Jeffery, Rigby, & Roberts.

[Daniel Cary]

What I couldn't understand is why a "W, J, Jeffery" would appear For Sale while built in the mid-2000's. A well-versed member here shared close ups of one, it's not so impeccable workmanship, while still priced in London's Best League.
Circa 2000 "Rock Island Auction, idk when"

Wikipedia (for whatever that's worth). Perhaps some may know more ..
In 2000 W.J. Jeffery & Co was sold to American interests and from 2000 to 2010 control of the company was transferred to J. Roberts & Son of London, who held the company records and had a license to manufacture under the Jeffery name. The owner of J. Roberts & Son, Paul Roberts, had previously owned John Rigby & Company. In that time 100 new Jeffery firearms were produced, 80 bolt-action rifles and 20 double rifles and shotguns.[2]

Does this mean "Rigby's were also made in California"?
In 1997 Paul Roberts sold the Rigby name and other intellectual property to Neil Gibson of Texas, but kept the right to continue building certain Rigby guns and rifles in England, while Gibson began making Rigby weapons in California.

Thanks,

 

[Daniel Cary]

I can see $70, $80K Bolts ..

But in a case of buyer beware, it was suggested (and shown why) the value was 1/3 the asking price, on a Circa 2000 listing.

 

[WAB]

If you get serious about a new British rifle, I would suggest a visit to Westley Richards.

 

[Daniel Cary]

If you get serious about a new British rifle, I would suggest a visit to Westley Richards.

If I were serious about any of this, they'd be one indeed. I thought someone tried here (I was excited for them) but thought it was a 5 year wait?

I got hung up on this Jeffery, because of the cartridge foremost. Then the history, etc became a fascination with this new release.

I honestly don't know what I'm looking at in a lot of areas of craftsmanship. Lot of members here got an educated eye on

though.

 

[Rare Breed]

If I were serious about any of this, they'd be one indeed. I thought someone tried here (I was excited for them) but thought it was a 5 year wait?

I got hung up on this Jeffery, because of the cartridge foremost. Then the history, etc became a fascination with this new release.

I honestly don't know what I'm looking at in a lot of areas of craftsmanship. Lot of members here got an educated eye on
View attachment 576610
though.

Now its up to 6 years wait.

 

[Green Chile]

If you get serious about a new British rifle, I would suggest a visit to Westley Richards.

I believe that WR is Ross Seyfried's favorite current builder and he has owned and used all of them.

 

[Daniel Cary]

sorry, idk what prompt this thread .. "My mind wanders".

 

[pjaln]

Jeffery rifles were built by Reto Buehler for a while and are great rifles that looks like one of them

 

[pjaln]

im talking with Heinrich Schiller next week , his work is very nice

 

[Daniel Cary]

Jeffery rifles were built by Reto Buehler for a while and are great rifles that looks like one of them

It get's deeper by the min!

 

[Daniel Cary]

im talking with Heinrich Schiller next week , his work is very nice

Certainly does, I'd imagine. (his surface photo)

 

[Daniel Cary]

Not to dismiss anyone's knowledge here, a really great member shared his thoughts & pics (here) on a "W. J. Jeffery" .500 listing. The outfitter never shared who built it, 80's, 90's, price was Firm, Cost was Exorbitant & Layaway Available. It sold for asking price.

This is what prompt the thread. Who Built W. J. Jeffery's from 1940 to 2023.
Information is invaluable.

 

[Major Bonkers]

An alternative would also be Mark Crudgington of George Gibbs gunmakers. Also specialise in blinging-up Ruger No. 1s with side plates and pistol 'scopes, and so on. Very knowledgable. I see that he is quoting a price 'starting from' £14,000 (ex tax) for a new rifle in Gibbs .505 (but I also see that the web-page has not been updated since 2009).

Regrettably, the demand for London firearms when Paul Roberts owned the Rigby and Jefferys marques was at a mid-market price, hence the Brno actions and workmanlike finishes. The pendulum has now swung to the other extreme, with such beautifully-finished and expensive rifles that you would be a fool actually to take them on a safari.

