I’ve been active on AR since 1999 and am in my second incarnation as “450/400.” I am excited to update you on my new role as Executive Director with John Rigby & Co.™ As such, I will be using “John Rigby & Co.” as my AR name moving forward.

With a 276-year legacy, shooting and hunting enthusiasts across the globe have recognized John Rigby & Co. for producing some of the world’s finest, custom-made firearms. Today’s John Rigby & Co. maintains a deep passion for what was, and what the future holds. We produce the very best in bespoke firearms out of London, England.

For those following our news this year, we recently acquired the historic Rigby ledgers, roughly 90 handwritten books dating back to the 1700s, which had been in a private collection since 1997; published the book “Rigby: A Grand Tradition,” which is available on our website and settled several trademark infringement cases which were causing confusion in the market. I’m pleased to say that the Rigby of today is the same Rigby you’ve admired and respected from the Golden Age of Gunmaking.

We are pleased to continue our relationship with J. Roberts & Son. Below is a photo of Paul Roberts going over a customer’s order with stocker Mark Remnant in our London shop.



Today, we are offering Rigby bolt rifles in two models: the Dublin, without engraving and the St. James, with the finest engraving available, chambered in 275 and 416 Rigby; other calibers upon request. The 2012 St. James matched pair was engraved by Ken Hunt.

The 275 Rigby – St. James





The 416 Rigby – St. James





Some of the world’s biggest legends have favored Rigbys over the years, creating Rigby’s rich tapestry of gun ownership – from historical leaders such as Winston Churchill, King George and Queen Elizabeth to famous hunters such as W.D.M. “Karamojo” Bell, James Corbett, Frederick Selous, John “Pondoro” Taylor, J.A. Hunter and Harry Selby. Today, many fine, old and new Rigby rifles and shotguns are used the world over.

Many of you may have stopped by for a chat in our booth or even handled our latest London-made Rigby firearms newly introduced at this year’s Dallas Safari Club and SCI shows. If you missed the chance this year, I hope that you will stop by for a visit in 2013.

If you are in Dallas, please let me know in advance and we can schedule an opportunity for you to visit the Rigby archives.

I hope you will join us as we carry forth our grand pursuit of 276 years of excellence and tradition.

Good shooting!

Kent R. Porter, Executive Director

Email kent@johnrigbyandco.com
Phone 214-682-3721
Web www.johnrigbyandco.com

Well done Kent!

I was very exited to hear that Rigby, the proper Rigby, was getting back up and running and between yourself and the London crew I'm certain that you will do very well.

I look forward to seeing you later on this month and doing a bit of hunting.

Just one condition, bring something appropriate eh?

Best,

Amir

So, what did you do to get the California Rigby crooks off the market?

Perhaps a story best saved for another day Mike?

I'm just glad Rigby rifles are being made back in the UK by Paul Roberts again and we have seen the last of those horrid re-badged Merkels...

California Rigby has been gone for a couple of years...

Kent,

Are you currently building any double rifles?

Stay tuned...

Wonderful rifles Mr.Porter. The photography is nice too.

Terry

Wonderful rifles in great calibers - Musuem quality

Thank you very much. We are committed to producing rifles that John Rigby himself would be proud of.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
So, what did you do to get the California Rigby crooks off the market?

The entire concept of selling branding is bullshit. It is a good way to boost sales based on name alone.

The bolt action rifles I saw coming out of California were nice guns, I never had a chance to take a look at one of the double rifles, but understand that they were made on Merkel actions. Not much tradition going on there.

I wish the umpteenth iteration of John Rigby and Co good luck.

Roberts has been involved in Rigby before and it is good to see it come back to him.

Hopefully you'll do well.

Kent, you will have a lot of well wishers here. Now, that's over with, tell me about the double rifles!!! Be aware that a poster here was representing your company a few years ago, left, and then established a profound reputation as a crook! This is, of course, not your fault, but a Rigby double rifle would cause a sane man to commit murder!!!!
You are in the States. Where is the London showroom? Perhaps I can talk Ghubert into going with me when I visit there.
Peter.

They won't be made on Merkel actions, I can assure you of that.

The London showroom is in the "works." We have a site selected and are making the proper arrangements. We're not owned by a huge corporation, so it will be modest, but you will be able to see a few guns there.

The rifles look very nice. Can you give a bit more detail like which action, what barrel make etc. And a pricing indication would be appreciated.
Many thanks!

We have the actions made to our specifications in Germany. The barrels are all Rigby contour with integral rib.

Jaegerfrank, the rifles are made to order for each customer, therefore each rifle is priced based on the features that the customer requires.

You can all me or PM me is you would like to discuss the topic in detail or arrange to handle and/or test fire one of our house rifles.

quote:

We have the actions made to our specifications in Germany.

Sounds like Prechtl...

Beautiful executed rifles as one does expect from an old English(Irish) gunmaker.

Thanks for sharing.

I went to the site and read the bios for the "gentlemen" at the company. Worth a read.

Gentlemen of John Rigby

quote:

Originally posted by John Rigby & Co.:
We have the actions made to our specifications in Germany. The barrels are all Rigby contour with integral features, rib, sling swivel and barrel banded front sight.

Use Winchester M-70 design spec--then you will really have something.

SSR

We use an original pre-war Rigby as the pattern for our current production .416s

quote:

Sounds like Prechtl

And that aint a bad thing...

Here's the original 416...

quote:

Originally posted by John Rigby & Co.:
Here's the original 416...

Stunning!

Wow, what a beautiful and functional pair of rifles!

quote:

Originally posted by John Rigby & Co.:
We have the actions made to our specifications in Germany.

Just like the orig. Rigbys bolt rifles of 100yrs ago...

would be nice to see an offering for the proprietary .350 Rigby chambering.....together with proper headstamped brass.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MOA TACTICAL:
The entire concept of selling branding is bullshit. It is a good way to boost sales based on name alone.

