Heym versus Rigby

[Kevin Peacocke]

Ditto. Talking with Jerome this year at SCI and specifics of a Shikari build, he was wonderful and spent a good bit of time with me and his fitting rifle, which is a BGR but with dummy-double triggers since he uses it both for bolt guns and doubles. He went into detail what he wants to see in getting the right fit and mentioned having that immediate on target when the rifle is shouldered…basically mounting it as you would a shotgun, so eye on your target and the rifle mounts to you.

Also learned my proper LOP was a smidge longer than I thought. I had it figured at 15-15.125”, he had me at 15.35”.

He got me mostly sorted out on measurements and worked up a prospective quote for the rifle. While not at all deterred by the wait time, I was surprised by the final figures after realizing the scroll engraving I wanted was an addition of near 70% of the base rifle…and all in British pounds. I had started to warm to the idea of having one built for my 60th, which is still a smidge over 7 years away, so the timing was perfect.

After holding a mint Holland and Holland Royal from the 70’s or 80’s at their booth which was $125k US and a mint Westley Richards drop lock in 577 from the early 2000’s that was $99k, I really started questioning my judgment on ordering one altogether. Ultimately hit pause and since then decided to order another Heym 89b in 2-barrel set for now, and maybe I’ll find a nice pre-owned or slightly vintage H&H or WR for my 60th.

My new to me Heym 89b only had 20 or so rounds through it and the stock was cut back to my lop so we can call it 'new' I suppose.
I've waxed lyrical about the 89b so won't launch yet again, but suffice it to say that I think that Heym achieved the pinnacle of perfection in capturing the form of the quintessential British double rifle In the 89b. Mine is pretty plain with straight grain and edge engraving, but I actually prefer that. Given all the money in the world I am happy with what I have.

 

[PCC600]

My new to me Heym 89b only had 20 or so rounds through it and the stock was cut back to my lop so we can call it 'new' I suppose.
I've waxed lyrical about the 89b so won't launch yet again, but suffice it to say that I think that Heym achieved the pinnacle of perfection in capturing the form of the quintessential British double rifle In the 89b. Mine is pretty plain with straight grain and edge engraving, but I actually prefer that. Given all the money in the world I am happy with what I have.
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I really like unadorned actions . They look more purposeful . That’s a very nice rifle .

 

[txtrout75218]

@Kevin Peacocke I think that rifle's looks is perfect for what it is intended for

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Kevin Peacocke I think that rifle's looks is perfect for what it is intended for

Thanks guys.

 

[BJH65]

I’m a Heym guy by default, acquiring a new bolt action Martini Express 416 Rigby for an excellent price. While I’ve only handled a Rigby Big Game and not shot one, I found the Heym Martini express to have a better “feel”, a bit trimmer and livelier in my hands. The Martini Express also has the advantage of the magazine box specifically made for the individual cartridge for reliability and smoothness of feeding.

I will admit however, if I had a choice of either a Rigby Big Game 416 Rigby or a Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby bolt action, I may opt for the Rigby for the nostalgia, history and name alone.

I’m not a double rifle guy, but if I were, it would be a Heym in 470 or 500 Nitro Express.

My Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby - in a few months will be taking it to the Greater Kruger- Umbabat for buffalo.

 

[woodsrunner]

...and a Cz 550 lux, the latter has quite a bit of drop in the stock. Ironically, I find it the milder of the two for recoil.

This doesn't surprise me. There must be a serious mechanical advantage to such an overtly divergent stock design for it to be marketed at all. A person can image the aesthetic having some effect on sales. That said, it must work very well. I read somewhere that not only is "Cheska" one of the most carried rifles amongst professionals in Africa (along with BRNO the most carried) but that it is the lux stock that is most often seen. Others on here could no doubt confirm this or no.

 

[woodsrunner]

I’m a Heym guy by default, acquiring a new bolt action Martini Express 416 Rigby for an excellent price. While I’ve only handled a Rigby Big Game and not shot one, I found the Heym Martini express to have a better “feel”, a bit trimmer and livelier in my hands. The Martini Express also has the advantage of the magazine box specifically made for the individual cartridge for reliability and smoothness of feeding.