I own a Jeffery rifle in .404 which I bought at auction in Denmark for DKK 11,000 (US$1,600/ £1,300). Admittedly it needed work on the stock - the previous owner obviously had very short arms and had cut it down - and action - the removal of some ill-advised 'scope mounts. That cost about a third as much again: oddly enough, Paul Roberts' Oompa-loompas did the work. On the other hand, there are people who are keen to spend a lot more money than me!

 

[Daniel Cary]

An alternative would also be Mark Crudgington of George Gibbs gunmakers. Also specialise in blinging-up Ruger No. 1s with side plates and pistol 'scopes, and so on. Very knowledgable. I see that he is quoting a price 'starting from' £14,000 (ex tax) for a new rifle in Gibbs .505 (but I also see that the web-page has not been updated since 2009).

Regrettably, the demand for London firearms when Paul Roberts owned the Rigby and Jefferys marques was at a mid-market price, hence the Brno actions and workmanlike finishes. The pendulum has now swung to the other extreme, with such beautifully-finished and expensive rifles that you would be a fool actually to take them on a safari.

I own a Jeffery rifle in .404 which I bought at auction in Denmark for DKK 11,000 (US$1,600/ £1,300). Admittedly it needed work on the stock - the previous owner obviously had very short arms and had cut it down - and action - the removal of some ill-advised 'scope mounts. That cost about a third as much again: oddly enough, Paul Roberts' Oompa-loompas did the work. On the other hand, there are people who are keen to spend a lot more money than me!

That was funny. An interesting take, however, on the 2nd Paragraph.
Many Thanks!

 

[spike.t]

Jeffery rifles were built by Reto Buehler for a while and are great rifles that looks like one of them

I have said this before on here in other threads.... Paul sorted the sale of the jeffery name to Tom friedkin ,as he asked Paul to find him a named maker....I think hollands owned it at the time and after a bit agreed to sell...friedkin then told Paul he could use the name to build rifles....I owned my favourite rifle a jeffery 9.3x74r double with additional 20 bore barrels that Paul built..but I had to sell to pay lawyers fees....after a few years I think the contract or deal expired , and friedkin passed on the use of the name to reto buehler.....now as you know the friedkin family decided to take it back in house and Richard who was a pH with TGTS and still I believe hunts for the friedkins was put in charge...this is as i remember..could be bit out on odd thing..Richard worked for Paul at one time so has experience in the English gun trade.....Richard I think gave the info as well...possibly on the jeffery sponsor thread...

 

[Daniel Cary]

I have said this before on here in other threads.... Paul sorted the sale of the jeffery name to Tom friedkin ,as he asked Paul to find him a named maker....I think hollands owned it at the time and after a bit agreed to sell...friedkin then told Paul he could use the name to build rifles....I owned my favourite rifle a jeffery 9.3x74r double with additional 20 bore barrels that Paul built..but I had to sell to pay lawyers fees....after a few years I think the contract or deal expired , and friedkin passed on the use of the name to reto buehler.....now as you know the friedkin family decided to take it back in house and Richard who was a pH with TGTS and still I believe hunts for the friedkins was put in charge...this is as i remember..could be bit out on odd thing..Richard worked for Paul at one time so has experience in the English gun trade.....Richard I think gave the info as well...possibly on the jeffery sponsor thread...

Really interesting, thank you.

 

[Dewald]

Another respected maker in England is Keith Dennison Thomas He was the last WR employer who could build the droplock, and if money was no objective, i would have him build me a .450 Rigby and a .500 NE Double.

 

[spike.t]

Regrettably, the demand for London firearms when Paul Roberts owned the Rigby and Jefferys marques was at a mid-market price, hence the Brno actions .

Yeah I had 4 of them in 416 rigby one after the other....would love to get my hands on one now as with that action were bloody good rifles.....but Paul also built high end ones on request on magnum mauser actions....those obviously were quite a bit more....finding the actions and price of them....