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?

LD1,
I don't. I assume that's it's the source of the action. Your barrel number should be 1750.

LD1,
I don't.
I assume it's the source of the action.
Your barrel number should be 1750.

Wow-that's very nice. Thanks for sharing.

OWD

Very nice. I suppose somebody didn't like the stalking safeties. Are the parts present?

Curl

The barrel number is indeed 1750. Where did you find this information? I know of two early owners of the rifle. The first guy who had the rifle built was the chief justice of
the island of Gibralter. The second owner was a colonel
in the Queen's own 7th Hussars.

The stalking safeties were removed. I don't know when this
happened. The locks are like new inside.

since Bissel's first name was Thomas,we could assume hat's his mark. Maybe the action came out of his shop in Peckham?

LD1,

E-mail me, please.
schmjh@pacbell.net