The Clash of the Titans: Heym Martini Express VS Rigby Big Game

Heym Martini Express or Rigby Big Game in your choice of DG cartridge

  • Heym Martini Express

    Votes: 52 59.1%

  • Rigby Big Game

    Votes: 36 40.9%
  • Total voters
    88
dogcat1 said:
I did not mention but I sold my Rigby and my Heym and bought Parkwest Dark Continent in .404 Jeff and am having a .416 Rigby made by Matt Roberts on a Granite Mountain action....

No slight on Heym or Rigby but these are more to my liking... So why not?
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It's nice having the people who are building my rifle only 400 miles away versus across the ocean!
 
Garciamarquez1918 said:
I think this is a good point. But isn't it also true in the case of bolt rifles that these companies historically used "bought in" actions? I don't think it's a strike against them, anymore than I think it's a strike against Rigby. But I believe this is the case.

I know I was in the H&H store in New York in the early 90's and a salesman told me they used Dakota actions for their left-handed rifles.

And while I don't question for a minute the quality of current Purdey guns and rifles, something about the fact of their being owned by a fashion conglomerate leaves a bad taste. Rigby is owned by a firearms conglomerate, as is H&H.

But Rigby's are unapologetically in the thick of African hunting and conservation in a way Holland's doesn't seem to be. Of the three, I'd rather put my dollars there. Plus, to be fair, my dollars go a little farther. :)
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You have a point Mr Marquez, I'm not erudite enough to know who makes their own and who is sourcing Mauser 98 and polishing/fitting them in house like Rigby. I heard from the Rigby rep sometime back that their London's best is all in house, but I do not know for sure.
 
SStomcat said:
You have a point Mr Marquez, I'm not erudite enough to know who makes their own and who is sourcing Mauser 98 and polishing/fitting them in house like Rigby. I heard from the Rigby rep sometime back that their London's best is all in house, but I do not know for sure.
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In looking at the Rigby's site, the London best rifles do use Mauser actions. But keep in mind that Rigby bolt action rifles have always used bought-in actions.

Originally Rigby's were the UK's exclusive agent for Mauser. During leaner times they used Brno actions and others.

So their using Mauser actions is really a return to the roots of the Rigby bolt action.
 
AZDAVE said:
I have held both and the Rigby just feels better in my hands. I don't see where you can go wrong with either choice. But would also add Dakota/Parkwest into the equation. (416 and 450 rigby rounds)
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And ...I will add a Mauser 98 as well. 10 K less than a Rigby essentially the same action
 
Garciamarquez1918 said:
In looking at the Rigby's site, the London best rifles do use Mauser actions. But keep in mind that Rigby bolt action rifles have always used bought-in actions.

Originally Rigby's were the UK's exclusive agent for Mauser. During leaner times they used Brno actions and others.

So their using Mauser actions is really a return to the roots of the Rigby bolt action.
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So I’m curious about the distinction here. If the London Best rifles are now using Mauser actions, is that really a return to Rigby’s roots, or simply a continuation of their long history of using bought-in actions from various manufacturers?
 
curt672 said:
Being a mechanical, hands on kinda guy I find the Rigby way over priced, Kinda like a Rolex on your wrist to show off.
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Of course it’s overpriced so are Heym and many of the other highend makers. At the end of the day, these are businesses, and they have to make a profit and satisfy their shareholders.

As long as there is sufficient demand, prices are only going to continue going north. Brand name carries a lot of weight in this market, and that is part of what you’re paying for. You’re not necessarily paying several extra grand purely for the mechanical function of the rifle you’re paying for the name, heritage, craftsmanship, and the prestige that comes with it.

Whether that premium is worth it is ultimately a matter of personal preference and not a show off.
 
mms45 said:
This is only true of some of them the PH is 15k the Mauser is same price the big game is more
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The OP thread was reference to a Big Game Rigby not a PH.
 
Hornedfrogbbq said:
What is the approximately pricing of each and a parkwest of similar refinement?
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Parkwest allows you to spec out your own rifles.

Screenshot 2026-09-11 at 6.04.10 PM.png
 
SStomcat said:
So I’m curious about the distinction here. If the London Best rifles are now using Mauser actions, is that really a return to Rigby’s roots, or simply a continuation of their long history of using bought-in actions from various manufacturers?
Click to expand...
Well it's both I'd say. Every Rigby bolt action rifle ever made had a bought in action. The one Karamojo Bell shot. The one Jim Corbett shot. The one Harry Selby shot. Early on these were Mauser actions.

