John Rigby & Co, 72 St James’s Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 15447
Year of production: circa 1887

 

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Heritage Guns' Comment John Rigby, grandson to the company’s founder of the same name, opened a shop in London in 1866 and proceeded to become a world famous gunmaker. It is not often appreciated that Rigby’s reputation was built to a large extent on superb single and double rifles, competing in rifle matches being a very great enthusiasm of the principles. However, their shotguns were not an afterthought and when the new .303 rifles superseded the larger calibres, the production of fine shotguns became more important to the firm. The gun we have here is a fine example of this change in emphasis to shotgun production, featuring their famous ‘Rising Bite’ patent and very individually shaped lock plates. Interestingly, Rigby went with a rather different ‘interceptor’ safety mechanism from the rest of the London trade, using a rotating blocking piece, located behind the standing breech that is actuated by the cocking lever and lifted by the safety slide. It would appear that this gun was made out of sequence, perhaps to pair with No.1, as although the number dates it to 1880-85, the ejector mechanism was only patented in 1887. Our sensitive restoration of this gun, its excellent stock dimensions and fine nitro proofed damascus barrels make it a very useable, pretty and collectable gun for any connoisseur of London gunmaking. Presented in an oak and leather case with original red baize lining and fitted with a reproduction Maker’s trade label and some accessories. A wonderful example of this iconic gun at the fantastic price of only £7990

The action is of traditional sidelock design and features:
Double triggers, bolted by a top tang, safety slide;
7 pin, bar action sidelocks; ‘Interceptor’ block in head of action;
Finely chiselled, fluted, acanthas leaf fences;
Snap underlever, operating a 'Purdey Bolt', setting the ‘Interceptor’ block and cocking the locks;
Top rib extension with Rigby & Bissell ‘Rising Bite’;
Perkes ejector box; ‘Rigby’s Patent’ lever forend catch.
Engraving style Best bold foliate. Gold inlayed SAFE.
Forend catch engraved ‘RIGBY’S PATENT’.
Locks & top rib signed in Gothic script ‘Jn^o Rigby & Co’.
Barrels and action flats stamped with the double R Rigby trade mark.
Barrels, action flats & forend tip engraved ‘2’.
Gun weight 6lb 12oz   
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4 lbs Rear trigger 4 lb
The original damascus barrels are 30” in length, chambered for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges
and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
The internal bore surfaces are free of pitting or marks.
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 2 ½” nitro powder cartridges 1925-1954.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:

'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Perkes ejector patent no. 12176 of 1887;
Harvey’s forend catch patent no 1793 of 1866;
Rigby & Bissell ‘Rising Bite’ patent no. 1141 of 1879.