Rigby Big Game Question

[Garciamarquez1918]

My 404 Big Game PH version has a line around the barrel just behind the front sight. What is this? Is the front of the barrel threaded to accept a suppressor or muzzle brake?

 

[RIGBY]

Hi @Garciamarquez1918, I believe I know what you are referring to, but if you can send a picture that would be helpful.

 

[Huvius]

The front sight is “sleeved” onto the barrel, meaning the ramp is integral with the tubular sleeve and this is soldered onto the muzzle of the barrel.
The line is the joint where the sleeve meets up to the barrel.
In the old days, Rigby and every other maker, would insure the joint was super tight and strike this all down smooth and the joint would be nearly invisible.
They don’t do that on the BG rifles.

 

[Huvius]

Here are a couple examples of this on original rifles.
I believe only the early Rigby bolt rifles were sighted this way and many simply had the ramp soldered to the barrel without using a band. A lot of the .275s were that way.
W.J. Jeffery used the sleeved sight quite a bit.
You can see that the joint seam on the Jefferys is near the middle of the ramp.
Often, on these original rifles, the only way to see the joint is the little difference in color - the barrel remaining more black and the sleeve taking on a slightly different hue - sometimes they plumb a bit i would think from differing metallurgy than the barrel steel.

350 Rigby

Jeffery

And another Jeffery - this one has the seam about 3/4” from the muzzle - a very nicely done example.

 

[RIGBY]

The front sight on the Big Game is milled from one piece, so the tube is how it attaches to the barrel.

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

Fabulous thanks for the clarification everybody. I knew it was "supposed" to be that way I just didn't know why.

The rifle is fabulous. I've been in love with a few shotguns in my time, but never a rifle. Until now.

 

[Rare Breed]

I love mine as well in the same caliber

 

[RIGBY]

Fabulous thanks for the clarification everybody. I knew it was "supposed" to be that way I just didn't know why.

The rifle is fabulous. I've been in love with a few shotguns in my time, but never a rifle. Until now.

That's great to hear! Please let me know when you have used it in the field - I would love to publish a story about your experience!

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

That's great to hear! Please let me know when you have used it in the field - I would love to publish a story about your experience!

I will. Sadly it will be over a year from now.