Spending double rifle money on a bolt-action rifle

The day after I returned from the Hells Canyon bighorn hunt and sheep rifle put up…immediately shifted gears back to the doubles…making ready for Zim in barely 3-weeks.
IMG_7693.jpeg
 
rookhawk said:
I think you could get a well equipped H&W with all the trimmings in that $50ish area. A takedown two barrel or three barrel set for probably $80k.

A member of this forum got one in 9.3x62 and 7x57, one heck of a take down bolt gun for certain. (I think it was 7x57...might be wrong on second caliber)

I see them sell used for $45-$60k ever so infrequently. A spectacular 4 barrel set hit Holts about ten years ago. I think it fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Click to expand...
I would love to see, and have, that rifle...
 
Northern Shooter said:
These were bolt guns that I had in mind:

ParkWest Arms SD-76 - ~12,000

Mauser M98 Magnum - ~$16,000

Rigby Highland Stalker ~$16,000

Rigby Big Game - ~$19,000

Holland & Holland Bolt Action - ~$40,000

Rigby London Best - ~$46,000

W.J. Jeffery & Co Magazine Rifle - ~$80,000
Click to expand...
I would like to hear more from members who have any of the bottom of your list especially if of more recent manufacture. Essentially who owns a modern London best and what do you think? Let’s see Pictures to!
 
I'm the guy that's always trying to buy something of premium quality for less money. Which is why I own Meopta's, Sako's, a Krieghoff, CZ's, Leupold's, and Ruger's. I do think I'll end up with a Heym double at some point, maybe a Blaser R8 or a Rigby Big game - or maybe both.
 
Beck said:
I'm the guy that's always trying to buy something of premium quality for less money. Which is why I own Meopta's, Sako's, a Krieghoff, CZ's, Leupold's, and Ruger's. I do think I'll end up with a Heym double at some point, maybe a Blaser R8 or a Rigby Big game - or maybe both.
Click to expand...

I’m not suggesting that any of what you listed are “bad quality” things, I’ve owned many of the same things. What I would say is that only two of those things are custom enough and rare enough to hold or grow their value. The Heym and the Rigby Big Game.

The remainder no matter how expensive are “technological” in nature and the Blaser R8 will be nothing but a Betamax or VHS when the R9 and R10 come out, just as the r93 is anathema today.

Does it matter for hunting? Not one bit.

If you’re trying to buy things that hold their value or increase, not what I would recommend.
 
JPbowhunter said:
I didn’t realise you could get a Jeffery, H&H or WR for less than $10k!
Click to expand...

Caliber and condition are everything. Several Rigby 275s have sold in the last ten years far below $10k. Occasionally a base grade WR goes that low. I’ve seen basic H&Hs with missing scopes go just above that number.
 
rookhawk said:
I’m not suggesting that any of what you listed are “bad quality” things, I’ve owned many of the same things. What I would say is that only two of those things are custom enough and rare enough to hold or grow their value. The Heym and the Rigby Big Game.

The remainder no matter how expensive are “technological” in nature and the Blaser R8 will be nothing but a Betamax or VHS when the R9 and R10 come out, just as the r93 is anathema today.

Does it matter for hunting? Not one bit.

If you’re trying to buy things that hold their value or increase, not what I would recommend.
Click to expand...
I hear what you're saying, and I'm not taking offense to it at all. For me guns are tools, they need to accomplish the job at hand, but I do like nice tools.

I will say that some of the CZ's, in particular my .505 Gibbs, have appreciated in value quite a bit. Some of the big bore Sako's have also appreciated in value, like my 85 Brown Bear in .450 Rigby. I'd be interested to see what my Krieghoff Big 5 is worth; I plan to sell that gun at some point to help fund a Heym.

I do hear what you're saying though, in particular with the Heym, those guns (double or bolt) can appreciate in value quite a bit.
 
I copied this from another web site:

A new Rigby Big Game (not bespoke, just production) with Grade 5 wood, no engraving will cost right at $25K today in the US tariffs and duties included. A Mauser Das Original will cost under $15K. They are the same barreled action, from the same factory. One is stocked in London. One is stocked in Germany. Both stocks are turned blanks, not handmade. You are literally paying almost a 70% premium to have Rigby stamped on the top of the barrel and be able to have your name in the ledger book. Production line Rigby’s are available without a long wait (and without having to leave Texas) and so are Mausers. Don’t like the Das Original, Matt Roberts, Reto Buehler and others can build you a helluva custom rifle for the cost of a production line Rigby.
 
