doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com *update* #14 BREVEX - RIGBY BIG GAME 416 RIGBY CAL

WELL, I FINALLY FOUND No. 14 BREVEX - WHAT A FIND - AN ORIGINAL POST WAR JOHN RIGBY BREVEX IN 416 RIGBY CALIBER - CASED WITH ALL THE ACCESSORIES.

Brought over ...... As you may have noticed, I haven't posted in a while because I have not found any new treasures worth mentioning ... until now ....

I had been diligently searching to add another Brevex to my collection. Its been over a year that #13 was added in September of 2022, I was worried that I was stuck on "unlucky 13" forever. But not so .. and what a treasure this one turned out to be. Near as I can tell its never been hunted and appears unfired. It was purchased by Gastinne Renette for one of their customers back in 1971. Gastinne Renette of Paris is a maker and specialist in the weapons of hunting and luxury. Their quality is on par with Holland & Holland, Purdey and Boss & Co.

Why this gun remained in such unused condition for over 52 years in unknown - perhaps a collected safe queen. Searching internet history shows it was sold by Holt's Auction House in England in 2015. Apparently it remained stuck in "red-tape" export laws for the last 8 years - until finally imported to the the U.S. this year.

Its a real treasure for me to have a an Original John Rigby in 416 Rigby cal., and even more treasured because its a rare Brevex action. Emails with Diggory Hadoke, the Rigby Archivist, was told by Paul Roberts, who was in charge of Rigby at the time this rifle was made, that only four .416 rifles were made on French Brevex actions. (sourced from Giles Whittome) He went on to say that between 220 to 230 Big Game 416s were made on CZ actions and 40 to 50 were made on Magnum Mauser actions, many recycled from .350 cal.

This is now the top treasure in my 14 piece Brevex rifle collection. But I did discover a negative - although the scoped rifle weighs only 11-1/2 pounds, the rifle in the case weighs over 41 pounds. I guess the 30 pound airline travel case is made to protect the rifle in case of a plane crash.

... as always your comment are most welcome ...



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/416-BIG-GAME-000.jpg

The 14 Brevex rifles collected to date ...



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/brevex14.jpg

Buckstix,
It sounds like an incredible rifle and I can’t wait to see it; however, the links to the pictures do not seem to be working. I only see a square with a question mark inside of it.

Larry

Great pictures
Wonderful bolt gun
Thank you for sharing
Mike

Congratulations on a great find. My big Rigby is a .375 H&H on a standard 98 Mauser action. It is #6189, 22 numbers before yours. It was ordered in mid 1969 by a shooting friend who was the CIA station chief in Kabul at the time he ordered and received the gun. Like yours, it doesn't seem to have been carried much. I have correspondence of my friend's effort to arrange tiger hunts, which, at the time, were about closed off. My gun was ordered with and received with a very Griffin and Howe style quick detachable side mount and express sights. He received the gun in mid 1970.

Thanks for sharing. What a variety of stock styles in that collection.
Thaine

Did Buckstix get the Brevex .416 on gunbroker yesterday?

Thanks to a seller on Gun Broker I was able to purchase a Vintage unopened box of John Rigby 416 Rigby ammo from the same period of the rifle. It fits perfect in the case and adds to the originality of the display.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/BIGGAME-a.jpg
http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/BIGGAME-b.jpg

What a wonderful combo

Mike