Rigby PH or Parkwest 404 Jeffery?

Hunter-Habib said:

Both are magnificent and you will not regret purchasing either.

But I would personally opt for the John Rigby & Co. Big Game, because it holds one round more (4+1) than the Parkwest Model 76 (3+1).

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I think a typo there.

DaddyFlip said:

Since you're going to Texas and if an all-weather option is a consideration, check out the Safari model from Hill Country Rifles. I really like that true co-witness RMR mount they came up with.

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110%

BAY said:

That’s where I am at this point. Looks like I’ll make a road trip to visit my son in Texas and fondle each of the contenders. I really appreciate everyone’s input, it has been immensely helpful.

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Let me know if you are close to Fort Worth and the beers are on me. In fact, for any of you, if in FW, please let me buy you a beer or 3 (or cocktail...or water).

We live by the "You fly, I buy." Including driving...

I just ordered a Parkwest Arms Dark Continent and am glad I did after looking at and handling a Rigby at Safari Outdoors in Johannesburg! The Rigby was not as well finished and was a lot more chunky in the grip, also the wood was fairly plain. Your paying for the name Rigby and it's not the same company as it was in the past. For the same money you can have a well optioned Parkwest and still have money left over for good optics! Plus if you need warranty work who do you send the rifle too, Parkwest arms is based in Sturgis SD!

Just my opinion, either way you will get a great rifle, but for $17,000 you will get a lot more rifle for your money with the Parkwest arms!

I don’t often shoot a 404 Jeffery


But when I do it is a Rigby.

I own currently 5 used Dakotas. Happy with all of them. Accurate, super reliable with wonderful fit and finish.

I bought every one of them from Duke McCaa of Gulf Breeze firearms. 4 were in like new condition.

I also have ordered new guns from him as well from Dakota/ Parkwest. Also perfect.

The thing that separates them from the rest is the stock design which is naturally quick to handle but excellent in terms of recoil management.

The late Don Allen was a genius in terms of stock design.

The Rigby has a more closed pistol grip which is not as quick or comfortable in my experience.

If possible, a man should shoot both before spending his money, since after all, your mileage may vary.

Ruraldoc said:

I own currently 5 used Dakotas. Happy with all of them. Accurate, super reliable with wonderful fit and finish.

I bought every one of them from Duke McCaa of Gulf Breeze firearms. 4 were in like new condition.

I also have ordered new guns from him as well from Dakota/ Parkwest. Also perfect.

The thing that separates them from the rest is the stock design which is naturally quick to handle but excellent in terms of recoil management.

The late Don Allen was a genius in terms of stock design.

The Rigby has a more closed pistol grip which is not as quick or comfortable in my experience.

If possible, a man should shoot both before spending his money, since after all, your mileage may vary.

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You were reading my mind about the stock!

358 Norma said:

I just ordered a Parkwest Arms Dark Continent and am glad I did after looking at and handling a Rigby at Safari Outdoors in Johannesburg! The Rigby was not as well finished and was a lot more chunky in the grip, also the wood was fairly plain. Your paying for the name Rigby and it's not the same company as it was in the past. For the same money you can have a well optioned Parkwest and still have money left over for good optics! Plus if you need warranty work who do you send the rifle too, Parkwest arms is based in Sturgis SD!

Just my opinion, either way you will get a great rifle, but for $17,000 you will get a lot more rifle for your money with the Parkwest arms!

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$17,000 is a lot of money for a rifle. I would want to touch the actual rifle I was buying for that kind of cash.

I remember a friend of mine bought a double rifle from Searcy about 20 years ago. And Butch had some issues with quality on that one, it shot well but there some screwed up engraving on in the roll marks and Butch didn't want to fix it or replace it as he was trying to retire.

There are a lot of really nice rifles on gun broker and at dealers. Quite a commitment.

I have about $20,000 in this Blaser system with my 5 barrels, carbon fiber stock and 8 mounts and bolts and multiple bolt groups, and it would not suit someone who went about the system directly at full price. Dings, dents, removed sights and it's not perfect.

For $20,000 new it would have to be perfect and it should be.

There is a fair price gap between the two at today’s current rates. That being said Rigby. I own one and there is something special about them. For me that’s worth the premium.

Both options would perform well in the field for you. For me every scratch and bump just adds character to a Rigby. And if you order new your name goes down in the ledger among some of the greats.

Rigby has been putting in so much effort into conservation, out reaching to customers and enthusiasts, and modernizing the company while keeping traditional craftsmanship - Its a dream rifle for most. in my opinion, It would be hard to buy anything else.

I have zero dog in this race lol. If I spent this sort of money then I wouldn't be able to book my 2nd Safari next year.

