Well, after an eight year gestation period my 416 Rigby is finally finished. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Kudos to Duane Wiebe, Ralf Martini, Charles Lee and Roger Kehr.

<<<sigh>>>

Damn Forrest, you do commission some of the nicest work!!!

Congratulations.

<<<sigh>>>

Truly outstanding, the definition of a custom, best quality rilfe. My hat is off to you and the craftsmen involved.

Forrest

outstanding!..

Very few rifles achieve this level.

I think the treatment to the rear bridge is just so well done! Inspiring.

Many Thanks

HBH

Brilliant!

What's the pad covered with? Looks like sharkskin...

quote:

Originally posted by Recoil Rob:
Brilliant!

What's the pad covered with? Looks like sharkskin...

Earlier in the planning phase Forrest mentioned he was considering sharkskin and it looks like that is what he went with, but I should let him answer.

Forrest

Stunning.

Well done by all.

Congratulations Forrest! That is a great looking rifle!

Forrest, congratulations on a lovely rifle. I hope you enjoy many years of use and pride.
Eight years isn't too long.
Is the top strap long like the bottom?
Best wishes, Chris

i always emjoy seeing fine work like this!!!!!....very nice, Forrest....

Most excellent work. My hat is off to all the artist involved.

Nice rings and bases. Did you get them at Wal-Mart? I looked but couldn't find them.

A couple questions answered: The leather is flesh out pigskin. The rings are custom made.

Very nice. It was fun watching this one come together.

Terry

Forrest, if you bring it to the Dallas Safari Club convention, I just might fly from France to see that baby.

Beautiful rifle, Forrest.

Very sexy-looking rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
Forrest, if you bring it to the Dallas Safari Club convention, I just might fly from France to see that baby.

Buy your ticket Wink. I've already made my hotel reservation and I'll bring the rifle just for you.

Thanks everyone. The craftsmen who worked on this rifle, especially Duane, deserve all the accolades. Not just for their skill but for their patience with me. I have so many hopes and dreams tied up in this rifle, I was overly obsessive about every detail and changed my mind over and over again. For certain, Duane is going to be happy to not be hearing from me every day with a question or comment about this project.

I'll try to post some more photos after I get the rifle in hand.

FBB

Can't imagine the work just in the rear bridge alone.....excellant stuff here. Thanks for sharing.

Like I told Forrest...I'm going to stop taking monogram work on Weibe's stocks. I can't make any money on the work...too much time spent staring at the work.

The outside, as you can see is absolutely amazing. The inletting looks the same. The trigger inletting alone is a marvel. Not a sliver of excess wood is removed from the inletting...to keep the stock as strong as possible.

One more observation, if I may. As you can see, Duane definitely has an eye for the aesthetics. More importantly to a hunter, he is absolutely meticulous about the reliabilty of the gun. It's a rare breed that has artistic ablility and the mechanical skills to pull it all together into a working rifle. I guess that's why Duane has such a loyal following.

What type of leather was used to cover the recoil pad.?? The pore's look to 'small' to be pigskin.

Very nice rifle Forrest. Duane did a great job putting the GMA on the slim fast plan. Flat topping Bastogne must have been fun. At least it wasn't riddled with fiddle excessively.

Forrest,

Very nice rifle, however, it unfortunately fails to trump the .500 Jeffery.

Truth be told, how could someone go wrong with any of Duane's rifles?

Hello Forrest,

Your rifles have been an inspiration and this Rigby just looks fantasic.... I have always appreciated your willingness to share, knowledge, experience, etc. Congrats to you, Duwane, and the group.

When you have a chance let us know what weight the rifle tips on the scale.

Thanks,

Jim

I love that stippling!!! if I had a claw hand I'd have it stippled so I could look at it all the time.

roger how do you do that, is it cost per square inch or what?

Red

Red,

I can't take credit for anything but the monogram lettering...Charles Lee did the rest of the engraving.

That is awe inspiring. What action did you use?

nice, cant wait to see it up close

quote:

Originally posted by wanna577:
That is awe inspiring. What action did you use?

It's a Granite Mountain Arms action. It's hard to believe that it started out as a GMA action and ended up looking this nice. There are some photos of Duane working over the action here:

416 Rigby Progress Thread

Absolutely beautiful.

Eight years is a long time...
But it was time well spent, Very nice Forrest!

Enjoy

Yes, that sure is a rifle to be proud of.
Now all you need is a deal on a Buff or Ele.

Gotta say Forrest, this one of your most inspiring projects. Great to see it finally come to fruition, even with the small foreend tip and who-knows-what-other dramas.

Did it come in under your estimated 11 lbs scoped weight? Can you also post the barrel length and diameter at muzzle?

Many thanks,
- stu

Just to make things clear...I've been HEARING about this rifle for eight years and I've been sitting on the barrel for six years...I'll fess up to two years!

quote:

I'll fess up to two years!

LOL, well regardless of the wait, it was obviously worth the finished project! Very well-done... Forrest, does this mean you will fire-sale the .416 you took to Tanz a few years back to your poor banker buddy in Victoria?

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Just to make things clear...I've been HEARING about this rifle for eight years and I've been sitting on the barrel for six years...I'll fess up to two years!

I'll confess, it was about two years of cumulative time talking about this project with Duane but I didn't have all the parts in Duane's hands until March of this year.

Here's the greatly abbreviated timeline:
1999 - Big idea...I should get a 416.
2000 - I'll have a German gunmaker build the entire rifle.
2001 - Cold feet with the German guy. I decide to rebarrel my 375 to 416 Rem. Ask Ralf Martini to make the barrel.
2003 - Receive Martini barrel then decide it's so nice I want to build a new 416 Rigby with it.
2005 - Place order for a Satterlee M98 action.
2006 - 2008 - get lied to by Satterlee.
2008 - Get deposit back from Satterlee and order a GMA action.
2009 - Receive GMA action and Duane finally gets an opportunity to start work.

Tempus fugit.

bwanamrm, that Smithson 416 Rigby has too much sentimental value for me to part with it. This new rifle may force it into retirement but the old 416 will always have a home here.

Forrest,

How long will it be before you shoot it? Will you do it like Shootaway and shoot out the barrel before DSC January?

How do you like the scope?

Looks great.....what was the final weight?

That one makes a caveman's heart sing!