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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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LRF
.333 member


Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 495
Loc: minnesota ,usa
Jones action with additional top lever
      #394403 - 17/11/25 09:45 PM

Just curious have you seen this before?
Description in upcoming Holts auction:
AN ANOMALOUS JOHN RIGBY & CO. .577/.500 (NO.2) BP EXPRESS TOPLEVER / ROTARY-UNDERLEVER DOUBLE-BARRELLED HAMMER RIFLE, serial no. '14188' / '999', circa 1879, 26in. Rigby trademarked black powder only barrels with file cut rib engraved on gothic script 'JOHN RIGBY & CO. DUBLIN & LONDON', with open sights and folding leaf sight, missing extractor screw, loop rebrazed and some distortion to under rib, carved percussion fences, non-rebounding back-action locks with repaired ornate bolted dolphin hammers (right hammer fractured at previous repair to spur), action flats with Rigby trademark, original 5 digit serial number defaced and new number '999' stamped (also to barrels and fore-end iron), Jones patent screw-grip patent rotary underlever and secondary diminutive toplever (operating a third sliding bolt engaging with rear lump), requiring the underlever to be operated to approx. two thirds throw and then the toplever to release the final third of the underlever operation, action bar heavily polished with some later naive border engraving, engraving to lockplates, underlever and hammers worn, replacement triggerguard with number 14188 engraved with an amateur hand, fore-end with identified Rigby's Patent grip-catch release, the iron (with repairs) with original 5 digit serial number defaced and later '999' stamped, some repairs to wood,14 5/8in. replacement pistolgrip stock with pistolgrip-cap, sling swivels and 3/8in. recoil pad, weight 9lb. 2oz.

577 Rigby

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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4604
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: LRF]
      #394408 - 18/11/25 06:37 AM

Took me a little while to realise there was 2 levers on this old girl - I didn't read the notes too good!
I've never seen this arrangement to open sn action, this must have been a evolutionary step to just the top lever for opening the action? Would be painful to operate!
Looks in pretty good nick, except the cracked hammer.
Shame they didn't have a photo of the missing extractor screw, it might give you an idea how much work would be required to fix?
Beautiful engraving, still an amazing piece considering its age & in 577/500 No2!

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Claydog
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Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1278
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: 93x64mm]
      #394409 - 18/11/25 09:24 AM

Have never have one in my hands but I think one of the Holts auction walk throughs TGS Outdoors did showed one and I have heard of them. Back in the day there were all sorts of variations makers were trying out. Would love to hold one and work that action.

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 711
Loc: Texas
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: Claydog]
      #394413 - 18/11/25 12:23 PM

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, LOL !!!!!!!!!!

I agree with 9.3x64, “would be painful to operate! “

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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3641
Loc: Colorado
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #394414 - 18/11/25 02:16 PM

I think it was originally an early top lever gun and then the Jones lever was added later.
The action belly is rounded and not like it was an under lever action to start. Under lever actions always have a raised area where the lever and action belly meet.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5359
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: Huvius]
      #394454 - 22/11/25 12:11 AM



This is some cobbled-together POS.

Think about the mechanics. A toplever of this type operates a Scott spindle that retracts rearward a Purdey bolt from cuts in the rear of the barrel lumps.

A Jones lever operates a "T" headed screw that interlocks within cuts between the barrel lumps; one to the front of the rear lump, and the other to the rear of the front lump.

No engineer can combine these two bolting systems.

Look at how poorly the forend fits. There is a wide gap between the action bars and the forend iron.

Not for me!!!

Curly

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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85lc
.400 member


Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1307
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: CptCurl]
      #394456 - 22/11/25 08:41 AM

I agree with Curly. This could be a death sentence if hunting dangerous game. What a screwy design. Well, maybe Rigby had a client with more money that common sense.

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

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 28013
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: 85lc]
      #394459 - 22/11/25 09:26 AM

Could it be the underlever is no longer connected & is locked, therefore the rifle was redesigned/rebuilt and is now a top-lever only?
(as in: the rifle fit so well, the original owner merely wanted these changes)

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


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

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Claydog
.400 member


Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1278
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: DarylS]
      #394466 - 22/11/25 08:23 PM

Says in the description the top lever is secondary and both are required to open the action. Pretty wild.

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LRF
.333 member


Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 495
Loc: minnesota ,usa
Re: Jones action with additional top lever [Re: Claydog]
      #394467 - 22/11/25 10:00 PM

I believe it was a Rigby top-lever at it's birth, then some body added the Jones lever for God knows why (and he ain't talking) then bubba'd the rest of it with the forearm and amateur engraving. "POS" is an apt description.

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