterlee your out of your mind

Thor, it all depends on who does the final finishing. GMAs are as rough as a CZ as delivered.

Same action H&H and WR uses

Lots of nice rifles START with a GMA action, but it's a long road.

quote:

thors460: Same action H&H and WR uses

I know. And Rigby used ZKK602s before everyone and their dogs started making magnum Mauser clones. GMA, Vektor, #20 Oberndorf, 17 Enfield, Brevex, Prechtl or CZ, depends on who finishes it.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:

quote:

Sevens: There's a very nice custom 416 Rigby up for sale at AHR

I agree, especially for the money. CZ550 actions may be commonplace now and lack the snob appeal of more expensive limited production magnum Mausers but when they are cleaned up they are every bit the equal.

I agree 100%.

Its to eaches own its a good building point but i just like gma and satterlees for clients we have built on montanas cz military mausers gmas satterlees etc

If you look on the cz custom shop fourm you can see a 505 we built on a gma action for 10,000 we would be able to do a 416 for the same price for a satterlee or gma and alot cheaper for a cz action

Frank, There are some good suggestions here as there are a lot of really good smiths out there - keep us abreast of things on your search and let us know what you decide.

You might check the websites of higher end resellers. I bought my Sterling Davenport from Champlin Arms, very nice. Puglisi's Gun Emporium in Duluth, MN usually has some really super DGR's as well. Some WAY to nice for my budget.
If something is suitable, it'll save you a long wait for a new custom.

http://www.champlinarms.com
http://www.pugsguns.com