If one can establish & associate a certain level of feature and quality with the "branding", I don't see the problem.
Holland&Holland falling block based on a Hagn is fine with me, A H&H single shot based on Ruger #1 or Rigby bolt rifle based on Rem700 would not be.....(bear in mind there are J Rigby & Co. DG rifles built on the Rem700)
Soroka markets itself on Gibbs Farq. design/styling, albeit with modified/improved quality,design and manufacture.

The bolt action rifles I saw coming out of California were nice guns, I never had a chance to take a look at one of the double rifles, but understand that they were made on Merkel actions. Not much tradition going on there.

Ferrari was traditionally front V12 or rear V8, however, to suite US market, they bucked tradition with a front engined V8.
Carroll Shelby formed his racing career & success by mixing motoring tradition.
The AC Cobra;-British coach built body with American(Ford)V8-HP... Shelby formed a California based production facility.
Not many sports motoring enthusiasts have criticize Shelby for doing what he did!
Before becoming an Icon in motor racing, Shelby ran a dump truck business and went totally bankrupt in his live chicken raising business.

If it was left up to tradition alone, the prestigious RollsRoyce would no longer exist.

Like the best of orig. old & current new Rigby bolt rifles, RollsRoyce finds itself relying on the Germans.

US based Searcy&Co makes an orig. Bissell-Rigby design "rising bite" double,..whereas Rigby California resorted to the economical Merkel frame.
The best thing about Ca.Rigby coming into existence was that it raised the market value of orig. Rigbys!
[/QUOTE

quote:

Originally posted by Trax:

quote:

Originally posted by John Rigby & Co.:
We have the actions made to our specifications in Germany.

Just like the orig. Rigbys bolt rifles of 100yrs ago...

would be nice to see an offering for the proprietary .350 Rigby chambering.....together with proper headstamped brass.

Second that on the 350 Rigby!

The forearm has a funny looking shape to it.In the full picture of the 416 on the web site,it does not look like a classic Rigby.

We use an original pre-war Rigby as the pattern for our current production .416s. The rifle is all original as it came from Rigby in the 1920s.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
The forearm has a funny looking shape to it.In the full picture of the 416 on the web site,it does not look like a classic Rigby.

hmmm, some things never change. Kent, I wish you the best in this effort.

Why is their a side safety on a rifle that is not set up to take a scope?

M70 style side safety may simply be the personal choice of a customer.
Harry Selby had his open sighted M98.416 fitted with an M70 style unit[[by D.Echols] in its later yrs.
Some people may even opt for a tang safety in preference to a shroud safety.

Harry Selbys .416 with 3 position safety:

Was the 350 Rigby on the Granite Mountain website photo gallery made by the recent Rigby of London? It has a bit of the classic Rigby look,IMO.

That .350 appearing on the GMA site, looks to be an orig. Rigby bolt rifle with Oberndorf stepped front receiver ring,..not a new current production rifle.

Be aware that there were variations present in rifles that came out of Rigby London.

i.e.; different featured mauser actions and differently featured stocks,ribs and barrel reinforces.

The first Magnum M98 actions were made up for the British firm John Rigby
around 1904.

1. first type was, round top configuration with a distinctive step down receiver ring.
2. Same as above, only with rear Square Bridge .
3. Round top action with normal ring , thumb cut , actually quite rare and not often encountered.
4. Single Square Bridge with normal ring and thumb cut, the most common of the magnum actions.
5. Single Square Bridge with solid left wall first made around 1930-31. Quite rare.
6. Double Square Bridge with solid left wall first made around 1930. Rare.


In later yrs, when Rigby was building the .416 on std.M98, they didn't all turn out the same.

Harry Selbys std.M98.416 did not have a forend tip, its rear clip bridge was removed, and its reinforce & rib differed from other Rigby stdM98 .416 rifles.
The stock on Selby rifle,as you see it here, is not in its orig. Rigby spec, it has been subject to modification(sliming down) by Harrys own personally applied handiwork.
When the rifle was sent back for its re-barrel,mods & refinish,..it was also re-checkered by Rigby.
Prior to that Harry used it without any checkering.




Selby rifle is notably different to the Rigby stdM98.416 you see below:

M70 style side safety may simply be the personal choice of a customer.
and
Be aware that there were variations present in rifles that came out of Rigby London.

i.e.; different featured mauser actions and differently featured stocks,ribs and barrel reinforces.

are both very true statements. Their is a certain "style" each of them had, just as in shotguns but then variations within that occurred.


The gun makers existed to make guns for customers, if a customer asked for something and it could be done, it was done - at a cost.

That's why we see so many variations on English guns, not everyone is alike.


Kent - good luck in the future and it's good to see the Rigby name getting back to it's roots.

I appreciate all of the well wishes! Again, if any of you are in Dallas, near Dallas or are coming to Dallas, you are welcome to visit my office and view the Rigby archives, our current production rifles and a few historical rifles.

I think the 350 Rigby issue is probably cemented in history with other fine cartridges available with good components at reasonable prices. With that being said, I will certainly build a 350 Rigby if a customer wishes to order one.

I saved a little something for Monday morning. I hope you like it.

505G is correct in that there are many variations as to wood quality, action size, weight, etc., with the historical rifles.

Our current rifles are being produced to the standard of "Best Grade," with or without engraving. If a customer places an order and requests a military or flag safety or wishes to have a tapered forend on his .416, well then, that is what he shall have.

good job and very nice guns,,,the bolt handle needs to be brought closer to the stock at least on the 275,s ,,most early rigbys were like this..the 416 looks good ...paul

Any plans for making left hand rifles? Best wishes to you and your company.