2001

SUPERB LITTLE JOHN RIGBY RISING BITE SIDELOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:11,000.00 USD Estimated At:22,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
SUPERB LITTLE JOHN RIGBY RISING BITE SIDELOCK
DOUBLE RIFLE IN .303 BRITISH WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. Cal. 303 British. S# 16738. Made in 1902 for Mrs. Bramley Firth. This rifle was again sold by Westley Richards in 1954 to Dr. Lawrence J. Parish of Baltimore, MD. At that time it received its newer case. Rifle has 26" chopper lump bbls. engraved in Old English script "Jno Rigby & Co. 72 St James's Street, London." on file cut rear section of rib holding 1 standing / 1 folding leaf express rear sight. Mid rib is of walnut & top is laterally grooved. Factory letter indicates this was done for a short time at Rigby's in order to reduce weight. A silver bead front sight is in iron block at muzzles. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London nitro proofs for .303 British & w/ Rigby "RR" trademarks. Bottoms of bbls. are stamped w/ Krupp 3 ring steel logos. A sling eye is screwed to bottom rib. Casehardened sidelock action features Rigby's famous rising bite third fastener along w/ usual Purdey dbl. bite. Automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold) has sm. detent on button acting as a bolt, which must be depressed before safety can be slid forward to fire. Rifle also features bushed strikers & dbl. triggers. Breech face is stamped "R & B" (Rigby & Bissell) w/ patent use no. 778, referring to the rising bite. Action & lockplates are engraved w/ near full coverage varying sized well cut shaded scroll. "Jno Rigby & Co" is on each lockplate. Fences are carved & engraved w/ Rigby's typical acanthus leaves. Lockplates have dipped top edge. Blued trigger guard is scroll engraved & mounts onto long trigger plate which extends into grip in usual Rigby fashion & is engraved w/ S#. Very finely marbled & lightly figured dark European walnut horn capped pistol grip buttstock measures 13 3/4" over Silver pad on 1/4" spacer which appears to be the base plate of the original pad. Stock also features drop points & point pattern checkering at grip. Matching splinter forend has forward pivoting lever release engraved "RIGBY'S PATENT". DAC: approx. 1 5/8"+. DAH: 2 1/2"-. Neutral cast. WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 14 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: green canvas leather trimmed case w/ brass corners has central leather patch embossed "L. P". Interior is lined in very dark green cloth & has Westley Richards paper label in lid. Case contains a 2 piece Parker Hale cleaning rod w/ mops & brushes, Westley Richards marked tin of Rangoon oil, a pair of snap caps, bone striker bottle w/ spare front sight, 2 rosewood handled turn screws, pull through cleaning kit, leather muzzle protector, Rigby marked crystal oil bottle & a key. CONDITION: bbls. retain nearly all of a high quality reblue, most likely done by Westley Richards w/ a few areas of loss on side of left bbl. Black lacquer of wooden rib is lifting a bit toward rear. Action retains 70-80% original casehardening color, pleasingly silvered on high spots. Lockplates retain nearly all of their original color, left plate very strong, right plate lightened at tail from contact w/ trigger finger. Top lever & trigger guard retain nearly all of what appears to be their original blue. Screw slots of Rigby's typical wide design show little use. Stocks retain over 80% original oil finish w/ a scattering of light marks. Checkering lightly worn. Sling eyes have been removed from bbl. & extreme rear of toeline w/ later replacements at normal positions. Enfield rifled bores are truly fine, bright & shiny w/ strong rifling throughout, w/ barely a hint of any erosion at throats, very unusual for a .303. Action is tight. Bbls. are on face. Mechanically crisp. Case exterior has some marks & stains. Straps & handle are good. Interior cloth has rubs & abrasions. Accessories are good. A great handling sm. bore Rigby dbl. rifle. A target in case indicates excellent accuracy w/ Remington factory 180 grain ammo, w/ 6 shot 50 yd group under 3" including fouling shots which printed high. (19-5873/MGM46). CURIO. $22,000-30,000.