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NitroXAdministrator
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John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"
      #263439 - 13/04/15 02:09 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



NitroExpress.com is pleased to bring you the John Rigby & Co. "London Best" rifle in .450 Rigby, with its elephant charge engravings.

The "London Best" rifle is a bespoke custom rifle from the John Rigby custom workshop in the United Kingdom. The .450 Rigby cartridge is a .458 rimless cartridge certainly suited to a modern Mauser 98 bolt action rifle to be used for the hunting of elephant and other dangerous game.

The single square bridge magnum Mauser action is inscribed with the words "Rigby's Special Big Bore for Dangerous Game" and with the John Rigby logo on the rear square bridge.

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

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263442 - 13/04/15 02:14 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The bolt shroud is colour case hardened, and as the rifle has been designed to be used with its express open sights, a traditional Mauser safety is fitted.

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

...
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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263443 - 13/04/15 02:18 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The barrel is proudly engraved with the maker's name - "J. Rigby & Co. London. England." Celebrating the origin of the gunmaker and its return to its home country.

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

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263444 - 13/04/15 02:22 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The floorplate features the engraved scehe of a big tusker "elephant charge". The dust swirls at its feet.

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

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263445 - 13/04/15 02:26 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The grip cap is richly engraved and features a trap compartment.

--------------------
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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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263446 - 13/04/15 02:28 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The logo has been inlaid into the butt in gold.

--------------------
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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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263447 - 13/04/15 02:32 AM

John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge"



The straight handled bolt features what I believe is a thistle flower. (???)



The Mauser internal magazine has been extended slightly to accomodate the large .450 Rigby cartridges.

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

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Igorrock
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263450 - 13/04/15 03:04 AM

IMO this one looks much better than Shikar -rifle.

--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/

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DarylS
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: Igorrock]
      #263451 - 13/04/15 03:10 AM

YES - This one is supurb!

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


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

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Huvius
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: DarylS]
      #263461 - 13/04/15 06:55 AM

Indeed, that is one beautiful rifle.
The logo inlet on the underside of the stock looks great. As a bespoke rifle, it would be neat to have the owners initials, in smaller but similar script, below the Rigby logo.
Opening up the legendary 416 Rigby out to .458" is, IMO, the most worthwhile redesign of any classic cartridge. Really puts into the "stopper" class.

--------------------
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Ripp
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: Huvius]
      #263462 - 13/04/15 07:31 AM

Quote:

Indeed, that is one beautiful rifle.
The logo inlet on the underside of the stock looks great. As a bespoke rifle, it would be neat to have the owners initials, in smaller but similar script, below the Rigby logo.
Opening up the legendary 416 Rigby out to .458" is, IMO, the most worthwhile redesign of any classic cartridge. Really puts into the "stopper" class.



+1

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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tinker
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: Huvius]
      #263463 - 13/04/15 07:34 AM

Looks nice - let's see more if it!

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gwh
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: tinker]
      #263502 - 13/04/15 10:44 PM

Very nice!!

--------------------
Hunt hard, shoot straight

"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"

Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910

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mckinney
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: gwh]
      #263518 - 14/04/15 02:38 AM

Very nice. I like it much better than the shikar rifle. I also like the look of the .450 rigby cartridge. It's the first time I've had a good look at it. I'd like to see this rifle in an even plainer version, with nice dark wood, not highly figured, no color case hardening, and only minimal engraving.

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xausa
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: mckinney]
      #263549 - 14/04/15 02:53 PM

After all these years it's interesting to see that Rigby has finally reinvented the wheel, in this case the .458" caliber cartridge which John Buhmiller created back in the '60's by necking up the .378 Weatherby Magnum, and which Weatherby chooses to call the .460 Weatherby Magnum.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: xausa]
      #263551 - 14/04/15 03:59 PM

One reason for these rifles being more elaborate is probably because they are coming from the London Best range from the bespoke workshop.

Customers wanting a good plain usuable rifle can and are purchasing the "Big Game" model of rifles in single square bridge action in .416 and .450 Rigby cartridges, or double square bridge action in .375 H&H Mag and .416 Rigby cartridges. These "Big Game" rifles are very popular and have been selling in considerable numbers per the comments made to me by Marc, the CEO of Rigby.

Customers wanting something extra, are commissioning a barrelled action supplied by Mauser, to be build by the London workshop into something of their choice. The "Shikar" rifle and the "Elephant Charge" rifle are per the customers specifications and interests.

It would be possible for a customer to ask for a plain rifle to be made for them of the old Rigny classic shape and design many on NE like, and I would have no doubt customers will also ask for that in the future. So it is really up to the customers choice and wallet. But in the meantime we do have the excellent and very usuable Big Game rifles readily available and some examples of the Rigby London Best workshop to admire.

I have some production photos of the Rigby Rising Bite double rifle also to share here on NE in the near future.

--------------------
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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Bidgee
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: NitroX]
      #263555 - 14/04/15 04:20 PM

How superb, it is just quality work. However in reality I would have to ask how much it was which means that I couldn't afford it.

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Yochanan
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: Bidgee]
      #353374 - 13/05/21 05:53 AM

Great looking rifle. I wonder what the idea was behind having Rigby logos on the receiver, grip cap, stock and the action. I would say engraving on the barrel is enough

--------------------
© "I have never been able to appreciate 'shock' as applied to killing big game. It seems to me that you cannot kill an elephant weighing six tons by ´shock´unless you advocate the use of a field gun." - W.D.M. Bell: Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter.

