2078

GOOD CONDITION JOHN RIGBY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
GOOD CONDITION JOHN RIGBY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE
CONVERTED TO 28 GA. SHOTGUN W/ ORIGINAL CASE. Cal. 28 Ga. 2 1/2". S# 14891. Bbl. 26". England's gun laws have made possession of a rifle, even an antique, relatively difficult & so many rifles have been converted to shotguns. This is an example of this procedure & it has actually worked out quite well. This rifle was originally in .450 BPE, its 26" steel bbls. have been bored out to 28 ga. & reproofed in Birmingham. File cut top rib retains a single folding leaf express rear sight for use w/ ball or slugs, making this a dual purpose weapon. Rear portion of rib is engraved "John Rigby & Co. Dublin & London" in "Old English" script. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ Birmingham nitro proofs for 28 ga. 2 1/2" chambers & "CHOKE". Bbl. makers initials "TB" (Thomas Bissel) are on bottoms of bbls. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Rnd. bodied Jones underlever action is fitted w/ peninsula backspring non rebounding locks w/ backsliding safeties having stout round bodied serpentine hammers w/ tall spurs. Fences are very nicely carved. Action & locks are engraved w/ 60% coverage, well cut varying sized scroll w/in sm. scroll borders. "J. Rigby & Co." is on each lockplate. S# is on trigger guard tang. Well mottled & somewhat stump figured European walnut horn capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14 1/2" over Silver type pad. A steel button for sling is on toeline. Matching splinter forend is near fully checkered & has forward pivoting lever release engraved "Rigby's Patent". MEASUREMENTS: BARRELS: Bore diameter: R 559 L 558. Restriction: R .038 (EXTRA FULL) L .038 (EXTRA FULL). Min. Wall Thickness: R .050 L .040, mostly .050. STOCK: LOP: 14 1/2" DAC: 1 5/8". DAH: 2 1/2". Cast: Neutral. WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 15 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original leather case lined in scarlet cloth. Bottom Oak tray lifts out to reveal space underneath for large number of cartridges. There is a white paper John Rigby label in lid. Case contains a brass topped glass oil bottle, ebony striker bottle w/ spare gold plated strikers & front sight w/ retaining screw, steel mold for making grease wads, case straps & the original key. Also included are 5 boxes of 28 ga. Brenneke slugs. CONDITION: very good to fine as partially refinished. Bbls. retaining 75 - 80% old reblack, probably done at time of conversion. Bbls. are original length & fit case perfectly. Action retains approx. 30-40% original case hardening color mostly on top & where protected. Locks & hammers retain about the same. Stocks retain most of their original hand rubbed oil finish w/ numerous marks, dings & dents. Checkering lightly worn. Rubber part of pad a new replacement laid onto base of original Silver pad. Bores are a bit pitted, action is tight, bbls. are on face, locks are crisp. Case leather is still relatively light in color & has numerous marks & a few scuffs. Original handle is intact, 1 of 2 straps (inside case) is broken. Interior cloth is considerably soiled w/ some rubs & marks, label considerably foxed, some crazing & stains & 1 large rub through from contact w/ hammer. Accessories are generally good. A neat old conversion, just the thing for shotgun territory deer. (01-18139/MGM28). ANTIQUE. $4,000-7,000.