Vette447
.275 member
Reged: 15/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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I have posted this one other place before but I wanted to share it here along with these other fine double rifles pictured:
This is a J Rigby & Co Rising Bite double rifle in .470 NE. It was made in 1905 as a 450 3-1/4" and sold to Col PB Osborne. Later it was sold back to Rigby and then was purchased in 1933 by famed British Explorer and author Sir Wilfred Thesiger ( https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wilfred-Thesiger ). In his book the Danakil Diaries, he writes of going to Rigby's and his mother purchasing this rifle for him. I believe it is written about other times and there are also pictures of him published with this rifle as well as one particular picture of one of his trusted companions holding this rifle and posing with a Lioness that he shot (see below). It also has his crest in the medallion on the stock. At some point, likely in the 1960s he had the rifle re-barreled by Rigby to 470 NE. I am still gathering information on him and his life and how this rifle is tied to him. He was knighted in 1995 and his archive was left to the nation of Great Britain and is housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.
I can't describe how good it feels in the hands, it is slim and trim and shoulders soo nicely. It shoots well with Federal Premium and Hornady factory ammo (Kynoch hits a little low). I definitely plan to use this after big game in Africa the next time I am able to go back. These pics don't really do it justice but will help you get the idea:









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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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Nice
It's great when you can gather the history around the rifle. Great looking one too!
-------------------- --Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--
"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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Thx for posting..great looking rifle..
Congrats..
-------------------- ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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degoins
.333 member
Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 448
Loc: SC, USA
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Magnificent!!!
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Waidmannsheil
.416 member
Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2521
Loc: Melbourne Australia
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Superb rifle, those humpback locks really look superb. Great cartridge as well.
Matt.
-------------------- There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.
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93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4416
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Wonderful workmanship to say the least! Shame the original barrels weren't kept as 'spare' so to speak - just in case one lot of ammunition got low or unavailable at the time.
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Vette447
.275 member
Reged: 15/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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Thanks for all of the positive comments guys.
That would have been really special had Rigby made a new set of barrels retaining the original 450 barrels "as is". However, I am happy that it was at least re-barreled in arguably on of the most useful Big Game DGR calibers for a double rifle. I had been on the hunt for a decent deal on a .470 NE Rigby for awhile and was within a day or so of pulling the trigger on a very nice boxlock when I ended up getting this one for just a bit more. A Rising Bite Rigby is a NE caliber was a dream of mine. The incredible history that came with this one was all the more of a bonus. Needless to say, I am very pleased with it and feel very fortunate to be its caretaker.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40651
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Thank you Vette for posting. Great to know the history of one's own rifle and its previous adventures.
-------------------- John aka NitroX
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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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twobobbwana
.333 member
Reged: 25/11/11
Posts: 299
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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Does it get any better ???
Lovely rifle and great history.
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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In doublerifles I like full rips.
This Rigby is just the way it should be.
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Vette447
.275 member
Reged: 15/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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Ladies and Gentlemen, It has been brought to my attention today that someone that says he if from S Australia is using my photos and description of this rifle claiming he owns it and is selling it. I can assure you that this rifle resides in a safe in the US and not in Australia. He is evidently contacting people through usedguns.com.au but I don't see an ad posted there. Please help spread the word that he is a scammer. I don't want any good people to get swindled or hurt.
NitroX, I can give you the scammer's email and phone number via PM if you wish. Just let me know. Thanks!
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