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93x64mm
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: xausa]
      #353380 - 13/05/21 07:37 AM

Quote:

After all these years it's interesting to see that Rigby has finally reinvented the wheel, in this case the .458" caliber cartridge which John Buhmiller created back in the '60's by necking up the .378 Weatherby Magnum, and which Weatherby chooses to call the .460 Weatherby Magnum.



Quote:

Quote:

Indeed, that is one beautiful rifle.
The logo inlet on the underside of the stock looks great. As a bespoke rifle, it would be neat to have the owners initials, in smaller but similar script, below the Rigby logo.
Opening up the legendary 416 Rigby out to .458" is, IMO, the most worthwhile redesign of any classic cartridge. Really puts into the "stopper" class.



+1

Ripp



Correct in both cases, but I believe Rigby did the right thing by lowering the speed a fair margin from the Weatherby's blistering speed of 2700 fps down to a more realistic 2300-2400fps which from folks who use these rifles to still give more than enough energy to anchor their quarry but not overstress the projectiles at the same time. As to operating at a lower pressure well that is a good thing too, dependant on powder type as well of course, ADI powders (Hodgdon being a distributor only) are temperature non sensitive so will not spike the pressure as other powders can.
Mighty cartridges each in their own right, I know which one I'd prefer - in a little less 'flash' outfit!
Certainly a work of art the 'London Best' - too good in my humble opinion to ever go out in the field!

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: 93x64mm]
      #353390 - 13/05/21 02:28 PM

Quote:

Quote:

After all these years it's interesting to see that Rigby has finally reinvented the wheel, in this case the .458" caliber cartridge which John Buhmiller created back in the '60's by necking up the .378 Weatherby Magnum, and which Weatherby chooses to call the .460 Weatherby Magnum.



Quote:

Quote:

Indeed, that is one beautiful rifle.
The logo inlet on the underside of the stock looks great. As a bespoke rifle, it would be neat to have the owners initials, in smaller but similar script, below the Rigby logo.
Opening up the legendary 416 Rigby out to .458" is, IMO, the most worthwhile redesign of any classic cartridge. Really puts into the "stopper" class.



+1

Ripp



Correct in both cases, but I believe Rigby did the right thing by lowering the speed a fair margin from the Weatherby's blistering speed of 2700 fps down to a more realistic 2300-2400fps which from folks who use these rifles to still give more than enough energy to anchor their quarry but not overstress the projectiles at the same time. As to operating at a lower pressure well that is a good thing too, dependant on powder type as well of course, ADI powders (Hodgdon being a distributor only) are temperature non sensitive so will not spike the pressure as other powders can.
Mighty cartridges each in their own right, I know which one I'd prefer - in a little less 'flash' outfit!
Certainly a work of art the 'London Best' - too good in my humble opinion to ever go out in the field!



Probably because there is a reason there are a lot of .460 Wea Mag rifke second hand on the market particularly in Africa.

Because it is such a shit over recoiling cartridge pushing bullets at an un-necessary fast velocity. They aren't sniper rifles ....

I would choose a .450 Rigby anywday before a crappy whybotheraby.

--------------------
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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grandveneur
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: xausa]
      #353391 - 13/05/21 05:05 PM

Quote:

After all these years it's interesting to see that Rigby has finally reinvented the wheel, in this case the .458" caliber cartridge which John Buhmiller created back in the '60's by necking up the .378 Weatherby Magnum, and which Weatherby chooses to call the .460 Weatherby Magnum.



I agree with you.

I use an older Brevex rifle caliber 460 WBY-Magnum for hunting in Africa for almost 30 years and I am satisfied with, but if I had had the choice at the time when I bought the rifle, I would have opted for the cartridge 450 Rigby, not just because it looks more original. The 460 WBY-Magnum factory load is too strong loaded to be really efficient in the heat of Africa, but reloaded at the level of the cartridge 450 Rigby it is very useful.

Rigby's rifle is very beautiful, but Imho too beautiful for a rough use in Africa.

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Homer
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: grandveneur]
      #353393 - 13/05/21 07:48 PM

G'Day Fella's,

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Donuts!

A Dumb Question, from out of the blue;
Q) Is the .450 Rigby, basically the .416 Rigby case, necked up, or a different parent case?

I could go and Google this info up, but if any of you good folk, have the spare time explain this Q, I would always prefer to hear this from you.

Best regards
Homer.

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: Huvius]
      #353396 - 13/05/21 08:51 PM

Quote:


Opening up the legendary 416 Rigby out to .458" is, IMO, the most worthwhile redesign of any classic cartridge. Really puts into the "stopper" class.



--------------------
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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DarylS
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: grandveneur]
      #353403 - 14/05/21 01:49 AM

Quote:


Rigby's rifle is very beautiful, but Imho too beautiful for a rough use in Africa.



It certainly would get some of the "green" worn off fairly quickly.

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


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

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Ripp
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Re: John Rigby - London Best, .450 Rigby "Elephant Charge" [Re: DarylS]
      #353405 - 14/05/21 02:26 AM

Quote:

Quote:


Rigby's rifle is very beautiful, but Imho too beautiful for a rough use in Africa.



It certainly would get some of the "green" worn off fairly quickly.



It certainly would have on the hunts I've had over there..

BUT rifles are meant to be used.. IMHO...

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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