Educate Me on Rigby Rifles

[Kevin Peacocke]

@absales - Think of it like this. Rigby is the Rolex of the gun world. Even those who don't know anything about rifles, know that Rigby is a top quality brand. They also hold their value in a very similar fashion.

If it were me, it would be a full custom Heym Express Magnum Bolt Action Rifle. I'm not sure if they make their own actions, but everything else is done in-house including making the barrels, stocks, engraving, finishing and all the small parts. An incredible work of art that can be tailor fitted to the buyer at a fraction of the price of a Rigby. Call it the Omega of the rifle world.

As I wrote in an earlier thread I recently had the pleasure to see and handle the Rigby Big Bore and the Heym Martini Express side by side and to me it is the Heym that is the Rolex and the Rigby the Omega. I know the definition of the photo below won't allow you to see the finer details, but take notr that the Heym checkering is finer, clean and superb. This was not the case on the Rigby. The Heym stock form is cleaner to my eye and has a forend hardwood tip, a classy touch. The Heym cheek piece is nicer in form and the edge lines are cleaner. The metalwork on both looked as good as each other.
The Heym price in Johannesburg is HALF the price of the Rigby.

 

[mauser98]

If were crapping on modern production than let's keep it fair with other current rifle production. Look a the current M70. Production is over seas, not even a true Winchester as it's Portuguese made by Browning. Multiple piece bolt, poor inletting and bedding, and piss poor barrels. Bought two super grades one with blonde Maple and the other walnut. Both had pitted bores as per a bore scope inspection. Couldn't get them to group, best was about 2.5" and up to 4" with several types of factory and reloads. Not only that look at the premium price tag they demand today.

Reality is most modern practices is about cutting corners for ease of manufacturing and most profit gains. Some are more evident than others. Much rather enjoy my old rifles than alot of the new.

I do agree that the Rigby and Mauser comes with a premium for the name but it's a much nicer rifle. Kinda like mustang/Camaro versus a Porsche/Ashton Martin. They all drive and get you from point A to B. Both have stylish points in their segment but the Europeans have more class and reputation.

 

[CZDiesel]

If were crapping on modern production than let's keep it fair with other current rifle production. Look a the current M70. Production is over seas, not even a true Winchester as it's Portuguese made by Browning. Multiple piece bolt, poor inletting and bedding, and piss poor barrels. Bought two super grades one with blonde Maple and the other walnut. Both had pitted bores as per a bore scope inspection. Couldn't get them to group, best was about 2.5" and up to 4" with several types of factory and reloads. Not only that look at the premium price tag they demand today.

Reality is most modern practices is about cutting corners for ease of manufacturing and most profit gains. Some are more evident than others. Much rather enjoy my old rifles than alot of the new.

I do agree that the Rigby and Mauser comes with a premium for the name but it's a much nicer rifle. Kinda like mustang/Camaro versus a Porsche/Ashton Martin. They all drive and get you from point A to B. Both have stylish points in their segment but the Europeans have more class and reputation.

I agree with you on this and have always said Winchester died when they shuttered the New Haven plant that built rifles and shotguns for over 140 years. The name survived but not the rifle…
But a true custom Pre-64 is a completely different animal and when done by Americas best rifle makers they are every bit as nice as anything that is made in Europe!
Is Rigby a great rifle? Yup! Does the name command respect and a high purchase price? Yup! Is it a bespoke rifle that will be passed on for generations? Yup?
You will never hear me talk poorly of any of these British or German rifles. I respect the heck out of them and their history!
But I also respect the heck out of Winchesters! I’d put my Custom LeRoy Berry 1950 transition rifles against any of theirs…

 

[skydiver386]

I agree with you on this and have always said Winchester died when they shuttered the New Haven plant that built rifles and shotguns for over 140 years. The name survived but not the rifle…
But a true custom Pre-64 is a completely different animal and when done by Americas best rifle makers they are very bit as nice as anything that is made in Europe!
Is Rigby a great rifle? Yup! Does the name command respect and a high purchase price? Yup! Is it a bespoke rifle that will be passed on for generations? Yup?
You will never hear me talk poorly of any of these British or German rifles. I respect the heck out of them and their history!
But I also respect the heck of of Winchesters! I’d put my Custom LeRoy Berry 1950 transition rifles against any of theirs…

We Americans can build firearms on par with anyone on Earth when we want to.

The problem is, only a few in America currently want to.

 

[coreydb]

The action is a Mauser 98. The $$$$$$$ comes from what Rigby does to the action and the stock "creation". Money well spent.

 

[PCC600]

Neither one of those things is still going on today.

Yes all gone . My point was that there were probably more Lee Speed and Mannlicher rifles being used in Africa than Mauser 98s . Certainly in British Colonies before 1914 .

 

[KIH]

As one writes, Rigby is traditionally blued = Rust from sweaty hand's when African carry have a feast. Mauser Finish is Plastma Nitrited, same as Blaser and Sauer 505 = no need to wrap the barrel in cloths for African Carry. In Short, Mauser is more suited for practical use. And i 375HH the Mauser 98 holds 5 rounds in the magazine.

 

[PCC600]

As one writes, Rigby is traditionally blued = Rust from sweaty hand's when African carry have a feast. Mauser Finish is Plastma Nitrited, same as Blaser and Sauer 505 = no need to wrap the barrel in cloths for African Carry. In Short, Mauser is more suited for practical use. And i 375HH the Mauser 98 holds 5 rounds in the magazine.

