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12tar
.275 member

Reged: 07/01/14
Posts: 55
Loc: sidney bc

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
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9706
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

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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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians

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12tar
.275 member

Reged: 07/01/14
Posts: 55
Loc: sidney bc

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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Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3632
Loc: Colorado

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

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85lc
.400 member

Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1291
Loc: Georgia, USA

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
.275 member

Reged: 07/01/14
Posts: 55
Loc: sidney bc

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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