New to me .450 Rigby

[RR 314]

@RR 314
Wow. That is beauty. The best I have seen.
Krish

Thank you. I have had numerous “nice” (to me) rifles for years. This one has made me question everything I believed to be true in the universe.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Oh, and the 3-pos safety on the left side is pure genius.

Magnificent piece, is it a 3-pos or a 2-pos safety? looks similar to a Chapman 2-pos safey but on the left side. Agree the ergonomics might be better on the LH side

 

[towserthemouser]

I have told myself repeatedly that I am done buying . . . then something (I believe) is truly spectacular catches my eye. Well, here it is. As to not clutter the are German riflemakers the best in the world thread, here are some auction pictures. The only disappointment with the rifle is I figured there was a 50/50 chance the Gen I Z6i would be EE—it was not revealed in pictures or description, but ended up only being the garden variety. I will likely replace with a S&B Exos.

Beautifully executed on all fronts in my humble opinion. Claw mounts are the most precise and best I have encountered. Tolerances and finish are amazing on the entire rifle. Will take a couple more pictures in a bit.

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@RR 314 congratulations on a magnificent rifle! The wood, the lines, the engraving: all simply fabulous.

Please pardon my ignorance, as I have not had the opportunity to see or handle this safety configuration in person. Can you elaborate on the working of the safety? Do you pull it rearwards with your thumb? Does it flip around to the R side when disengaged after going through position 2 and position 3? Or do you push it forward? I'm confused but would appreciate an education on this.

 

[RR 314]

@RR 314 congratulations on a magnificent rifle! The wood, the lines, the engraving: all simply fabulous.

Please pardon my ignorance, as I have not had the opportunity to see or handle this safety configuration in person. Can you elaborate on the working of the safety? Do you pull it rearwards with your thumb? Does it flip around to the R side when disengaged after going through position 2 and position 3? Or do you push it forward? I'm confused but would appreciate an education on this.

It is a 3 position. “Same” as model 70. Rear locks the bolt and front is fire. Bolt can be operated in middle position. When preparing to shoot, the ergonomics, while a bit puzzling at first, quickly become yet another reason to question all I was convinced I knew to be true.

 

[RR 314]

Magnificent piece, is it a 3-pos or a 2-pos safety? looks similar to a Chapman 2-pos safey but on the left side. Agree the ergonomics might be better on the LH side

It is 3 pos and (confusingly at first) makes complete sense when shooting. Thanks.

 

[towserthemouser]

It is a 3 position. “Same” as model 70. Rear locks the bolt and front is fire. Bolt can be operated in middle position. When preparing to shoot, the ergonomics, while a bit puzzling at first, quickly become yet another reason to question all I was convinced I knew to be true.

@RR 314 thanks for the explanation.

In thinking it through...... if you grasp the wrist of the rifle as a R handed person, your thumb as it closes over the top of the stock will be to the LEFT of the stock, and therefore ideally positioned to flick the safety forward to fire, because of your grip on the rifle.....

Do I have it?

 

[RR 314]

@RR 314 thanks for the explanation.

In thinking it through...... if you grasp the wrist of the rifle as a R handed person, your thumb as it closes over the top of the stock will be to the LEFT of the stock, and therefore ideally positioned to flick the safety forward to fire, because of your grip on the rifle.....

Do I have it?

Bingo! Apologies as I am not a wordsmith on here. Can quickly go to fire position when mounting/shouldering the rifle and it is ergonomic when on the sticks or ready to shoot offhand. What initially seems foreign soon becomes intuitive.

 

[dogcat1]

Stunner and a thumper!!

 

[RR 314]

I sent a couple of gentlemen on here some pictures of the safety in each of the three positions. Figured I would add them here as well. . .

 

[Woodcarver]

I sent a couple of gentlemen on here some pictures of the safety in each of the three positions. Figured I would add them here as well. . .

I have always wondered why most safeties were on the right side of a right handed rifle. Never has made sense to me. One of the reasons I really like tang safeties. It's a natural movement to push forward as you shoulder and your thumb moves to the left side of the grip. That safety on your rifle makes way more sense. Makes me wonder if anyone sells a conversion kit.
That is an exquisite rifle! And it probably shoots as good as it looks. Hope it serves you well for many years!

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

That is a work of art. Built to be used , but almost too nice to risk using.
I’d use it, but cry if I scratched it.
Oh, and Parker hale had a left hand safety for right hand firearms, but only two positions
Gumpy

 

[RR 314]

I have always wondered why most safeties were on the right side of a right handed rifle. Never has made sense to me. One of the reasons I really like tang safeties. It's a natural movement to push forward as you shoulder and your thumb moves to the left side of the grip. That safety on your rifle makes way more sense. Makes me wonder if anyone sells a conversion kit.
That is an exquisite rifle! And it probably shoots as good as it looks. Hope it serves you well for many years!

Thank you. The right sided safety has always made sense to me in as much as I never thought about it. . Now that I have this one, the right sided safety (on right hand rifles) suddenly seems off.

 

[Woodcarver]

Thank you. The right sided safety has always made sense to me in as much as I never thought about it. . Now that I have this one, the right sided safety (on right hand rifles) suddenly seems off.

Went looking for some other parts and found this this morning. Apparently there IS a conversion available, at least for a Mauser...

Mauser 98 - 3 Position Safety with Left Side Lever R-425L, Treasure Chest | New England Custom Gun Service, Ltd.

 

[Scanos]

That is one of the most tastefully built rifles I have ever seen. Congrats!

 

[RR 314]

Went looking for some other parts and found this this morning. Apparently there IS a conversion available, at least for a Mauser...

Mauser 98 - 3 Position Safety with Left Side Lever R-425L, Treasure Chest | New England Custom Gun Service, Ltd.

That is cool. Great find. I have a left hand GMA action on hand and just put it in a stock. It has the standard length lever on the safety like the Mauser ones. I think it does help a little bit to have a longer throw on the lever, but even the standard length it still makes sense.