Went up to my favorite toy store today ( I try to make it at least once weekly just to look and get rid of any stale money I might have) and the Owner/Gunsmith who is a LONG time friend had something to show me that had been brought in for a recoil pad replacement. It had been given to the customer and the recoil pad was literally torn off. Only the black base was remaining. Stock was excellant and a very nice piece of wood but greatly in need of restoration. Overall blue was gone but no dents marks or scratches and would restore to new or near. Barrel engraving was not very deep so it may have been refinished at some time but if so it was by the maker. It was in the original auto case or traveling case whatever they were called. Full length case quite worn.The Barrel was marked 'John Rigby and Co. 43 Sackville SE London W' in a single line. Reciever Ring marked 'Rigby 350 Magnum' in 2 lines. Stock had good checkering that could be easily pointed up and restored. Steel grip cap with trap containing 4 replacement front sights. Pad was a red silvers I imagine although all the red rubber except a small thunbsize bit was gone. The black hard rubber base was glued on and the widows peak was good on top. Swivels were a ring eye in buttstock and a very wide band ring eye in front. Safety was the standard Mauser with the word 'SAFE' inlaid in gold. Rear sight was a pedastal 2 folding 1 standing marked 100 yds,200 yds,300 yds with vertical platinum line on each. Rear of each blade finely matted. Front sight was a replaceable slide in from front blade on a short pedastal about 1" back from muzzle. I believe the sight originally had a folding forward cover as there is a small milled slot on left side at front. At the very rear is a Rigby cocking piece sight with the big elevation wheel missing . Sight is adjustable in the slot with a small set screw in the cocking piece to lock in place. Bottom metal is hinged straddle floorplate with release in trigger bow. Trigger bow is marked with same Rigby serial number. All Mauser numbers match. Bore is very good. The action is a single square bridge MAGNUM action. The rear of the barrel where it joins the action has a square base approx 1 1/2" milled on it at same height as the rear bridge. My friend tried 416Rigby,375 H&H,and 404Jeffries and they all fit in magazine and would feed with no problem. You might say It ruined my entire day. I have never wanted a rifle so badly in my entire life. I have absolutely no idea what it is worth but I would sacrifice quite a bit of my safe to own it. It's not for sale under any circumstance so I don't have to sacrifice just drool. Gun has obviously been well used by someone who cared and would be the optimum plains game rifle.

Zim.....sometimes, amidst the drool, you can just smell the history in a gun like that. Your wanton coveting is completely understandable....sorry it's not for sale.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Was it like this one:

http://www.safarioutfittersltd.com/RiflesPage6.htm

zim, I may be cynical, but I have found that nearly everything is for sale under some certain circumstances or other.

Perhaps you should make an offer, brokered through the gunshop/gunsmith.

I would think that, in the condition you describe, an offer in the vicinity of $7,000 or thereabouts might spike some interest on the part of the seller . . . er, I mean, owner.

Can't lose anything by trying, right? And it sure seems worth a shot, if you'll pardon the pun.

Kinda like the 6.5 MS I picked up in Kenya Bunduki in the late 50s. Still had a few small pieces of cordite [?] in the magazine and has some numbers stamped under the buttplate. It has the hinged lid on the butt and there are still 4-5 of the original rounds that were still in the rfile when I got it. Hell! Cost me all of 35.00 American back then! Swear to God I can stand that thing out to the side of my fireplace on a quiet night and hear sounds of the Veld. Expect to see some Masai come running past!! Spooky to say the least.
Aloha, Mark

470evans,
Basically the same rifle except the bridges are the same height as the front ring and this gun has a much better piece of dark wood and also a cocking piece rear sight. Can't tell on the pad but this one doesn't appear to have the widows peak top. Can't tell whether the floor plate is a straddle or not. I can say it's probably the smoothest Mauser i've ever cycled.

if your friend still has it would you take some pics of it for us, the case too (i love that stuff for reference and eye candy)?? I would really enjoy seeing both the rifle and its case and accouterments (like the front sites).

Did I miss it, what did you say it was chambered for?

Red

It is a 350 Magnum. I would be reluctant to post pictures of someone else's rifle without their permission. I do not know the owner. I will ask.

Zim,

Was it something like this?

Here is a real oddball;

A German made .350 Rigby, sold new by an Cape Town dealer. Name wronly spelled "Rigbey". Made on a single square bridge Magnum Mauser action. Octanogal barrel, Krupp Laufstahl, case harded action;

Bent,
Some small differences such as the rear sight had folding leaves in FRONT of standing leaf and shape of front ramp had same curve on front and back and it had NO scope bases. It had a silvers pad that I would assume was original as it had the slight curve and widows peak and was neatly fitted. Otherwise looks to be the same rifle. Nice dark stock and checkering. Both very nice rifles even in the 350 calibre. I would take either one in a flash, but the worn one here had more 'character' to me and therefore was more desirable. Oher than repairing the peep and replacing the pad I would probably just use it as is. Might have stock restored but that's all.