This rifle is listed in D.H.L. Back’s book “Great Irish Gunmakers. Messrs Rigby. 1760-1869” on page 173 and noted as having been completed in 1865 as a 52 bore (.451) best quality match rifle for a Col. J. Kinloch with a barrel length of 37 inches at a cost of £25 and 4 shillings. With blue tapered round barrel signed “WM. & JNO. RIGBY DUBLIN” in Gothic script on the short sighting flat at the breech end, marked with Indian script behind the folding mid-range ladder sight, and fitted with dovetailed block for the windage adjustable front sight. Casehardened standing breech with long tang incorporating the mounting point for the rear target sight and profusely engraved with fine scrollwork. Casehardened detented lock secured to the standing breech with a screw in front of the hammer, with safety catch, signed “JOHN RIGBY & CO.”, with Rigby trade mark on the tail and finely engraved scrollwork. Iron furniture including blued trigger guard and a checkered buttplate each engraved with further scrollwork. Figured walnut half length pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, the former with dark horn grip cap, the latter with dark horn Schnabel tip. The right flank of the butt numbered “531”. The rifle is accompanied by a small black painted tin box containing the removable front and rear target sights and a handwritten note for distance and powder charge, the lid painted “Rigby Rifle Sights”.

Very good condition and displaying more profuse engraving than usually encountered on percussion target rifles. The barrel has been shortened by 1 inch, has been recrowned and retains most of the period reblued finish. The flanks of the barrel have a line of pitting on each side below the edge of the forearm and the mid-range sight is missing the cross bar. The standing breech has crisp engraving and traces of faded original casehardened finish to the breech facing surface. The lock has crisp engraving with traces of original faded casehardened finish. The trigger guard retains traces of original blued finish. Engraving crisp to the furniture, the checkering on the butt plate is sharp. Stock has well-defined checkering, scattered age related storage and handling marks throughout. The left side of the horn forearm tip is chipped. Mechanically excellent.