Limited Edition rifles investment?

Kevin Peacocke

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I had the great pleasure earlier this year to don gloves and handle one of the Rigby Tsavo limited edition rifles, number 9 of 12. It was beautiful, and what impresses me about their
93EC434B-AFA7-42F2-BCC2-36E8C3DA13A4.jpeg
fine rifles is the woodwork, it looks so hard and forever. Obviously LE's command a premium, and it is so tempting to justify splashing out knowing it will hold its value, or appreciate. How solid an argument is this?
 
I would tend to agree with @GuttormG. This and the true copy of the Corbett rifle would seem to be experiments by Rigby in limited runs of what are essentially their production rifles. For instance the .275 has the pre-war stock measurements of the original Corbett while the Highland Stalker has a comb more suitable for scope use. Neither are “bespoke.” They would cost about the same to produce as the Stalker or Big Game, but carry a nice premium. Whether that translates to a ”collector” premium in your lifetime, who knows. The market for such collector pieces, now or later, will always be rather select. That could translate to an increase in value in the future - or not. If you like that version of the Big Game, then I would get it for that reason. And, because it is a Rigby, it will always have some meaningful resale value in your estate.
 
Firearm investments are much less predictable than the stock market.
Fortunately, they can be a lot more fun.

I was told when thinking about an investment wrist watch...
Don't buy anything you don't have interest in or wouldn't use.
You need to have a "personal" investment in what it means to you.
I feel the same way about rifles.
They either call to you or they don't.

+1 with the above.
 
I tried to use that logic with my wife to buy another rifle...it didn’t work!! ;)

Seriously though I agree with GuttormG and others that there are better investment options out there. But if you like it and can afford it then why not? It would be a shame to keep it a safe queen however.....
 
Unless you are buying rare and already identified “collector” type weapons, not a good investment. Things like rifles, cars, etc. are only investment grade if at some point they hit that rarity mark, are considered best of breed for some era, and most importantly have a market of buyers. That’s a hard set of marks to hit and is a major roll of the dice on a new production item. If you like the rifle, buy it and hunt with it. For investments, stick to futures, property, or precious metals.
 
Quality rifles can hold their value but rarely do they go up in value. I know there are certain situations where rifles can go up in value but it is rare. The only guns that for sure go up in value annually are Transferrable machine guns here in the US (in states where they are legal!).
 
because it is a Rigby, it will always have some meaningful resale value in your estate.
Agree 100 percent, just not necessarily a collector resale value
 
$28,688 (before taxes, export, etc) according to Rigby's website. If I were spending that money on a Rigby bolt gun it would be one of their "London Best" bespoke rifles.


Then buy the Tsavo Knife for $765 with the money you saved. :cool:

 
I agree with the other posters. Not sure the premium over the price of a basic Big Game is a good investment. If you like the Big Game, buy one for thousands less than the limited edition. Not enough difference, IMHO, to justify the price differential. I bought the basic Big Game in 416 Rigby and love it.
 
Thanks guys. I think 'investment' was the wrong word to use, It is not so much about rolling a profit as simply not losing value. I suppose the real worth in acquiring something like this is that it makes you happy, and thats good enough.
 
Buy a big game one...use the difference to upgrade the wood and put some personally relevant engraving on it...then it's got more meaning to you, and will give you a lot more pleasure than a limited edition other people have...as it is a one off special to you
 
I would tend to agree with @GuttormG. This and the true copy of the Corbett rifle would seem to be experiments by Rigby in limited runs of what are essentially their production rifles. For instance the .275 has the pre-war stock measurements of the original Corbett while the Highland Stalker has a comb more suitable for scope use. Neither are “bespoke.” They would cost about the same to produce as the Stalker or Big Game, but carry a nice premium. Whether that translates to a ”collector” premium in your lifetime, who knows. The market for such collector pieces, now or later, will always be rather select. That could translate to an increase in value in the future - or not. If you like that version of the Big Game, then I would get it for that reason. And, because it is a Rigby, it will always have some meaningful resale value in your estate.
Buy a big game one...use the difference to upgrade the wood and put some personally relevant engraving on it...then it's got more meaning to you, and will give you a lot more pleasure than a limited edition other people have...as it is a one off special to you
Agree 100% with both. I have seen Rigbys hold value like shit sticking to the sole of your boots even beet up ones
 
Kevin I wouldn’t consider that an investment unless you got it below list price. I have seen two year old .416 Rigby rifles sold for 2/3rds of their selling price new. I’m not a fan of invented “specials” such as limited runs etc on modern weapons. In my opinion it is all just marketing. True investment grade are usually rare or one of a kind or know collector value guns that are scarce-because economics 101 tells us price is determined by supply and demand.
Having said that - if it was me and I had the cash and it was my passion that gun is sold!
 
John, The problem is that I have too good an imagination and am an incurable historian-romantic. So I tend to place worth in criteria other than pure financial. A Rigby Big Game with my birth date as the serial number or a nameplate just doesn't evoke the same feeling as a Tsavo rifle! It is celebrating a famous part of Africa's past Yes, clever marketing it undoubtedly is, but thats just it - it works on me! Of course flawless functionality is a given, the Limited Edition label can never excuse even a hair out of place. Heck, I am not even a bolt fanatic, maybe Ill have to wait for a commemorative double!
 
$28,688 (before taxes, export, etc) according to Rigby's website. If I were spending that money on a Rigby bolt gun it would be one of their "London Best" bespoke rifles.


Then buy the Tsavo Knife for $765 with the money you saved. :cool:

@Red Leg
After looking at the Rigby knife I think I would much prefer on of Von Gruffs beautiful bespoke knives, think it would be a better quality knife than the Rigby.
Bob
 
Weren’t the The Man Eaters of Tsavo killed with a military 303?
May my local gun auction, people will bid high numbers for such Special editions. They are not this quality however, for example, a John Wayne commemorative Winchester 94
@Wyatt Smith
They were wounded with the Colonel’s Lee Enfield sporter in .303 British calibre . However , they were later followed up and finished off with a borrowed Martini Henry rifle in .500/450 Martini Henry calibre .
 
I was at an Estate auction yesterday and bought some guns. Talking to some other guys who are older than me about how they decide what they will spend. When I had an enlightening moment..... It came to me that some of the money that will inevitably be left to my kids in my Estate, may as well be spent on stuff I decide I want. Practical or not. Then someday they can deal with selling my crap on an Estate sale and actually have to work a little for their inheritance rather than just be transferred bank accounts and brokerage accounts;)
 

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