My New Double Rifle - What Is of Value to Me That Fits My Wants

[Rare Breed]

I thought everyone would enjoy some fun this Friday morning! At the very start, I know there will be haters for what I bought but that is absolutely okay given everyone has their own opinion which I greatly respect...it is what makes our forum great! The following are the details...please read all of them so you understand my great clarity...forgive me in advance for my drawn out description, explanation and pictures.

BACKGROUND
I love DR's with a great passion and seem to eat them like potato chips! lol!!!
I also love and require beautiful full engraving, gold preferred and gold animals if I can afford and get them.
High quality stock grades is another requirement of mine...just love high quality wood!!!
However, the rifle has to be checked out by the best mechanically for me and it has to be an excellent shooter otherwise all the above is worthless.
I fully understand that all the above except for the mechanical portion is not for most people and that is fine...beauty is in the eyes of the beholder certainly...many see the exact same beauty in very plain no engraving DR's with clean lines to them which I respect greatly.
Last but not least...I am not a collector in any way...I take all my rifles hunting in Africa and if they get scratched it just adds character and memories for me...while I take better care of my rifles than anything I own...I do not baby them...I hunt with them!!! It only matters if the rifle fits my wants in the way I define them as in the above.
RIFLE
I bought a John Rigby Best Rifle made by Robles CA in 470 NE from an estate sale that was on consignment. The estate said it had been fired only about 10 times by the owner.

• It has a Grade 8 stock
• It has gold engraving throughout the rifle
• It has a gold lion, gold elephant and gold cape buffalo.
• The gun fits my LOP perfectly.
• It weighs 13 pounds...yes I know many people will say that is too heavy...however, for the past two years every time I do my power walk which is 5 days per week, I carry a 15 pound cardio bar in the African carry or in my hands simulating exactly what I do on my Africa hunts so 13 pounds is okay to me...each of my power walks is a minimum of 6 miles some times 10 so I am prepared...since I do them year round, in GA the heat index climbs to 110 degrees so while it is not easy and I do not want to pretend it is nothing prepares me better for any type weather I have encountered in Africa.
• The front and back sights are the best I have used...very easy to both align and see...it is my intent to hunt my elephant in April with my iron sights versus a red dot if I can...we will see over the next two months how doable my vision is for this.
• TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, RIGHT NEXT TO THE GOLD JOHN RIGBY ON THE TOP RIB IS CLEARLY ENGRAVED ROBLES CA SO NO ONE WOULD EVER CONFUSE THE CA RIGBY WITH ONE BUILT IN LONDON.
• Without saying exactly what I paid for the rifle, if you go onto the Rigby London website and look at their double rifles in 470 just the stock version with no special engraving or further stock upgrade there rifles are beautiful to begin with I paid only 13% of what the London Rigby cost so as I have said before on here...like a wall street stock where all is known about it, the price reflects the value...make no mistake...the cost of my new rifle was still a very pretty penny and certainly the most I have spent by far for any of my previous DR's.

 

[CarsonG]

That’s an absolutely gorgeous gun. I’m exceedingly jealous!

 

[Aaron N]

Looks like you got exactly what you were looking for, so it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Enjoy the rifle and make some memories with it

 

[ftrovato]

Fantastic! Hunt with it in good health and make great memories!!

 

[CJW]

Certainly is a purty rifle and must be a soft shooter at 13 lbs.

Personally I too love gold animals and tasteful gold detailing. Everything on that rifle looks flawless.

You should take it outside and get some good natural light photos. It will really make that gun pop.

 

[IvW]

Beut.....

I am from the oposite spectrum.....possibly another planet.....

My ideal double is an O/U Blaser Bergstutzen....
6.5x57R/9.3x74R....

Perfect for all PG in Africa....

For DG I prefer 375 H&H, 404 Jeff and 500Jeff all on ZKK602 actions.

 

[mdwest]

No hate from me… just envy…

An absolutely beautiful double…

 

[K E Johnson]

Congratulations on that beautiful rifle! This coming from the current owner of one of your previous rifles. I was fairly confident your new purchase would be a .470 because the your last one was listed for sale without reloading components!
Is that a true sidelock or a boxlock with side plates? Gorgeous rifle either way!
Now just need to see a pic of it with that elephant!

 

[uplander01]

As long as you love it and it works for you,.....we don't matter. As far as I know the main difference in that era of Rigby was the way they joined the barrels.

 

[VertigoBE]

Congratulations on a beautiful double rifle @Rare Breed !
Not having a London address on the barrel looks to be a non-negligible cost saving

Can't wait to hear your feedback in the field!

Well done!

 

[Hunt anything]

Eagerly awaiting field reports, have you had a chance to shoot it yet? I guess some will hate for buying a California Rigby but many of us on here probably wont ever be able to afford a double rifle of any quality, at least speaking for myself unless any of the great people on here want to buy 490 acres of Alabama salt marsh for 10 million give or take. LOL

 

[Rare Breed]

Congratulations on that beautiful rifle! This coming from the current owner of one of your previous rifles. I was fairly confident your new purchase would be a .470 because the your last one was listed for sale without reloading components!
Is that a true sidelock or a boxlock with side plates? Gorgeous rifle either way!
Now just need to see a pic of it with that elephant!

you know me well my friend!!!

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Congratulations on a beautiful double. Please let us know if it shoots as good as it looks.

Safe hunting

 

[MarkB]

I'm with the envious crown and the fact that you will be hunting with it and no safe queen only adds to my envy. As long as you like who cares what others think. Enjoy it and please post some pics with her when your ele hunt is done.

Well Done.

Jealous Mark.

 

[mooze]

Beautiful piece of work! Enjoy every moment with it!

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

All doubles are special, shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[Philip Glass]

Oh come on Craig, what did it set you back?

 

[Rare Breed]

Oh come on Craig, what did it set you back?

LMAO!!! all you know Philip is a good friend!!! i will tell you at DSC or SCI!!!

 

[Longrifle]

Only recently indoctrinated to the world of DR's having acquired my first from Wildcatter little more than one year ago, I can say-I am addicted and in need of group therapy.
The ol' Belgian has some nice standard engraving with vibrant colored-case hardening. The wood is probably standard for the time it was made (1956). It doesn't even have a cheek piece, just a straight, neutral stock and shitty iron sights (too small, too low) on a quarter-rib. With a little JJ magic, an RMR sits proudly atop the quarter-rib making the drop perfect, and a little trimming for the LOP and a new traditional red butt pad added. Turns out, my first DR is a rare find in the double world, at less than $four digits a shooter. Having proved its worth beyond money with my recent Eland (@150M) and my Buff at 15-paces. That rifle will remain in the family.
Regardless of taste, embellished or sublime, if one is able to find a DR that fits and shoots it is certainly a prize to behold.

 

[375Fox]

It’s a beautiful gun but I’d rather see the buffalo or elephant it kills and hear that story. I can’t understand the concept of a rifle being more valuable to someone than the hunts they use it on.