Sorry to be the "devil's advocate" here but I think you guys are really jumping all over California Rigby's without merit. If the price is way out of line (which it may be), they will come down because no one will place orders for the rifles and they will have to reduce them (you have to love capitalism).

Now, I will state up front that I do own a Rigby made by Geoff and thus I may be a bit biased in that respect. However, I have held and fired Merkels, Heyms, and Kreighoffs before I bought my Rigby .500 NE and there is no comparison in the fit and finish overall as the Rigby is much nicer. I have also held Holland & Holland's and agree that they are certainly another level above. While I did not pay anywhere near what the new listed price is for my Rigby double, my rifle is much nicer in the engraving/metalwork, wood, finish, overall shooting balance than any of the German brands mentioned above. I really feel that it is without merit to say that these rifles are "not worth 2 cents" or that they are "butchered in California". I will grant that there is definitely a bit of a premium price placed on the Rigbys over the German guns. Some of that premium is no doubt for the name but I think you get quite a bit more gun as well. This was just my opinion based on my experience with each gun. I did like the Merkel and Kreighoff very much when I was looking for a semi-affordable double rifle and I was about to order the Krieghoff when the opportunity presented itself to get a used Rigby instead for a bit more money. Once I saw and held the Rigby, it was an easy decision and I have never regretted it. Now, all that being said, it is very true that the current Rigby guns are not made in London anymore and not of the same quality as an H&H or a Purdey but they are also not coming with a starting price upwards of ~$70,000 US. Plus, I do not think anyone ever has stated that they are the same quality as an H&H or Purdey.

BTW: Mike Bailey, I love this quote from you:
"They will never be cheap and I often think they are like fine watches, you never really own one, you just look after it for the next generation "

I feel that way about all of my fine firearms.