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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain
#287197 - 31/08/16 08:33 AM

Picked this old girl up out of a buddy's cabinet. He was selling a few guns for a friend whose father had passed away, and my Dad passed it to me calling it an 'old army gun' without looking at it twice. I knew the moment I saw the express sights that it was the furthest thing from a service rifle. Paid for it, brought it home and I was in possession of a Rigby with the 72 St James' Street address on the barrel. The woman whose father owned it called it a "John London .275", and since no one shoots anything but the new magnums around here I got it for well under $400 CAD. Not sure if it is a .275 since there are no caliber markings, but was hoping that the well of information that is the NitroExpress Forums could shed some light on the rest of the rifle. Rigby Serial # 5960 on the floor plate.

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Well_Well_Well
.333 member

Reged: 03/01/07
Posts: 305
Loc: Australia

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287198 - 31/08/16 08:48 AM

I believe that the existing J. rigby company has records of rifles built in the company's history and that they will tell you the original details.

A chamber cast will confirm chamber dimensions.

Finally, that's a ripper of a find and an outstanding price. Well done!

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rglenz
.300 member

Reged: 14/03/08
Posts: 136
Loc: w. Minn

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Well_Well_Well]
#287202 - 31/08/16 11:57 AM

Very special, very early 98 action you have there! I would think the floor plate is a replacement, Rigby put their number on the trigger guard. If still the original chamber,_ sure it's a .275.

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: rglenz]
#287203 - 31/08/16 12:25 PM

Quote:

Very special, very early 98 action you have there! I would think the floor plate is a replacement, Rigby put their number on the trigger guard. If still the original chamber,_ sure it's a .275.

Unfortunately there is no marking on the trigger guard - which is why I was led to think that the serial number is the one on the floor plate but you are likely correct! Would Rigby have stamped any other parts with their serial?

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287210 - 31/08/16 08:06 PM

What is the bore size measurement?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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rglenz
.300 member

Reged: 14/03/08
Posts: 136
Loc: w. Minn

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: NitroX]
#287215 - 31/08/16 10:13 PM

Loyalist,

I believe what you have is a rare small ring Transition action,Mauser serial number 133. Rigby's number 1168 stamped on the side of lug. What a great find with the peep sight!

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: NitroX]
#287218 - 01/09/16 12:13 AM

NitroX,

Measured the bore diameter, appears to be roughly .30 cal, an 8x57JS round drops just past the nose into the bore and sticks without contacting rifling, and a 7mm bullet (280 Remington) drops completely in, only contacting on the edge of the case mouth. Suspecting my caliber reading is off and it may be a .303 caliber? A .308 bullet drops just past the spitzer point to rest on the straight shank of the bullet with some looseness. Thoroughly confused now but it's certainly NOT a 275, and not an 8mm, anyway.

Edited by Loyalist17 (01/09/16 12:34 AM)

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rglenz
.300 member

Reged: 14/03/08
Posts: 136
Loc: w. Minn

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287220 - 01/09/16 12:34 AM

Will a .303 fit the bolt face? Speed lists some as being made by Rigby on that action.

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: rglenz]
#287225 - 01/09/16 02:04 AM

Tried a .303, rim would not fit under the extractor. Thoroughly puzzled at this point.

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dons
.333 member

Reged: 18/08/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Essex

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: rglenz]
#287226 - 01/09/16 02:29 AM

Loyalist:
rglenz has correctly identified this rifle as a rare small ring Rigby Pre-98 "Transition" Sporter. The 222.5 barrel marking indicates a .275 cal. (7x57). The mismatched bottom metal would explain the lack of a Rigby S/N on the trigger guard. I also notice a misaligned witness mark on receiver/barrel. Is there a S/N on the bolt handle root and inside the stock receiver channel ? A chamber cast is recommended to confirm any other modifications. I doubt that it is a 303 which required a slant magazine and was brought to market at a later date.

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FrankFarmer
.300 member

Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida USA.

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: dons]
#287234 - 01/09/16 04:29 AM

Greetings Loyalist: Your barrel appears to have a spacer at the receiver, this is typically done to match a barrel shank to an unmatching receiver thread or to re-chamber to a larger/longer cased caliber. The stock in-letting at the receiver and barrel junction looks very wide by Rigby standards, where the shoulder flare for the chamber area was originally can be seen. That being said, I'm sure you got good value for your $400.00 in the peep site alone.

Edited by FrankFarmer (01/09/16 04:53 AM)

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xausa
.400 member

Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 2037
Loc: Tennessee, USA

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: FrankFarmer]
#287235 - 01/09/16 04:46 AM

7.65X53? Same bullet diameter as the .303, if I remember correctly.

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4199
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: xausa]
#287238 - 01/09/16 07:02 AM

Great pick up regardless!
I think Xausa may be right, the 7.65x53 should be .311 or there abouts & the head size should be the same as a 7x57 give or take a few thou.
Will be a great handler & now it resides with someone who'll look after it for the next 100+ years!
Bloody envious!
93x64mm

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: 93x64mm]
#287244 - 01/09/16 07:56 AM

Quote:

Loyalist:
rglenz has correctly identified this rifle as a rare small ring Rigby Pre-98 "Transition" Sporter. The 222.5 barrel marking indicates a .275 cal. (7x57). The mismatched bottom metal would explain the lack of a Rigby S/N on the trigger guard. I also notice a misaligned witness mark on receiver/barrel. Is there a S/N on the bolt handle root and inside the stock receiver channel ? A chamber cast is recommended to confirm any other modifications. I doubt that it is a 303 which required a slant magazine and was brought to market at a later date.

dons,

The serial number on the bolt is 33, matching the rest of the Oberndorf action with 133 serial number.

