.416/470 SxS Double Rifle - John Rigby & Co.

https://www.africahunting.com/hunting-pictures-videos/watermark.php?file=4747&size=1

The Maharaja's Rifle, a John Rigby Double Rifle .416/.470

John Rigby and Company Sidelock Double Rifle in .416/470. a special caliber deviced & customized on order for One Maharaja in India for his dark continent expeditions, this game double SxS rifle is of substance, with magnificent wood and metal work. Fantastic figure is found in the walnut stocks, tasteful engraving with the Surguja State Crest on the locks embellishes a rock-solid action, with dolls head extension with rear V sights 100 fixed 200 &300 yards leafs and ivory bobble foresight which was used for his night shoots of tigers & Leopards from a machan (Hide) on a kill.

This rifle was built for the Maharaja Ramanuj Saran Singh Deo (1917-1965) of Surguja State (India) in 1939. This is the only double of that caliber made by John Rigby & Co.

Truly an unusual rifle. Makers case and accessories. This unique double rifle was completed by John Rigby & Co. on a special order placed to the John Rigby & Co. in 1936 and was completed and dispatched to the Maharaja of Surguja in 1939. It is said the Maharaja paid a substantial sum of 6000 pounds for this customised rifle.

With this rifle of his he nearly took 500 + odd tigers ,leopards & lots of game species in Indian Subcontinent & in Africa. He has the world record of taking 1157 tigers in his life time. And it said that after his 1100th tiger he left keeping the count of the Tigers he shot , which is estimated the head count went upto 1710 tigers.

This finely engraved rifle is believed to be available at Cabelas now which was bought by some American Hunter in 1970s. from the Sarguja Royal family.

https://www.africahunting.com/hunting-pictures-videos/watermark.php?file=4748

From the AH thread.