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LOT 344
Very Fine & Rare Engraved John Rigby & Co. .470 (Nitro Express) Double Barrel Sidelock Ejector Big Game Rifle - Serial no. 17832, 470 Nitro Express cal., 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This elegant British big game double rifle features blued chopperlump barrels with sunken concave rib with matted and file cut ramp mounted bead front sight and quarter rib with matted front ramp, dovetailed rear sight of one standing notch sight and two folding notch leaf sights each with gold inlaid center line and graduated to 300 yards, signed “J. RIGBY & CO. 43, SACKVILLE STREET, LONDON, W LATE ST. JAMES’ STREET.” partially in Gothic script, and extending
to a scroll engraved rib extension. The barrels are respectively engraved “SPECIAL 470 BORE BIG GAME RIFLE” and “FOR SPECIAL CORDITE CARTRIDGE BULLET 500 GRAINS”. The casehardened treble grip action has removable firing pin bushings, a blued toplever engraved “PATENT” and a manual safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”. The dipped edge sidelocks are each signed “JOHN RIGBY & CO.” in Gothic script. The furniture comprises
a casehardened trigger plate, trigger guard, and forearm iron with lever fastener. The whole is finely engraved with classic English scrollwork. The underside of the barrels
and water table are struck with London nitro proof marks and Rigby trademarks, and it
is import marked under the forearm. The well-figured walnut pistol grip stock has a dark horn pistol grip cap, a raised cheekpiece, a checkered grip and forearm, and a slender rubber butt pad. The underside of the butt has a blued sling eye, and a corresponding sling eye is fitted beneath the barrels. 15 inch length of pull. Weight 11 lbs. 1 oz. CONDITION: Very fine as expertly renovated. The deep blued finish to the barrels is nearly unblemished except for a visible light marks under the blue, as is the casehardened finish to the action, locks and furniture. The engraving is of very high quality and is crisp and sharp throughout. The replacement stock has a very appealing figure pattern with sharp checkering and drop points. Mechanically excellent. This rifle does not appear to have been fired since its professional refinishing and restocking.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000