Don’t get me wrong I love my Rigby’s, but the original ones. I think it’s a serious speculation to think current production guns will retain similar value or growth, just as Cali Rigby’s or guns from Roberts ownership don’t. Not knocking anyone who wants one or has bought one, but I’d rather an original.
There’s a known quantity of originals and it’s never going up. The current annual production numbers of guns, as you just highlighted is unknown. To me, seeing them in a large chain store detracts from both their value, limited production and brand equity. If this was Cabela’s 20 years ago, it might be a different story, but the company, assortment, and quality of product are miles apart. Seeing them on shelves at a large chain store eliminates any and all exclusivity, whereas if they were only sold at or to a handful of top end gun stores in each state or region it’d be different.
There are at least a dozen members of this forum with Shikaris on order, and I know of another dozen or two who aren’t AH members (or at least active) with them on order as well. If/when Rigby gets caught up on production and you were to hypothetically see them pop-up in a Walmart or Academy instead of the current stores do you still have this ultra premium, limited production, exclusive thought?
You absolutely can’t maintain the mystique and exclusivity of your double-flap Chanel purse if sold in mass quantities in Walmart. And while these rifles are not meant to be diamond or hand-bags, but tools, they are meant to be nice. I would not necessarily consider them ultra-luxury like some Birkin bag, but very nice tool. That said, there is a reason you saw Chanel Group buy Holland and Holland before selling to Berretta. Same reason Richemont bought Purdy. Some brands are as much presitge and exclusivity as they are about the firearm. I don’t see Rigby as quite being that, even back when they were making the first bolt guns…not all that differently than today…importing directly from Mauser. And looking to advance their craft and for new designs wherever and whenever possible.
The very early Rigby bolt guns were absolutely built to be hammers. Tools that functioned without fail…and most every one you see were built very plainly. Obviously some of their doubles were different, but even then, Rigby was never the most flashy maker on the block. And even when Rigby rolled its first bolt gun off the floor…it was the “Original Rigby,” none of these companies are what they were originally…doesn’t mean they don’t make quality still, just hopefully with better steel and more precision that modern manufacturing allows.
I don’t think it’s accurate to say to Paul Roberts’ guns don’t hold or accrue value. Most you see hit the market are 2.5-4x their purchase price a mere 20-35years ago. They are in a weird middle ground though, leading into California guns which were a mixed bag at best if not total shit show, and not old enough to fall into the Pall Mall or pre compost war eras. For many folks though, they are a Goldilocks of sorts. Not totally modern, but also not a century or more old where care and condition are primary concerns even before accuracy. A true mint, unrestored or f’d with pre-war Rigby is ultra cool. One that’s been drug from hell to breakfast and put up wet, not so much.
For many, myself included, the early vintage guns are a novelty at best. I think they are awesome and should be collected and cherished, I just can’t fall in love with a gun that’s not as accurate or more so than me, and that I can hunt without real concern. A true minty pre-war that’s not restored isn’t it, and one that’s been around and even gone through a restoration isn’t original by any means.
Even on doubles, at least there many guns didn’t see years of hard use…the ones that did you can see right off. And a vintage British double is a working work of art…even if professionally restored. For hard hunting purposes…I’ll take a modern double over an old British double every single day…for my hunting purposes. I do think they are awesome, catch myself wanting another one all the time, but cannot see myself taking one on a hunt that really mattered to me over modern doubles I shoot regularly. I will take this Westley Richards 450/400 to Africa at least once and hunt something with it…but it’s truly a novelty idea for me, taking my restored discount Chanel bag of its day for another hurrah…but even as well as I’ve got it regulated now, I’d never reach for it over one of my other doubles when accuracy and reliability and function truly mattered. But for fun novelty of using a 1912 double, he’ll ya I’ll take it over at some point. Just like taking your first whitetail with a selfbow. At some point you’ve done it enough that you need a new (or old) aspect to bring the previous level of excitement, and it’s cool that we have the options to make it happen.
There will always be a place for vintage arms, and always a demand. I hope there is always enough hunting demand for the likes of Rigby, Heym, Parkwest and US custom builders to keep making weapons and we will see a demand for their pre-owned wares as well. Maybe even on the walls of some Cabelas store with the other discounted semi-custom wares. It’s not like they don’t get in some pretty nice Holland and Holland as well as Westley Richards doubles…just more often shotguns.
If modern Rigby rifles took a price cut because of selling a single batch of their two less-sold calibers, all it would do is make me smile and if discounted enough, I might just buy 3.