But a man can dream right? Or have goals?

Personally, I'd consider myself lucky to own a nice rigby one day, in .416.

One of my only regrets was when Ralf was living in same province as me, I had a quote for a Heym martini express in .404 Jeff. Still a dream bolt for me.

And even funnier. I never knew parkwest until this thread. And it popped up on my Instagram feed. Funny how that work.

HoosierHunter said:

Rigby has been putting in so much effort into conservation, out reaching to customers and enthusiasts, and modernizing the company while keeping traditional craftsmanship - Its a dream rifle for most. in my opinion, It would be hard to buy anything else.

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They are a bigger company as part of the Blaser Conglomerate. When Dakota was Remington Custom Shop, they were not financially poised to do the same thing.

When they were just Don and Norma the same.

The Blaser machine is huge. I would say they are similar to what Beretta and Browning are as a cross section company, not as a big but spread over many realms.

Have four Rigbys (2 BG, 2 HS) and a Park West Bushveld. Which is best? All of them.

Not a Rigby ….. also not ghey.

Some thoughts on "you're paying for the name."

As many have said, Rigby or Parkwest will both undoubtedly be excellent functionally. In other words, as tools, there's very little to separate them. So from the standpoint of pure function, you're paying a lot more for a Rigby. You're "paying for the name."

But that's common throughout the gun world. Right now on GI there are a couple of lovely sidelock 375FL double rifles. From fifteen feet they're indistinguishable. The reality of the British gun trade then and now is that many of the components were probably made in the same shops. One says "Holland & Holland" and one says "Cogswell & Harrison." Guess which one costs twice as much?

There are all sort of areas where you "pay for the name." A race-pedigree vintage Maserati from the sixties is a lovely thing and will cost you a fortune. A race-pedigree vintage Ferrari from the sixties is a lovely thing and will cost you three fortunes.

Back in the gun world, the purest example of this can be found in Webley-actioned double rifles. These are literally the exact same actions from the same factory. But all else being equal, one that says "Rigby" on it is going to carry a significant premium.

You will pay upfront for the name, but you (or your heirs) also benefit on the inevitable day when the rifle is sold. Will Parkwest rifles be desirable in 30 years? Probably. Will Rigby rifles be desirable in 30 years? Unquestionably.

Killo said:

Dakota Model 76 African .416 Rigby
Dakota Model 76 Traveler .338 Win
Parkwest Takedown Dark Continent 300 H&H and 375 H&H
As a left hander I have gone the Dakota Parkwest way, a left handed Rigby would have to be The London Best (Over 50,00 USD)
Maybe some day I will get a Rigby as my son is Left eye dominant as well…

Here are some pics of the 416 and the Parkwest Takedown

Please let us know

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Viagra for an old left-handed guy!

Jack Stevens said:

Not a Rigby ….. also not ghey.

View attachment 774490

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Who made this rifle?

Hornedfrogbbq said:

Who made this rifle?

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Wayne @ American Hunting Rifles (AHR) about 2012.


This was an original, “ground up” build on a blueprinted CZ 550 Magnum receiver - not one of the AHR “conversions” on an existing CZ 550 rifle, as they then offered.

uplander01 said:

I know you want a 404, this one is in 416 rigby, but this is a comparable price to what you get straight up Mauser, may want to call the Blaser group and ask if they have one in stock. But to me this rifle config is far more appealing than a standard Rigby at 16k.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/mauser-rifles/mauser-m98-magnum-416-rigby.cfm?gun_id=103608416

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Cabellas recently got a shipment in three of their TX stores in Rigby 404J in their PH model. They asked $15,995 and I got one in $15,000 from them. Less than ordering one new from Rigby and mine is a NIB. It completes the Rigby line up I want with two HS in 275 & 9.3x62, now my 404J and DR in 450 NE. Cabellas still has one left in the 404. I offered $15k to all three but only one took my offer

I had no idea that Rigby was selling to big box stores,
would’ve thought that they would’ve preferred to deal with gun stores that had a vast experience dealing with high end firearms!
Not somewhere that most have no idea what a Safari rifle is.

Maskell Shotgun academy said:

I had no idea that Rigby was selling to big box stores,
would’ve thought that they would’ve preferred to deal with gun stores that had a vast experience dealing with high end firearms!
Not somewhere that most have no idea what a Safari rifle is.

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It is an interesting (somewhat odd to me) move. I'm sure the rifles are exactly the same as those offered through traditional established retailers. However, they seem to be priced lower than other retailers. Dakota and Cabelas partnered on a "Cabelas Signature Series" line of 76s many moons ago and they were obviously a bare bones offering. This does not appear to be the same with Rigby, but still somewhat of an odd union.