During their lean years in the 70's, 80's and 90's they bought actions from various sources and their rifles were technically built by various entities to varying degrees. This sounds "bad" but the use of outworkers in the UK gun trade is a long tradition. The most notable example is the Webley box lock action. Made in Birmingham by Webley. Private labelled by many many makers (including Rigby) for their lower end double guns. More recent history, before buying Rigby and becoming "Mr. Rigby," Paul Roberts was an outworker making rifles for them.

The return from those lesser actions (Brno etc) to using actual Mauser actions is, I think it's fair to say, a return to their roots.
 
dogcat1 said:
I did not mention but I sold my Rigby and my Heym and bought Parkwest Dark Continent in .404 Jeff and am having a .416 Rigby made by Matt Roberts on a Granite Mountain action....

No slight on Heym or Rigby but these are more to my liking... So why not?
Click to expand...
Ohhhh Matt Roberts. So cool. What a craftsman.
 
It is starting to get hard to keep track with Mauser’s 98 Das Original and Rigby’s P.H. model, both having a lower quality of wood and satin bluing instead of the polished blue but essentially the same rifle.

Here’s some links to pricing on the Mauser 98 Das Original, Rigby P.H. and Rigby Big Game. I cannot locate a current Heym Martini Express for sale? One would have to order from the factory. The last one I saw, A Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby with grade 7-8 wood, new condition sold online about a month ago for $15,800. I have the identical rifle.

Therein lies the advantage with Rigby and Mauser over the Heym, if you want one right now you can go out and buy one and be home in time for corn flakes!


 
Canadaboy said:
After handling both rifles side by side at Safari Outdoor when I was in South Africa a couple of months ago my vote goes to the Heym. It just felt better!
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That's what I thought also when I looked at both of them at Safari Outdoors. But I also felt that my old Dakota 76 416 Remington magnum felt better then both of them. I'm glad I ordered the Parkwest Arms 76 Dark Continent in 404 Jeffery, no slight against the Rigby or Mauser. I just like the Parkwest more then the other two.
 
Garciamarquez1918 said:
Well it's both I'd say. Every Rigby bolt action rifle ever made had a bought in action. The one Karamojo Bell shot. The one Jim Corbett shot. The one Harry Selby shot. Early on these were Mauser actions.

During their lean years in the 70's, 80's and 90's they bought actions from various sources and their rifles were technically built by various entities to varying degrees. This sounds "bad" but the use of outworkers in the UK gun trade is a long tradition. The most notable example is the Webley box lock action. Made in Birmingham by Webley. Private labelled by many many makers (including Rigby) for their lower end double guns. More recent history, before buying Rigby and becoming "Mr. Rigby," Paul Roberts was an outworker making rifles for them.

The return from those lesser actions (Brno etc) to using actual Mauser actions is, I think it's fair to say, a return to their roots.
Click to expand...
This is all very well said and not specific to Rigby (as I’m sure you know). Whether the action be by Mayfair or others, all the names we are familiar with brought in actions. The original German guild guns were made in a similar method to the outworkers in Birmingham.
 
BJH65 said:
Firstly, I am not a sponsor so get your facts straight. I agreed to be a U.S. representative to my friend Derian Koekemoer Safaris who I have hunted with a couple of times so I’m a reference not a sponsor. There is zero financial incentive or benefit to me and he has zero to do with this post. There are other AH members who are representatives and the sponsored outfitter will always be listed below our byline whenever we post. We are not sponsors. I am simply an AH member posting a comparison between two rifles.

I simply used AI as a search tool to assist which I stated. Yes, I did make a correction about the machined double square bridge to accept EAW mounts on the Rigby. The other comparisons are legitimate and noteworthy.

I did recently acquire a Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby and have previously posted about it. I will be taking it with me to Umbabat, Greater Kruger in a couple of months for buffalo and a full report will be submitted.

I think it’s a sad that your contribution to this dialogue offers nothing worthy of consideration so far and it’s a complete waste of time to the reader. Instead why not add your subjective opinion between the two rifles?
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Sigh. Yes. I know you represent a sponsor and but are not a sponsor yourself.

What I did not know when I read your OP was that you had already made your decision. You bought a Heym. I sincerely hope you are happy with it for years to come.

I would have be so nice to simply get a range report of your first 60 rounds through your Heym.

I think AH is argumentative enough without “Clash of the xyz” and “x vs y” posts. Frankly, your OP contained quite a bit on AI slop. That is my contribution. I don’t have 25 years experience in law enforcement (presumably with deescalation training), I have 30 years in technology product development, including the companies developing this stuff AI stuff (maybe read that again slowly). There is a regrettable do-loop at the moment. AI actually sources from AH, and so many other places, so the errors here are reinforced.

So, do you want somebody that has a favorite RSA outfitter to post a side by side comparison with DK safaris, based on their first hand experience with another outfitter and what AI says about DK? That’s really my point, and it will become more relevant as AI grows.
 
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