Barrel length 74 cm (29"), stock length 36,5 cm (14,5"), overall length 117 cm (46"), year of manufacture 1863, no proof, condition 2-3.
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Barrels with sharp rifling made of horseshoe damascus, inlaid silver thread at barrel root, rib with fixed sights and additional rear sight flaps that can be set up, marked 100, 150, 200 and 500 with silver thread as aiming aid, engraved with maker's address "W.J. Rigby - Dublin", double trigger, hammer-fired action with dolphin-shaped hammers, fire shields, hammer safety, gun parts with remnants of hardening colors, walnut stock with drop points, cleaning rod, iron engraved butt plate, on the right cheek piece with hinged cover for oil-soaked canvas patches for the bullets (some still present!).
The barrels were built as replacement barrels for the Rigby best double rifle serial number 10019 for E. Lestrange of the 22 Bengal Native Infantry Regiment. In 1863 these barrels were used to build up the present double rifle on behalf of "Alexander".
The eponymous company was founded by John Rigby in Dublin in 1775. In 1865, a shop was opened in London's St. James's Street and before the end of the same century Rigby completely separated from Dublin. From the work of John Rigby & Co came a multitude of different developments and patents. One of the most prominent of these was Rigby/Bissel No. 1141 from 1879, a vertical/horizontal locking device for break-barrel guns. Today known under the term Rising Bite. The company also developed a large number of high-performance cartridges (.416 Rigby, .400/.350 and .450 Nitro Express). John Rigby & Co was famous for its hunting rifles and was a supplier to the royal clientele as well as to the court of the British royal family. Run by family descendants until 1951, the company was first taken over by Vernon Harriss and later other investors. It also included a creative period by Paul Roberts and a manufacturing period in the USA. Finally, in 2013, L&O Holding, known for Blaser/Sauer/Mauser and others, took over the historic brand. Since then, all activities are again carried out in London as in the best times of the centuries before.

Category: Antique Weapons