The .416 Rigby is one of my favorite cartridges and a classic pre-war gun by one of the great gunmakers really gets me excited. I own several by Griffin and Howe and they're incredible guns. I also have a Griffin and Howe that was originally built in .375 H&H in 1963 that I purchased from the original owner. He sent it back to G&H in the early 1990's to have rechambered in .416 Remington and subsequently took it to Africa to take a Cape buffalo. I've hunted Africa and Cape buffalo with it myself because I was a bit to nervous to chance something happening to my pre-war guns on the trip. The .416 Remington is a good cartridge and I'm reasonably sure the buffalo didn't know the difference but none of the newer versions (Remington, Ruger, Taylor, Hoffman, etc.) have the mystique of John Rigby's original. In the 102 years since it was developed, it's been immortalized by Ruark and many others and pre-WW2 magnum Mausers by the best makers command big money. I have a double square bridge in perfect condition that is one of the finest big bores I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I'll probably never have the nerve to actually take it to Africa. Even if I could insure it for its true value, I could never replace it if it was lost or damaged. It's a shame, because I'm sure an old Dagga Boy buffalo would be honored to be shot by it.
