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12tar
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abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303
      #394218 - 07/11/25 04:42 AM

I have a Rigby "single fields action" 303 made in 1896.

The letter of authentication from Rigby & Co notes "Old MBH action used and re-stocked"

The action is Fields, but what does MBH action mean?

thank you for any assistance

Don


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lancaster
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394219 - 07/11/25 06:41 AM

interesting riddle- is this some kind of a martini action?

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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: lancaster]
      #394220 - 07/11/25 07:53 AM

it is a Field's patent falling block, no 1927, from 1877
William Field sold about 2500 of his patented actions to various gunmakers, including Rigby, Bland, Holland & holland etc They were popular in the 1880s and 1890s

i don't bave a copy of Jonathan kirton's book on British single shots, but it is likely shown there.


This is a mystery, but there is likely a simple answer, perhaps it describes the condition of the old action

thanks

don


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HuviusModerator
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394225 - 08/11/25 03:00 AM

Could be Military Breechloading Hammer

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85lc
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: Huvius]
      #394227 - 08/11/25 03:34 AM

There were two different Field actions. One was a pure falling block and the other was a modified Martini (see https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/britishmilitariaforums/1877-field-s-rifle-t26802.html)

Both actions had side levers similar to the Hepburn or 1881 Deeley Edge. Both actions are fairly rare.

Don, Please post some pictures of your rifle.

--------------------
RB


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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 85lc]
      #394229 - 08/11/25 04:34 AM

mine is a falling block
I am trying to make arrangements for pictures to be posted; it is beyond my competence-

the history of the rifle is most interesting, briefly,
it was made in 1896 for Lt. Col Richard Nugent Stoker, a surgeon in the indian medical Service from 1874 until his retirement in 1900, having served in various campaigns on the indian frontier and in Afghanistan. He retired to Duncan, BC, then a popular place for the british upper middle class and officers, until his death in 1931
His brother was the author of Dracula, the horror novel.
There is an entire website dedicated to the Stoker family, including the surgeon, with much more information.
The previous owner had gone to the trouble of having the rile authenticated by John Rigby & Co
It had never left the area; I bought it at the Duncan gunshow about a month ago,


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DarylS
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394230 - 08/11/25 05:57 AM

Does it then have a Farquarson-type action?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: DarylS]
      #394231 - 08/11/25 06:19 AM

when pictures are posted, all will be revealed
meanwhile, here is a link to the stoker family website https://www.bramstokerestate.com/richard-nugent-stoker


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DarylS
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394235 - 08/11/25 09:15 AM

Looking forward to it.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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85lc
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: DarylS]
      #394238 - 09/11/25 04:03 AM

12tar sent pictures to me which I will try to upload below. Unfortunately, my ability is somewhat limited and all I could do is to upload the following.



















--------------------
RB


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85lc
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 85lc]
      #394239 - 09/11/25 04:04 AM

Unbelievably, it worked!!! Pictures were uploaded.

--------------------
RB


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DarylS
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 85lc]
      #394245 - 09/11/25 05:36 AM

Now THAT'S a super COOL action.
Thanks RB.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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93x64mm
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: DarylS]
      #394247 - 09/11/25 06:53 AM

Never seen one of those before - rather unique I gather!
Certainly has providence 12tar!


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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 93x64mm]
      #394249 - 09/11/25 07:42 AM

MBH- Huvius above suggests Military Breechloading Hammer
could be, only problem is that to my knowledge Field's patent action was not used for military rifles

thank you


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85lc
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394251 - 09/11/25 10:23 AM

12tar,

MBH would not mean that it was adopted by a military but that it was used in competition against other military breech loader hammer rifles. My 1881 Deeley & Edge (Westley Richards) was never adopted by any military but is called a MBL rifle and was used in competitions in South Africa against other MBL (Military Breech Loader) rifles.

--------------------
RB


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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 85lc]
      #394253 - 09/11/25 12:42 PM

interesting- thanks, so it could be Military Breech Hammer

let's see if there are other suggestions, or something definitive in contemporary use


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Marrakai
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394254 - 09/11/25 01:34 PM

I was thinking "Martini Bloody Henry" until I saw the pics...

Very interesting indeed.
Never seen a Field's Patent action like this before.
Thanks for posting 12tar.

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au


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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394262 - 09/11/25 06:02 PM

Quote:

mine is a falling block
I am trying to make arrangements for pictures to be posted; it is beyond my competence-

the history of the rifle is most interesting, briefly,
it was made in 1896 for Lt. Col Richard Nugent Stoker, a surgeon in the indian medical Service from 1874 until his retirement in 1900, having served in various campaigns on the indian frontier and in Afghanistan. He retired to Duncan, BC, then a popular place for the british upper middle class and officers, until his death in 1931
His brother was the author of Dracula, the horror novel.
There is an entire website dedicated to the Stoker family, including the surgeon, with much more information.
The previous owner had gone to the trouble of having the rile authenticated by John Rigby & Co
It had never left the area; I bought it at the Duncan gunshow about a month ago,




A diversion.

There was a vampire story from India or Afghanistan, of an old vampire or blood drinking monster living in a mountain cave, which preyed on locals. Something about it could not leave the cave or die until it infected someone else to replace it in the cave. Maybe a Kipling tale? But more likely a Stoker tale, from the brother, rewritten as Transylvania.

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

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: NitroX]
      #394274 - 10/11/25 05:41 AM

there is an image and a stylized cross section of the Field's patent in Greener's The Gun and its Development. in my case the 7th edition, 1899, p 688

it seems the Field patent could be adapted to a variety of configurations. eg the side straps on mine which extend across the pistol grip, or the lever in the Bland at Reliable Gun listed above


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Claydog
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: 12tar]
      #394280 - 10/11/25 09:30 AM

I would be surprised if the BH is anything other than breech loading hammer. The M military explanation given by 85lc makes sense.

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12tar
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Re: abbreviation MBH for Rigby Fields action 303 [Re: Claydog]
      #394281 - 10/11/25 10:28 AM

you may well be right

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