275 Rigby

[DerickvanStaden]

I have beautiful 275 Rigby ( Ser. no. 2365)with a detachable old Pecar scope. How do I find out if Rigby mounted the scope?
I have all the original paperwork from Rigby . Is there a way to find out regarding " after sales" work done by Rigby?

 

[baxterb]

Wow! Lovely rifle. I would *think* any rifle sent back to Rigby for work would be logged? Did you talk with Marc Newton as to whether they have service records? Or perhaps that style of mount was common with specific gunsmiths if not Rigby?

In any case that’s a winner. And love seeing how many telescopes were fitted on rifles back that far in the records.

 

[DerickvanStaden]

Thanks for the advise. Herewith some more to drool on!

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I’m in the process of building a 275rigby and that rifle is exactly what I’m aiming for in style and finally appearance, I may have drooled a bit on my computer......
gumpy

 

[Tintin]

Very nice Derick.

I’m in the process of building a 275rigby and that rifle is exactly what I’m aiming for in style and finally appearance, I may have drooled a bit on my computer......
gumpy

Apologies for the hijack ...

Keen to see how the process is looking Grumpy

Here's mine from a couple of years ago https://www.africahunting.com/threads/275-rigby-project.44841/

 

[DerickvanStaden]

Beautiful rifle. Do you have some more pictures?

 

[Tintin]

Here's a few more Derick

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/what-have-you-killed-with-the-7x57.7297/page-15#post-1102754

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/what-have-you-killed-with-the-7x57.7297/page-14#post-1101859

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/blesbok-pictures.33647/page-3#post-1092951

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/what-have-you-killed-with-the-7x57.7297/page-14#post-1022396

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Sorry for the bit of a hijack that appears to have occurred Derick....but it’s all good stuff...
I don’t have any pictures , but my rifle is still a pile of bits, lother walther barrel, recknagel banded front sight and three leaf rear, Parker Hale receiver with their bolt mounted safety, I’ll make the barrel sling band in the rigby style, and I’ve got an obendorf bottom metal like Rigby put on some of their rifles.The stock is either one of hatchers or an old Slee stock in the classic Rigby style, the guy I got it from got it from a deceased estate about seven years ago
gumpy

 

[Red Leg]

Derick, first of all, I would send Rigby an email with photos of the mount. Typically, they are very good about responding.

The see through scope mount concept was very popular with German and Austrian gunmakers between the wars. Without knowing exactly how this one operates, it seems very similar to a between the wars design created by Krieghoff that is found on many of their period combination guns. The Krieghoff model slid onto the rib from the rear and was tightened by the thumb screws. It was very simple and very dependable. Unlike modern turn screw mounts nothing tightened from the sides, rather a thickened portion of the turn screw tightened against a base cut. It would be easy to do the same using scope bases rather than the rib of a combination gun. A competent Continental craftsman could have created such for this rifle. That would also explain the Pecar glass.

Will be interesting to see if what Rigby has to say.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Very beautiful piece. It appears to employ the military floor plate release system found on the early John Rigby & Co. rifles, rather than the hinged floor plate (with the release button located inside the trigger bow) as seen on their later rifles. Also is it a .275 rifle or a .275 H.V (High Velocity) rifle ?

The bolts of certain John Rigby & Co. .275 H.V rifles will not close over the heavier 170-177Gr cartridges.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Very nice rifle.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Derick, could I impose on you and get a photo of the bolt handle that shows the shape better and is it checkered at all, the bolt handle that is.
gumpy

 

[degoins]

Thanks for the advise. Herewith some more to drool on!

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Drool worthy indeed.......WOW!!!

 

[DerickvanStaden]

Derick, could I impose on you and get a photo of the bolt handle that shows the shape better and is it checkered at all, the bolt handle that is.
gumpy

 

[Rare Breed]

Very beautiful piece. It appears to employ the military floor plate release system found on the early John Rigby & Co. rifles, rather than the hinged floor plate (with the release button located inside the trigger bow) as seen on their later rifles. Also is it a .275 rifle or a .275 H.V (High Velocity) rifle ?

The bolts of certain John Rigby & Co. .275 H.V rifles will not close over the heavier 170-177Gr cartridges.

that is correct. mine is a H.V. and it will not close over 170 Gr

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Hi derick, thank you
gumpy

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Very nice rifle.

 

[rookhawk]

Thanks for the advise. Herewith some more to drool on!

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I'm not a vintage Rigby expert, but I suspect the scope mounts are not original, although they are high quality.

Reasons in my mind:

1.) The rigby mounts *usually* are mounted with a claw type on the front bridge or in a saddle, whereas the rear foot is offset to the left of the rear ring. This is done to prevent interference with the iron sights. Note: Since this is a double square bridge it appears, I am not 100% on this.

2.) Your gun looks of sufficient vintage where the original rings would have been 26mm rings and a German scope, not 1". Your Pecar looks like 1" rings, suggesting a later addition, although a competent gunsmith could have shimmed the rings to 24.5mm (1") at a later date.

As a collector, the question I think I do know more about than the above opinions, is "does it matter materially to the value of the gun?". Answer: Nope. Your gun does not have a hodge-podge of drilled and tapped holes all over the action. Your gun does not have an obsolete, non functional optic. Nope, your gun's bridges have not been molested to the point I'm unable to add a 21st century optic that would mount to your original action. Nope, your gun doesn't have an orphaned German/Rigby claw mount sitting in a barrel saddle either.

Too long, too much rambling answer: Who cares, your rifle isn't all messed up.