doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stamping on Rigby Double Rifle Breech Face

I just bought a beautiful .500/.450 Magnum BPE Rigby double rifle in England. It has a stamping on the top face of the breech that I have not seen before. Does anyone know what it means?
Thanks,
Larry

LD1,
Rigby maintained a number of ledgers to manage their production. Included were ledgers that tracked barrels, actions, orders, serial numbers/delivery, etc. Generally, Rigby rifles and shotguns had a serial number, a barrel number(s), an action number and an "R&B" action patent use number if the Rigby & Bissell vertical bolt (rising bite) action was used.

My guess is that's the Rigby action number. If you can post additional information, I may be able to expand on what I said above.

The rifle is an underlever hammer double rifle with steel barrels and was built in 1886. It is in almost new condition and is cased with full original accessories. The locks look like new inside and have a small MW stamped below the main spring. I would think that this would identify the lock maker. The rifle was owned by a major in the Queen's Hussars.

come on LD1, give some eye candy....:)
franc

LD1,
If you're sure that the rifle was delivered c.1886, then "1460" may not be the Rigby action number. In 1886, they were in the 1900 to 2100 action number range.

Here are a couple of pictures of the cased set.

LD1,
Lovely.
How did you confirm the 1886 date?

The Rigby records state that it was "sent to the St.James Street store" in January of 1885. It was sold in May of 1886.
I guess technically it was built in 1885. The bores are as new.

LD1,
After some additional work, I believe my first response was correct. Rigby actions weren't sold in numerical sequence. I have located actions 1479 and 1480. They were delivered in December 1884.

Steve,

Do you have any idea what the "T" inside of the "B"
stands for?