The makers have kindly confirmed that this best quality rifles was completed in August 1892 for a Colonel Percy and is described in their records as a “400 bore magnum best double express rifle no 16127 ejector action” and cost £68 and 5 shillings. With blued barrels respectively engraved “CASE 400 BORE MAGNUM 110 GRS NO. 6 POWDER” and “CANNELURED BULLET 260 GRS.”, and each barrel engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end. Raised flat file cut matted rib with ramp mounted blade front sight, rear sight of one standing and one folding leaf respectively graduated for “100” and “200” yards and each with platinum inlaid center line, and signed in gothic script “JNO. RIGBY & CO. 72. ST. JAMES’S STREET. LONDON AND DUBLIN”, the rib with pierced extension for the rising third bite. Action with automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” and button release, and blued toplever and blued removable firing pin discs, the breech face marked “R & B / PATENT 1141 / No. 468” (for Rigby & Bissell rising third bite patent no. 1141 of March 21, 1879, use number 468). Dipped edge sidelocks each signed “JNO. RIGBY & CO.” in gothic script. Furniture including blued trigger guard, dark horn pistol grip cap and checkered iron buttplate. Fine border and scroll engraving throughout. The underside of the barrels and water table with London black powder proof marks and struck with the Rigby trademark. Figured 14 1/4 inch pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, the latter with screw grip fastener signed “RIGBY’S PATENT” and selector nut on the iron to disengage the ejector mechanism. The underside of the butt with blank gold oval initial escutcheon, and blued sling mounts. Weight 8 lbs. 9 oz. Additional barrel sets: Henry Morris serial no. 16127 28 inch 28 gauge barrels with blued tubes respectively signed “BARRELS BY HENRY MORRIS” and “ST. MARY’S ROW. BIRMINGHAM”, with matted “Churchill” rib, 2 1/2 inch chambers. Birmingham nitro proof and reproof marks. Vagsland & Co. serial no. 16127 25 3/4 inch barrels in 8x57mm IRS with blacked tubes and rib, the latter signed”VAGSLAND & CO – NORWAY”, fitted with ramp mounted bead front sight, folding rear leaf sight, and mounted with a Zeiss Diavari Z 1,25-4x24 MC telescopic sight in quick detachable mounts. Struck with London nitro proof marks. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Fine. Barrels retaining 95% older reblacked finish, barrel engraving slightly softened, rib signature clear. Action with slight traces of original faded casehardened finish. Toplever with thinning blued finish. Trigger guard retaining 95% reblued finish. Engraving clear and sharp throughout. Stock reoiled, some scattered handling marks and bruises, checkering generally well defined with some minor wear on the forearm. The 28 gauge barrels retain near 100% of apparently original blacked finish. 8x57mm IRS barrels retaining nearly all of the blacked finish. Mechanically excellent.