Heym versus Rigby

[ftrovato]

In my opinion, there are many wonderful makers of fine bolt action rifles.

You can add Ralph Martini into this short list.

With that said, Rigby has proven year after year that they deliver wonderful rifles that hold their value.

 

[steve white]

We are honored by your commitment to the brand and hope they serve you well!

Though I cannot yet afford a new Rigby, I will say that the only rifle I ever painstakingly traced onto brown paper was a Rigby for sale at Euell Cross gun shop in Ft. Worth Texas. It was about $5000 in 1990, but I hoped I might at least build a stock on that pattern. What a rifle!!

 

[Lab Herder]

Tough decision, but the upside is both are fantastic rifles. That said, I went with the Heym in .404J. I preferred the lines of the Heym, and the made-to-caliber design tipped the scales. A good friend is likely going to go with the Rigby. My rifle (bottom) next to a Nick Makinson custom i(top) in .416.

 

[Tex .416]

In my opinion, there are many wonderful makers of fine bolt action rifles.

You can add Ralph Martini into this short list.

With that said, Rigby has proven year after year that they deliver wonderful rifles that hold their value.

Ralf has closed his shop and gone to work for Hartmann & Weiss in Germany. That says a lot about the quality of his work and confirms your opinion.

 

[PCC600]

W

Though I cannot yet afford a new Rigby, I will say that the only rifle I ever painstakingly traced onto brown paper was a Rigby for sale at Euell Cross gun shop in Ft. Worth Texas. It was about $5000 in 1990, but I hoped I might at least build a stock on that pattern. What a rifle!!

What calibre was it and what era was it made in ? The new Rigbys are very nice but some of the older bolt action rifles were very lovely .

 

[steve white]

W

What calibre was it and what era was it made in ? The new Rigbys are very nice but some of the older bolt action rifles were very lovely .

It was about 1990--hard to remember details, but I think it was a 416 Rigby. I really liked the cheekpiece. Good looking rifle, but I don't have any more details.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi

I like the Heym Martini rifles because of their quality, general lines and balance, the integral scope base milled in the action and the great Heym hammer forged barrels. And, last but not least, because are made following the Mauser Oberndorf Original Sporting rifles cartridge specific magazine dimentions. This is one of the main features, unknown, ignored or overlooked, of the Original Sporting Mauser that assures a perfect cartridge set up in the magazine and also perfect feed and extracción. I don't know other actual rifles makers who do that. May be there are...
The BRNO ZKK also had a cartridge family specif magazines.
To me, ANY enbelishment is superfluos without that escential features in a DGR.

CF

 

[rookhawk]

A Parkwest Dark Continent in 404J should be added to the short list as well. (Or a Vintage Dakota African…same thing)

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I might go handle each before you spend this money.

 

[ftrovato]

Ralf has closed his shop and gone to work for Hartmann & Weiss in Germany. That says a lot about the quality of his work and confirms your opinion.

I didn't realize he went to Germany. I had heard rumor that he was moving his business to the USA.

Personally, I think he is a great guy and fantastic rifle builder. I bought a Heym 89B from him a few years ago. It was a great experience. (PS-Ralph contributed to the design of the 89B for Heym).

 

[mdwest]

Safari and Outdoor in Johannesburg and Pretoria have both in stock. I tried them both and for me the Heym was better balanced and better finished too. The Heym Martini is at the bottom.
View attachment 718659

I was just in that shop a couple of weeks ago and also got to play around a little bit with the Heyms they have on the wall as well as a couple of higher end Chapuis..

LOVE that shop!

 

[Rare Breed]

Rare Breed, just a correction on the wait time, for the OP’s benefit. I spoke to Chris Sells again on Monday morning while down from AK doing to fun shooting in Salt Lake area with another forum member. New double orders are looking at 2-year wait which is expected conservative, meaning their hope and expectation is shorter than the quoted 2-year.

For Martini Express bolt guns, the wait is totally different and can be as short as few months for popular chambering.

Thanks for the update! That is very good news!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

Tough decision, but the upside is both are fantastic rifles. That said, I went with the Heym in .404J. I preferred the lines of the Heym, and the made-to-caliber design tipped the scales. A good friend is likely going to go with the Rigby. My rifle (bottom) next to a Nick Makinson custom i(top) in .416.

View attachment 718854

View attachment 718855

Outstanding wood!!!!!

 

[MacJenkins]

I didn't realize he went to Germany. I had heard rumor that he was moving his business to the USA.

Personally, I think he is a great guy and fantastic rifle builder. I bought a Heym 89B from him a few years ago. It was a great experience. (PS-Ralph contributed to the design of the 89B for Heym).

Ya, if i recall right he left last summer-fall. He was in the middle of a 300 H&H take-down bolt rifle for us that he took with him to finish. He's a fantastic craftsman and has built me and my wife a couple rifles previously.

 

[SCmackey]

I was able to pickup 2 new Heym’s recently that were cancelled orders and are NIB never been fired. Both have exceptional wood, one is a 416 Rigby and the other a 404 Jeffery. I am not going to keep both so drop me a pm if you’d like more info. I have owned Heym’s in 375 and 458 Lott and they are excellent. Also have a Mauser diplomat in 416 and I think the Heym action is a touch smoother. Have a rigby being delivered this week so will be able to do direct comparison.

 

[uplander01]

Spend a little more and buy a Westley Richards,…once you get to the 20k’s, might as well jump up to the 30’s +. They are the only one left that isn’t owned by some venture capitalist or investment group (holdings company).

Me personally, at that $ level wouldn’t be buying for resale or brand name. I’d go straight to a guy like reto buehler (or the few others left) and make it worth his while, pay attention to every detail and have it built specifically for me and have a 1 off peice of art, from a guy I could call on the phone and talk directly too.

 

[PCC600]

Spend a little more and buy a Westley Richards,…once you get to the 20k’s, might as well jump up to the 30’s +. They are the only one left that isn’t owned by some venture capitalist or investment group (holdings company).

Me personally, at that $ level wouldn’t be buying for resale or brand name. I’d go straight to a guy like reto buehler (or the few others left) and make it worth his while, pay attention to every detail and have it built specifically for me and have a 1 off peice of art, from a guy I could call on the phone and talk directly too.

Gee I don’t think you understand the capital structure of Westley Richards . They have for many years been controlled by the Royal Family of Qatar . This arrangement came into place while the Clode family were active in the business . I’d prefer to deal with committed capitalists than supporters of Middle Eastern terrorists .

 

[uplander01]

You have a valid point sir….but Isn’t Qatar one of our closest middle eastern allies? I think the Clode family is still involved. But honestly these aren’t the circles of people I travel in. I do know for sure is that rigby is owned by the blaser group, and holland & holland is owned by beretta holdings. Maybe that ultimately isn’t a bad thing to keep the brands alive. but to me if I was going to create a functional work of art, I’d want to work directly with the artist,….not a shop manager. Just my opinion.

 

[PCC600]

You have a valid point sir….but Isn’t Qatar one of our closest middle eastern allies? I think the Clode family is still involved. But honestly these aren’t the circles of people I travel in. I do know for sure is that rigby is owned by the blaser group, and holland & holland is owned by beretta holdings. Maybe that ultimately isn’t a bad thing to keep the brands alive. but to me if I was going to create a functional work of art, I’d want to work directly with the artist,….not a shop manager. Just my opinion.

With friends like Qatar - who needs enemies . The Royal Family have been majority shareholders for years . But WR still make great firearms .