What do you think of the new Rigby Shikari?

[PCC600]

Charles Lancaster do boxlock and sidelock

Did you see the two that Keith D Thomas produced for an Australian ? Stunning

The two DRs that came to Australia were both sidelocks , one in 600NE and the other a 577 Rewa ( necked down 600 ) . They were originally being built by Chris Soyza of Westley Richards as a side job . I was originally offered the 600 but was experiencing some tight cash flow issues at the time so I passed . Chris subsequently passed away and Keith Thomas took on the job . They are magnificent rifles and are used to hunt water buff often .

 

[Daniel Cary]

They are fine rifles, but Rigby would not even acknowledge my presence at their DSC booth (both years I went). They must know I am poor haha. If I should ever strike it rich, I will stick with Heym and Parkwest. They were very happy to chat with me, even though I was not a buyer.

I'm kinda, maybe surprised.

Jerome "Rigby" seems to be really responsive in emails, network, questions. "They are out of my league" but always thought their customer service was good?

idk. Heym, however, I agree. That Shikari would be $100K, looks like a VC Round Body ..

 

[Tanks]

They are fine rifles, but Rigby would not even acknowledge my presence at their DSC booth (both years I went). They must know I am poor haha. If I should ever strike it rich, I will stick with Heym and Parkwest. They were very happy to chat with me, even though I was not a buyer.

I made a pest of myself for a couple of years with Jerome while waiting for the Shikari to come to the market. I got great service in regard to information etc..

 

[Altitude sickness]

I thought Rigby was more than welcoming at the booth/tent. I bought a hat. Maybe that showed them I was a big spender

They even let me hold the elephant print rifle.

 

[Rare Breed]

I'm kinda, maybe surprised.

Jerome "Rigby" seems to be really responsive in emails, network, questions. "They are out of my league" but always thought their customer service was good?

idk. Heym, however, I agree. That Shikari would be $100K, looks like a VC Round Body ..

A little over half that of course depending on upgrades

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I'm kinda, maybe surprised.

Jerome "Rigby" seems to be really responsive in emails, network, questions. "They are out of my league" but always thought their customer service was good?

idk. Heym, however, I agree. That Shikari would be $100K, looks like a VC Round Body ..

I have yet to visit Rigby in their new premises in Vauxhall, but when I visited their previous premises they were very helpful and accommodating. They have done a great job of capturing the Grand Age and if I ever buy a big bore bolt gun it would be theirs.
I visit them all and I was grateful and relieved to see that Holland and Holland are well set up in their new place in Jermyn Street.
My favourite visit is Westley Richards, in Birmingham. I enjoy long chats with Trigger and Steven, who supplies all of my clothes, and now the wife and daughter too.
How utterly blessed we are that all of these fine outfitter gun shops of old are still here to be enjoyed.

But I shoot a Heym - I have yet to visit them though.

 

[alby]

The two DRs that came to Australia were both sidelocks , one in 600NE and the other a 577 Rewa ( necked down 600 ) . They were originally being built by Chris Soyza of Westley Richards as a side job . I was originally offered the 600 but was experiencing some tight cash flow issues at the time so I passed . Chris subsequently passed away and Keith Thomas took on the job . They are magnificent rifles and are used to hunt water buff often .

I purchased a rifle of Chris Soyza around that time too. The .600 & .577 Rewa rifles by Keiths are magnificent!

 

[PCC600]

I purchased a rifle of Chris Soyza around that time too. The .600 & .577 Rewa rifles by Keiths are magnificent!

I think Chris was running a pretty good side business while he was at WR . Given that you are based in the NT you no doubt know the owner of these 2 sidelocks . I pheasant shooting with him in Tassie in July and up to clean up some buff in August . He will certainly bring something stunning from his collection .

 

[Pondoro]

I purchased a rifle of Chris Soyza around that time too. The .600 & .577 Rewa rifles by Keiths are magnificent!

Any pics of those two rifles..please..?

 

[alby]

Any pics of those two rifles..please..?

I reckon both are in the 4th edition of shooting the British Double.

 

[rookhawk]

I spent an hour over the past two days looking over Rigby Shikari wood options for a bespoke rifle and thought it would be worth mentioning to the forum.

All of the wood blanks presented as options were structurally sound. Many of them did not have optimal grain flow through the head and wrist, but I think they all had satisfactory grain flow. Many had open knots in the body of the stock, but that just places onus on the stocker to close those voids and conceal them properly which they surely can do. Those that had attractive burl on one side of the stock were not symmetrical in their patterns on the opposite side of the stock. (e.g. one side plain, the other side flamboyant)

The variety of colors of wood was significant from blonde to chocolate and from burled to tiger striped, the varieties were impressive.

My impression was that the wood choices for a "Standard" Shikari were not as elaborate as say, a Dakota/Parkwest rifle in the $15k range nor a Heym 89b in the $30k range.

I don't think it's a terrible thing because the Shikari is the entry-level option from Rigby, a London maker, but I would recommend paying for a wood upgrade because it seems such a shame to pay $30k-$50k (what do they cost now?) to have a gun built with just so-so wood.

I understand labor and materials costs are very high and every business has to watch their margins very carefully in this era, I just think the wood selections ought to be equivalent to what you would receive on $30k-and-up doubles from other respected manufacturers.

Bottom line, budget in the price of a wood upgrade if you're planning on a Shikari or accept the fact that the wood blanks are going to be more economical selections than their competitors.

As a related anecdote, I've handled probably 20 of the Rigby Stalkers and Big Games over the past five years. I've noticed that the standard wood offerings on those have also become more economical to keep costs down on newer iterations.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Some of the wealthiest individuals, their appearance is not always a priority, they certainly don't need to put on air's. never judge or discredit anyone. easily loose a client or their respect.

Some Domestic builders never returned correspondence, while motivated!

W.J./WR took the time to send literature from abroad

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

Some of the wealthiest individuals, their appearance is not always a priority, they certainly don't need to put on air's. never judge or discredit anyone. easily loose a client or their respect.

Some Domestic builders never returned correspondence, while motivated!

W.J./WR took the time to send literature from abroad

View attachment 690386

Love seeing the best stopping rifle ever created.

EJ

 

[SWS1]

Any pics of those two rifles..please..?