FYI: The Boone and Crockett club is auctioning a newly made Rigby “Vintage” model 416 Rigby on Gunbroker. The starting price ($12,500) is well below what one would normally pay. These are not for everyone, (probably not for this crowd) and certainly not for purists, but I wish I could afford one. A pre-war configured Rigby 416, even one from their cheap machine made line, is my all time bucket list dream rifle.

They have an 8x57 as well, for $7,500 starting price.

I just heard from a Rigby rep that these guns start at $20k, so the opening price on the Boone and Crockett auction is quite a deal.

In the old days, they weren't priced in the stratosphere.

Nowadays, only rich guys can buy them.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
In the old days, they weren't priced in the stratosphere.

Nowadays, only rich guys can buy them.

Yes, and I believe that these guns are mostly machine made in Germany, and have a nitride finish. The Vintage ones made in the shop in London start at over 30k.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
In the old days, they weren't priced in the stratosphere.

Nowadays, only rich guys can buy them.

They were cheaper than English doubles but Rigby 416's were never cheap. You could buy a good 404 Jeffery for 1/2 the price.

The two standard “Big Game” models that Rigby first came out with after the Blaser takeover included a double square bridge rifle with a 24” lightweight contour barrel, and a single square bridge model with a very heavy 22” barrel. The street price for both of these models is about $15k. To come up with the “Vintage” model, all they did was combine the single square bridge with the 24” light contour barrel and delete the cheek piece. Oh, and they are charging $5000 more for it. What a crock! I still wish I could afford one.

Before Blaser bought Rigby and Kent Porter was director, I handled what they were calling their Ultralight 416. It was a bit unfinished but would make a nice finished product. They were also going to make a “Selby” model kind of based on that light version. Neither one saw the light of day, but those pattern rifles must still be around somewhere. I’d love to have one of those oddballs.

I read that Rigby made only a hundred or so 416 rifles. So they were not as prolific in the old days. Selby basically made that cartridge famous.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
I read that Rigby made only a hundred or so 416 rifles. So they were not as prolific in the old days. Selby basically made that cartridge famous.

Yup. And Selby’s 416 was first owned by Don Bousfield, but apparently he did not take to it.

Others who used Rigby 416s back then were Bill Woodley and David Sheldrick.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
I read that Rigby made only a hundred or so 416 rifles. So they were not as prolific in the old days. Selby basically made that cartridge famous.

Yes, Robert Ruark’s writings about Selby made it famous. A little shy of 200 pre-war 416’s were built, but that is still a low number compared to 404’s. Bill Ruger and Federal are truly responsible for reviving the 416 Rigby!

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by reddy375:
I read that Rigby made only a hundred or so 416 rifles. So they were not as prolific in the old days. Selby basically made that cartridge famous.

Ruark made Selby's 416 Rigby famous, just as Hemingway did with the .505 Gibbs.

Guys dreaming of going to Africa read about it, and the story they read fueled the desire, and so they wanted one.

Blaser Group owns Mauser trademark and has been manufacturing Mauser actions for Mauser and Rigby brands (exact same actions)for some time now. . Same Magnum Mauser 98 in the Rigby. Prechtl has not been making the actions for Blaser Group for some time now . The stock on the Mauser branded .416 Rigby fits me better than the Rigby branded version.

quote:

Originally posted by 4WD:
Blaser Group owns Mauser trademark and has been manufacturing Mauser actions for Mauser and Rigby brands (exact same actions)for some time now. . Same Magnum Mauser 98 in the Rigby. Prechtl has not been making the actions for Blaser Group for some time now . The stock on the Mauser branded .416 Rigby fits me better than the Rigby branded version.

Not only that, they actually own Rigby, as well.