Quote:

Greetings Loyalist: Your barrel appears to have a spacer at the receiver, this is typically done to match a barrel shank to an unmatching receiver thread or to re-chamber to a larger/longer cased caliber. The stock in-letting at the receiver and barrel junction looks very wide by Rigby standards, where the shoulder flare for the chamber area was originally can be seen. That being said, I'm sure you got good value for your $400.00 in the peep site alone.

Frank,

The stock inletting is a replacement piece of wood that extend to the fore end tip, does not match the rest of the stock in finish or fit, I suspect it was broken in transit and replaced via home gunsmithing as the barrel channel is rather crudely finished compared to the action work of the stock. I'm new to the general antique firearm market, what would the general value of this rifle be at market price if it's not too uncouth to ask?

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287248 - 01/09/16 09:13 AM

What a great buy!

Had one many years ago in 275, it wasn't Rigby marked but was told it was a Rigby (by an expert, not the seller), should have kept it! Like so many rifles and guns.... This was before widespread information on the Internet. Unfortunately I am that old!

Enjoy it.

Cheers, Chris

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Wayne59
.400 member

Reged: 20/06/15
Posts: 1219
Loc: Lagrange Ga. USA

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Rockdoc]
#287253 - 01/09/16 12:01 PM

JMHO. I think a chamber cast and slugging the bore by a qualified gun smith might be in order. Just for safety sake.

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Wanabebwana
.300 member

Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Wayne59]
#287256 - 01/09/16 12:41 PM

What makes you think it's a Rigby? All Rigby rifles have British proof marks ( London). This shows only German marks. Rigby did not leave Mauser engraving on receiver ring. Also small ring is not typical. What does the front sight look like? Rigby uses a short ramp integral with a sleeve machined flush with the barrel.There is no evidence from the pictures here that this could remotely be a Rigby.

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Wanabebwana]
#287258 - 01/09/16 01:27 PM

Wanabebwana, I was rather skeptical as well until I saw this on the barrel. Should have included it with the first batch of pictures.

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justcurious
.333 member

Reged: 17/03/10
Posts: 285
Loc: Germany

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287260 - 01/09/16 07:23 PM

I guess Xausa hit the nail on the head.
The 7,65 Belgium akah Argentine barrels were used -at least in the Mod 98- in the intermediate actions
small threaded but longer receiver front ring.
Exact the amount of the "washer" used here to equal the difference between the long and short thread.
Supposed you will or can not cut the thread to fit to the short front ring.

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justcurious
.333 member

Reged: 17/03/10
Posts: 285
Loc: Germany

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: justcurious]
#287262 - 01/09/16 08:47 PM

I should ad that the twist rate 222,5 is exactly what Mauser stamped on their 7mm barrels as stated above.
Te common twist rate of the 7,65 Argentine was 280 mm.
So mystery or mistake (simply a heavily worn out .275 Rigby).

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xausa
.400 member

Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 2037
Loc: Tennessee, USA

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287269 - 01/09/16 11:36 PM

Wanabebwana, I was rather skeptical as well until I saw this on the barrel. Should have included it with the first batch of pictures.

Try as I may, I can't make out what the inscription says. Would you be so kind as to furnish that information?

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Loyalist17
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/16
Posts: 14
Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: xausa]
#287272 - 01/09/16 11:54 PM

John Rigby and Co. 72 St James's St London

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xausa
.400 member

Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 2037
Loc: Tennessee, USA

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: Loyalist17]
#287281 - 02/09/16 06:23 AM

That address establishes a time frame, since according to the Rigby web site, the Rigby Company established a new address at 43 Sackville Street, London, in 1912.

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dons
.333 member

Reged: 18/08/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Essex

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: xausa]
#287288 - 02/09/16 08:34 AM

Some useful information taken from the official Rigby book titled "Rigby, A Grand Tradition"

1784-1897 Suffolk St. Dublin, Ireland
1866-1908 72 St. James's St. London
1908-1955 43 Sackville St.
1955-1963 32 King St.
1963-1969 28 Sackville St.
1969-1985 13 Pall Mall
1985-1987 5 King St.
1987-1997 66 Great Suffolk St.
1997-2010 Paso Robles, California

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Wanabebwana
.300 member

Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada

Re: Rigby Mauser - caliber uncertain [Re: dons]
#287348 - 04/09/16 01:10 AM

The script on barrel shows that this is a very early Rigby as suggested by low serial number and St James location.It would be part of the first batch of Mauser 98 bolt action rifles. This makes it interesting and shows that Rigby styling cues had not yet been developed.It is still a mystery why the British proof marks are not present. A significant find. I would send pics to Rigby.I am sure they would be interested and maybe give you some info.
The Mauser 98 was introduced in 7mm and 8mm Mauser.(1909 catalogues still show only these two choices). Since the barrel of your rifle has the same serial number as the action and seems to be original it would most likely be one of these two unless the rifle was rechambered. As you probably already know,the .275 Rigby is simply a British loading of the 7x57 cartridge.The 8x57 of that era would be a .318 bore.
As for value, the rear sight alone is worth what you paid for the gun.Well bought.

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