I ordered a Rigby London Best in 9.3x62. Costs almost the same as a Shikari double and more than Heym doubles.
 
mms45 said:
I would like to hear more from members who have any of the bottom of your list especially if of more recent manufacture. Essentially who owns a modern London best and what do you think? Let’s see Pictures to!
Click to expand...
@towserthemouser just had a new Jeffery London’s Best in 404J made I believe. Thinking he said Westley Richards did the work when they were finishing up his 470 double. Maybe he can drop a line as to how it finished out. Was thinking he was taking both rifles on safari shortly.
 
Wildwillalaska said:
@towserthemouser just had a new Jeffery London’s Best in 404J made I believe. Thinking he said Westley Richards did the work when they were finishing up his 470 double. Maybe he can drop a line as to how it finished out. Was thinking he was taking both rifles on safari shortly.
Click to expand...

I thought W J Jeffery was separate from WR? Are they combined now?
 
Pondoro said:
I copied this from another web site:

A new Rigby Big Game (not bespoke, just production) with Grade 5 wood, no engraving will cost right at $25K today in the US tariffs and duties included. A Mauser Das Original will cost under $15K. They are the same barreled action, from the same factory. One is stocked in London. One is stocked in Germany. Both stocks are turned blanks, not handmade. You are literally paying almost a 70% premium to have Rigby stamped on the top of the barrel and be able to have your name in the ledger book. Production line Rigby’s are available without a long wait (and without having to leave Texas) and so are Mausers. Don’t like the Das Original, Matt Roberts, Reto Buehler and others can build you a helluva custom rifle for the cost of a production line Rigby.
Click to expand...
It obviously depends where you are in the world, talking Aud not usd but a Rigby HS, BG and Mauser 98 expert are all about $24k. There’s a premium for sure but none of those are missing it.

Your custom option likely as not will never have near the resale value of a a Rigby though.
 
Pondoro said:
I copied this from another web site:

A new Rigby Big Game (not bespoke, just production) with Grade 5 wood, no engraving will cost right at $25K today in the US tariffs and duties included. A Mauser Das Original will cost under $15K. They are the same barreled action, from the same factory. One is stocked in London. One is stocked in Germany. Both stocks are turned blanks, not handmade. You are literally paying almost a 70% premium to have Rigby stamped on the top of the barrel and be able to have your name in the ledger book. Production line Rigby’s are available without a long wait (and without having to leave Texas) and so are Mausers. Don’t like the Das Original, Matt Roberts, Reto Buehler and others can build you a helluva custom rifle for the cost of a production line Rigby.
Click to expand...
Mnr starts at 28 when I asked him this summer
 
mms45 said:
I thought W J Jeffery was separate from WR? Are they combined now?
Click to expand...
Thank you for asking.

The communications about the order were all done with Richard Newgass (richardnewgass@wjjeffery.com), and payment was made to him. The rifle is marked W. J. Jeffery and is built to their specifications. The rifle is built for them by Westley Richards under contract.

The W.J. Jeffery 404J was delivered to my FFL today, and it is spectacular; everything you could hope for.

The 470NE that I have on order is a Westley Richards. They have finished barrel blacking, but some blacking material apparently got onto the ejectors and had to be cleaned up and the ejectors adjusted again. That has been done, the rifle has cleared Mechanical, regulation has been double-checked and passed, and now the rifle is back with the wood guys for final oil treatment. I was told that the wood is already "at a very high standard," but they want to apply additional coats "to bring it up to the mirror-like standard that Westley Richards expects to deliver on all rifles."

That's wonderful, but I am now truly on pins and needles as to whether they will be able to put it into my hands in time for me to get a US Customs and Border Patrol inspection for my Form 4457, send that on for my SAPS form to fly through JNB, send it on to Zimbabwe for my FR20, send all the above to Airlink (required 48 hours prior to flight), and get all that done before my departure for my elephant hunt with Buzz in 34 days from now...


