Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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I recently received my Rigby Farquharson back from restoration. Fired shots out of it a couple of days ago with pleasing results. Restoration was done by David Norin. He had some trouble getting the old gun to case harden properly so it ended up going to Turbull's for that.
Sir Aubrey Woolls-Sampson received this gun from Rigby on April 28th, 1903. Colonel Woolls-Sampson was a well known S.A. hero of the Boer Wars and had been the organizer of, and later Commander of, the Imperial Light Horse. Sometimes his name can be found erroneously spelled Wools-Sampson.
Caliber is .450 3-1/4" NE. Barrel makings include Rigby name and address as well as, "Special .450 Bore Big Game Rifle" and "For Special Cordite Cartridges, Bullet 480 grs."
      
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Edited by CptCurl (09/07/10 06:21 AM)
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3603
Loc: Colorado
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Can't get enough of those Farq's!
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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Yum!!
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450_366
.400 member
Reged: 17/01/07
Posts: 1068
Loc: Sweden, west-coast.
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Nice, would love one of those.
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Andreas
"Yeas it kicks like a mule he said, but always remember that its much worse standing on the other end"
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5313
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Absolutely splendid!
Thanks for posting.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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peter
removed
Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark
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be still, my heart
absolutly beautyfull, thanks for showing
best
peter
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Kalunga
.333 member
Reged: 16/06/06
Posts: 328
Loc: Germany
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That is what I call style !
Thanks for sharing !
Kalunga
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DandyofPunjab
.300 member
Reged: 14/11/05
Posts: 182
Loc: Punjab
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Beauty!
Barrel looks heavy
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Fear None, Frighten None
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27576
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Just about gives me a "Woody".
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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SharpsNitro
.375 member
Reged: 12/08/08
Posts: 729
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Beautiful. Did you have the interior of the case redone as well? If so, where did you find the label? I need to find a Rigby label that has the 72 St. James's address.
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Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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As I received it, the case was in pretty poor shape. The straps were broken, the back hinge was torn, the felt was ripped up, and one of the interior compartment lids was missing. To make matters worse, the case had been shot through and through. There was a bullet hole from something like a .303 through the lid and a 2" diameter exit hole through the case bottom. If the gun had been in the case when it was shot then it was lucky to have just barely been missed.
I sent the case and gun to Michael Messina Custom Gun Cases in East Meadow, NY. He patched up the holes expertly. He rebuilt the inside and even found a knob for the new compartment lid to match the original knob on the other side. He replaced the straps and fixed the hinge. He also supplied the maker's label.
I've sent Mike a total of four cases and I have always been pleased with the results.
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Very nicely done indeed.
Thanks for posting.
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mehulkamdar
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
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Grenadier,
Just got back from having a chin wag with Dave and I told him that you had posted about this rifle. Saw some of the beauties that he is working on - yes, I am biased because he is a friend, but I am sure that there are others who are as positively biased as I am.  
Simply beautiful rifle and methinks you chose absolutely the right gunmaker to restore it. You, sir, are a man of impeccable taste!
Good hunting!
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The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.
Mehul Kamdar
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degoins
.333 member
Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 448
Loc: SC, USA
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Magnificent!!! Thanks for sharing!!
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Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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Thank you for all the kind words but all credit goes to the gun maker and those who participated in the restoration.
I dug up some photos taken before restoration and I also added one showing a .375H&H with the .450 Rigby NE fired and unfired.
   
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Edited by CptCurl (09/07/10 06:23 AM)
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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Do you have the second Rigby s/n/ 17033??
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Sarg
.400 member
Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
Loc: Nil
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While it looks great after the restoration !
He was a handsome rifle before it too !
Bar the case .
Thank you for sharing.
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Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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kamilaroi - All I have is what you see.
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Antlers
.275 member
Reged: 27/01/07
Posts: 69
Loc: Alaska
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Quote:
As I received it, the case was in pretty poor shape. The straps were broken, the back hinge was torn, the felt was ripped up, and one of the interior compartment lids was missing. To make matters worse, the case had been shot through and through. There was a bullet hole from something like a .303 through the lid and a 2" diameter exit hole through the case bottom. If the gun had been in the case when it was shot then it was lucky to have just barely been missed.
I sent the case and gun to Michael Messina Custom Gun Cases in East Meadow, NY. He patched up the holes expertly. He rebuilt the inside and even found a knob for the new compartment lid to match the original knob on the other side. He replaced the straps and fixed the hinge. He also supplied the maker's label.
I've sent Mike a total of four cases and I have always been pleased with the results.
~
Do you have contact info on Mr. Messina. I tried to google him and was unsuccessful.
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Antlers
Double Rifle Shooters Society
Heym 450/400 3"
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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Mr G,
I see sequentially numbered Rigbys ex Sth Africa on Winfer's book vol 3 on PD/ trade Farkies. Col. Woolls owned both.
You sir, are a lucky fella!
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Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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Michael Messina
Custom Gun Cases
1693 Royal Rd.
East Meadow, NY 11554
516-794-1979
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Antlers
.275 member
Reged: 27/01/07
Posts: 69
Loc: Alaska
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Thank you, sir!
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Antlers
Double Rifle Shooters Society
Heym 450/400 3"
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9.3x57
.450 member
Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5561
Loc: United States
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Marvelous rifle and background.
It is kicking the obvious dead horse to say it, but don't we all wish we knew the adventures this gun has been packed thru?
Yeah, and especially the bullet hole thru the case!! 
THANKS for posting!
BTW: What is the weight of the rifle?
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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
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SharpsNitro
.375 member
Reged: 12/08/08
Posts: 729
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Thanks. If I can't turn a label up at my usual source I'll get in touch with him.
Bullet holes through the case? What were they thinking?
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pato
.300 member
Reged: 26/04/05
Posts: 212
Loc: Katherine NT
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350 rigby 4 sale ex w sampson used guns aust
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