My Rigby PH and Big Game have a plasma nitrited finish according to their product spec. I am not really a fan preferring the older bluing process . I have a 100 year old 404J where you can easily see the hand marks on the barrel . Barrel is still perfect and I really like the patina of use .

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

The Rigby Big Game rifles have a plasma nitride finish the same as Mauser. It still wears and rusts, just not as quick and easy as blueing.

 

[Major Bonkers]

Herr Miedler will charge you €7,700 ($8,950) for a Mannlicher-Schönauer stutzen, and €7,470 ($8,680) for the half-stocked Mannlicher-Schönauer, in any calibre between 6.5x54 - .308.

This compares so favourably with the Rigby ’Highland Stalker’ ’starting at’ £8,500 ($11,410), excl. VAT (at 20%), in the same range of calibres, that it makes me wonder why anyone buys it.

 

[Huvius]

The action is a Mauser 98. The $$$$$$$ comes from what Rigby does to the action and the stock "creation". Money well spent.

I would say that was true of any of the high end British gunmakers in the early 20thC but not all that applicable to Rigby today unless one is considering one of the London Best rifles.
Other than going through the proofhouse, no “work” is done to the Big Game and HS in England.

This is not new for Rigby though.
There is speculation that the original Rigby 350 Magnum rifles where wholly built in Germany and there is at least one photo of the workshop floor that looks to show a rack of finished or nearly finished Rigby styled rifles there in Oberndorf.

The OP voices concern about this practice as a “negative” but the truth is that few gunmakers, especially once breechloading guns and rifles became the norm, actually manufactured their own actions.

Looking at there Big Game model, it seems that they do not even use or make there own action, they are using the Mauser M98 action which to me personally is a "negative" thing in my mind. To clarify the negative is buying into a high end brand that doesn't make there own action.

Of course, until after WW2 there was only one Mauser 98 manufacturer so that’s where every gunmaker got their new actions but of course ex military actions were also used.
This not only applied to making ‘98s but also applied to many shotguns, single shot and double rifles as well.
The majority of firearms made in Britain were products of “the trade”, meaning there was an industry of workmen and craftsmen who made parts or did work to produce the final product or in some cases bring the gun to the point of final finish which was then taken up by the gun making firm (simply the retailer in many cases) and finished in their style.
Four Rigbys I’ve owned were made this way, two break action single shots, a 350 Boxlock double and a 350 Magnum Mauser.
The single shot rifles and the double were 100% made by Webley and the 350 Magnum I believe was almost entirely made by Mauser.
Webley (and the company’s iterations - Webley & Scott etc) made a large portion of the boxlock double rifles produced by the great gunmaking firms.
The point is, outsourcing is nothing new in the fine firearms industry.

 

[deewayne2003]

Having said, that, I am blue collar. Neither of them will I buy.
I will stick to my poor man's mauser, old ZKK rifle.

I believe that Rigby used the ZKK602 action for a while when Mausers were not available.

 

[FlyGuy]

The Rigby is basically a Mauser M98 in an English stock with bluing.
For pretty or resale value, buy the Rigby.
For performance, buy the Mauser M98.

 

[baxterb]

I believe that Rigby used the ZKK602 action for a while when Mausers were not available.

This is true. Luke Samaras uses one.

 

[The creed]

if you get a Rigby, you'll need a big action like the CZ-550 Safari. I also have a 458 Lott built on a CZ-550 Safari and it is about a pound heavier. A 416 doesn't need to weigh more than 10 lbs scoped.
like as wise man once said 'if we only get what we need we will still be in caves' good luck on your purchase.

 

[Accidental Villain]

The Rigby is basically a Mauser M98 in an English stock with bluing.
For pretty or resale value, buy the Rigby.
For performance, buy the Mauser M98.

Are you kidding? The Rigby BG is arch English. What’s the octane on the gas you’ve been drinking….Buy Mauser for performance..?

 

[FlyGuy]

Are you kidding? The Rigby BG is arch English. What’s the octane on the gas you’ve been drinking….Buy Mauser for performance..?

Perhaps you misunderstood me.

If you want a pretty rifle to show your friends, buy the Rigby. It will also perform.
If you want a hunting rifle that you can drag through the bush without feeling sorry for it, but want 98% of what the Rigby has, you buy the M98.

I've used both, and found that the Mauser is actually more comfortable to shoot in large calibers as well. Just wish they were blued instead of plasma nitride coated.

 

[KIH]

i have checked The Rigby spec, and the rifles are today plasma nitrited like the Mauser M98.

 

[Russ16]

i have checked The Rigby spec, and the rifles are today plasma nitrited like the Mauser M98.

Was this different on some of the earlier highland stalkers? I’ve seen some used ones that definitely looked a bit different than current production.

 

[Muskox]

Was this different on some of the earlier highland stalkers? I’ve seen some used ones that definitely looked a bit different than current production.

Blaser as a company is using what the sales people are calling Blacker than Black TiN on everything now. I doubt they are doing anything but stocking the lower grade guns in the UK, if even that.

I picked up a new Blaser barrel a couple weeks ago, and my gun guy asked me if I was ready to go to the dark side. It looks good.