Educate Me on Rigby Rifles

[Brian Rothhammer]

For smooth, I have a Mannlicher Schoenauer 1910 9.5x57, tip the muzzle down and the open bolt will close under its own weight.

Ah, yes. The ol' MS 'smoother than snot' bolt trick.

My M1910 does it as well; the machining tolerances and overall balance of the MS is legendary for good reason.

 

[cajunchefray]

This is Thurston Howell III, and he owns a Rigby.
View attachment 705754

This is Al Bundy, and he owns a CZ.
View attachment 705755

A man should own a firearm befitting his station.

Thinking Al Bundy might be JC Higgins Model 53 type of guy.

 

[John Telford]

Ok here goes…
John Rigby was the first gunmaker to recognise the market for mauser actioned sporters that could be used with the new smokeless propellant developed around 1890 or so .Also he and Paul Mauser were house friends regularly visiting each other and the reason why John had the sole agency on Mauser actions at the turn of the century. The other English makers either had to make doubles or use the Mannlicher action or Mauser military actions ie the k98. Jeffery built his first .404’s on these in 1904. It was only after 1912 that the rest of the gun trade had a cess to the Oberdorf actions and this period also coincided with the boom of new cartridges and calibers for sporting use. Rigby where responsible for Mausers development of the Much sought after Magnum action. The Mauser action is the most copied action in the world for good reason and the reason why Rigby has always used it ( except for the periods when They were unobtainable and the California period…).
Rigby have since been acquired by L&O ie Blaser - who also own Mauser.

There are a handful of bespoke actions that are better or rather an improvement on Paul’s design. But nostalgia is what sells so expect the Mauser action in modern Rigby rifles. As to the argument about which is better or why pay for a Rigby when a Winchester can do the same job is like asking a fly fisherman why he doesn’t use worms as bait!
Of the modern gun builders Heym is probably my favorite for a working gun . But if you want in on a little secret the Vektor action is even better if you can find one. They were reverse engineered from a double square bridge solid side wall Magnum mauser and improved on by using the best German metal and modern production methods.

 

[PCC600]

This is Thurston Howell III, and he owns a Rigby.
View attachment 705754

This is Al Bundy, and he owns a CZ.
View attachment 705755

A man should own a firearm befitting his station.

I own both . Dress like Thurston Howell when I’m out and act like Al Bundy when I’m at home.

 

[PCC600]

Ok here goes…
John Rigby was the first gunmaker to recognise the market for mauser actioned sporters that could be used with the new smokeless propellant developed around 1890 or so .Also he and Paul Mauser were house friends regularly visiting each other and the reason why John had the sole agency on Mauser actions at the turn of the century. The other English makers either had to make doubles or use the Mannlicher action or Mauser military actions ie the k98. Jeffery built his first .404’s on these in 1904. It was only after 1912 that the rest of the gun trade had a cess to the Oberdorf actions and this period also coincided with the boom of new cartridges and calibers for sporting use. Rigby where responsible for Mausers development of the Much sought after Magnum action. The Mauser action is the most copied action in the world for good reason and the reason why Rigby has always used it ( except for the periods when They were unobtainable and the California period…).
Rigby have since been acquired by L&O ie Blaser - who also own Mauser.

There are a handful of bespoke actions that are better or rather an improvement on Paul’s design. But nostalgia is what sells so expect the Mauser action in modern Rigby rifles. As to the argument about which is better or why pay for a Rigby when a Winchester can do the same job is like asking a fly fisherman why he doesn’t use worms as bait!
Of the modern gun builders Heym is probably my favorite for a working gun . But if you want in on a little secret the Vektor action is even better if you can find one. They were reverse engineered from a double square bridge solid side wall Magnum mauser and improved on by using the best German metal and modern production methods.

The great irony is that John Rigby was also Superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock . In that capacity he introduced the 303 SMLE rifle . His friend Paul Mauser helped develop the 8x57 for the military Mauser supplied to the German Army . What a tragedy .