I will admit however, if I had a choice of either a Rigby Big Game 416 Rigby or a Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby bolt action, I may opt for the Rigby for the nostalgia, history and name alone.

I’m not a double rifle guy, but if I were, it would be a Heym in 470 or 500 Nitro Express.

My Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby - in a few months will be taking it to the Greater Kruger- Umbabat for buffalo.
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That is a seriously good-looking rifle, flawless lines, great looking wood without being over the top and perfect grain for the job. Nothing to jar the eye, everything pleases. I know a gunmaker in my neck of the woods who learned the trade from Ralph (Martini) and it is testament to how well he learned the art that this could just as easily be one of his rifles. "Simple classic elegance" is how he sums it up.

 

[RIGBY]

Commenting in particular on bolt rifles, no one amongst the premium brands designs more handsome magnum magazine rifles on average to my eye than Rigby, and this has been true since their very first offerings in the early 19-teens (photo.) Their lines are bold yet still always graceful, usually recognizable at a glance once you've seen enough, and yet they still produce variations on the basic themes that keep things in motion while remaining yet fully iconic of the brand. I think the new 98 Mauser Magnums are almost as handsome in their own way, also bold yet graceful, but the variations in stock aesthetics are so far nil, it seems. The Martini-designed Heym magazine rifles certainly conform to what i feel i've come to learn as Martini's one ideal where shaping a stick of walnut into a bolt rifle is concerned. It's a classic, highly streamlined, even elongated look leaning more towards graceful as opposed to bold. Slender, super long/straight wrists widening for their length to the buttstock with its oval pancake-resembling cheekpiece (who doesn't like pancakes), slender tapered fore-ends into a ubiquitous tapered and slightly elongated ebony tip. I would say that nothing about the design stands out to jar the eye (beyond perhaps the elongated shape of the ebony tip, which may be the closest thing to a Heym design trademark along with the elongation in general and which jars my eye just a little). This is great if that design represents the ultimate to you, why mess with it? The result is an undeniably beautiful yet rather generic looking rifle. Plenty of shooters seem to gravitate to the Rigby lines where the subject arises, and i've seen where the modern popularity of the brand's style has manifested some professional jealousy. "Rigby this, Rigby that!" they may beef. Unwilling to admit perhaps that there's good, deeply enduring reason for this. All this said, i would not doubt for a minute that Heym rivals their peers for quality.
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Beautifully stated! We are grateful for the appreciation!

 

[Adam Stevens]

My new to me Heym 89b only had 20 or so rounds through it and the stock was cut back to my lop so we can call it 'new' I suppose.
I've waxed lyrical about the 89b so won't launch yet again, but suffice it to say that I think that Heym achieved the pinnacle of perfection in capturing the form of the quintessential British double rifle In the 89b. Mine is pretty plain with straight grain and edge engraving, but I actually prefer that. Given all the money in the world I am happy with what I have.
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Gorgeous and I agree, they nailed it when the 89b came out!

And Im of the same mindset, I almost prefer the straight grain or darker wood look stocks. alot of the walnut burls are beautiful but if I had to choose between say a rigby big game or a PH model, Id go with the PH model.

it reminds me of Mike Fells bolt actions he has. All dark straight grain. Even your heym 89b, if it saw years and years, it would only darken and only get even better!

 

[txtrout75218]

I’m a Heym guy by default, acquiring a new bolt action Martini Express 416 Rigby for an excellent price. While I’ve only handled a Rigby Big Game and not shot one, I found the Heym Martini express to have a better “feel”, a bit trimmer and livelier in my hands. The Martini Express also has the advantage of the magazine box specifically made for the individual cartridge for reliability and smoothness of feeding.

I will admit however, if I had a choice of either a Rigby Big Game 416 Rigby or a Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby bolt action, I may opt for the Rigby for the nostalgia, history and name alone.

I’m not a double rifle guy, but if I were, it would be a Heym in 470 or 500 Nitro Express.

My Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby - in a few months will be taking it to the Greater Kruger- Umbabat for buffalo.
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Outstanding rifle