At least I have the 404J in hand and that is perfectly acceptable for an elephant hunt, but I sure am hoping to do it with the double rifle.

All of this means I will have very little time to do any meaningful practice with either rifle; with my work obligations I'll basically have one or two trips to the range for sight-in, etc.

I did cycle 60 rounds of North Fork 430gr FP Solids through the Jeffery with no issues, so that's good.

Fingers crossed that the stars will align!
 
towserthemouser said:
Thank you for asking.

The communications about the order were all done with Richard Newgass (richardnewgass@wjjeffery.com), and payment was made to him. The rifle is marked W. J. Jeffery and is built to their specifications. The rifle is built for them by Westley Richards under contract.

The W.J. Jeffery 404J was delivered to my FFL today, and it is spectacular; everything you could hope for.

The 470NE that I have on order is a Westley Richards. They have finished barrel blacking, but some blacking material apparently got onto the ejectors and had to be cleaned up and the ejectors adjusted again. That has been done, the rifle has cleared Mechanical, regulation has been double-checked and passed, and now the rifle is back with the wood guys for final oil treatment. I was told that the wood is already "at a very high standard," but they want to apply additional coats "to bring it up to the mirror-like standard that Westley Richards expects to deliver on all rifles."

That's wonderful, but I am now truly on pins and needles as to whether they will be able to put it into my hands in time for me to get a US Customs and Border Patrol inspection for my Form 4457, send that on for my SAPS form to fly through JNB, send it on to Zimbabwe for my FR20, send all the above to Airlink (required 48 hours prior to flight), and get all that done before my departure for my elephant hunt with Buzz in 34 days from now...


At least I have the 404J in hand and that is perfectly acceptable for an elephant hunt, but I sure am hoping to do it with the double rifle.

All of this means I will have very little time to do any meaningful practice with either rifle; with my work obligations I'll basically have one or two trips to the range for sight-in, etc.

I did cycle 60 rounds of North Fork 430gr FP Solids through the Jeffery with no issues, so that's good.

Fingers crossed that the stars will align!
Click to expand...
If you get your 4457 at least a day before you depart, I’d reach out to Mr. X, he told me back in April that I could change rifles right before if needed and he’d make it happen and have my permit when I landed. The Zimbabwe permit I’ve just done at the airport when I land since it’s so less involved than the SAPS Ppw. Super excited to see photos and hope you get that gorgeous double in hand in time.

I was again slumming it with Heyms today, trying to decide which 375 Flanged would accompany the 500. Need to decide soon, wheels up in 19 days. So much easier to decide with ugly coated, synthetic sheep rifles. I’ve used the same one for every sheep in the last 8 years.
IMG_7746.jpeg
IMG_7749.jpeg
 
And while the new Jeffery rifles are contracted out to another maker…as the British gun trade has done for well over a century…I see merit in having one built when the artistry is performed by Westley Richards likely over any other British bolt makers. A WJ Jeffery made by Westley Richards just sounds like a wonderful rifle.
 
Wildwillalaska said:
And while the new Jeffery rifles are contracted out to another maker…as the British gun trade has done for well over a century…I see merit in having one built when the artistry is performed by Westley Richards likely over any other British bolt makers. A WJ Jeffery made by Westley Richards just sounds like a wonderful rifle.
Click to expand...
WJ Jeffery never ever built firearms . Just a knowledgeable , not particularly upmarket retailer. Rifles were very affordable . Today the business model is unchanged but pricing is crazy . I have shot a prewar 500J . Made by George Gibbs ! Nice rifle but nothing special .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1052 more.
Total: 306,087 (members: 1,102, guests: 304,985)

Forum statistics

Threads
70,231
Messages
1,566,707
Members
167,792
Latest member
JosephTingleyy
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

migrabill
migrabill wrote on nyrifleman's profile.
Thank you for responding to my post. You have a PRE 64 and it is still new in box???! I would need to see pics and a price please.
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Buffalo cow cull hunt!
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Buffalo recovery

•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Jacks buffalo hunt!
•••
migrabill
migrabill wrote on Surgeon1's profile.
Be careful of this Wolfen guy. 2 messages. Both trying to sell something. He PM'ed me trying to sell something and he PM'ed my friend on here trying to sell something. Fishy.
•••

Share this page

 
Top