*FINE JOHN RIGBY RISING BITE BEST SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE.

SN 17024. (ca. 1903) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls are engraved in Olde English script “Jno Rigby & Co. 72. St. James’s Street. London” on concave game rib, with long rising bite extension. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2″ chambers, SN, and Rigby double “RR” trademarks. Case hardened, classically Rigby styled, sidelock action with dipped lockplates, features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), Bissell patent rising bite third fastener (breech face marked “R & B Patent 1141 No. 857” (use number)), and double triggers. Water table is stamped with SN and Rigby trademarks. Action and lockplates are engraved with various sized, well cut, shaded scroll. Fences have classic Rigby leaf carving. “Jno Rigby & Co” is on front portion of each lockplate. Scroll engraved top lever and trigger guard are blued. SN is on trigger guard tang. Intricately marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over brown leather covered pad. Stock features typical Rigby styled drop points, standard point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and a vacant silver circle on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has front pivoting release engraved “Rigby’s Patent”. Iron has Rigby trademark, and is fitted with adjustment nut to make ejectors function as extractors. Bore diameter: left -.728, right -.729. Bore restrictions: left -.016 (Mod), right -.010 (IC). Minimum wall thickness: left -.026, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs 7 oz. LOP: 14-3/8″. Makers leather case is lined in scarlet cloth, and has “King Street” Rigby label in lid, along with instruction label. Case contains 2-pc ebony and brass cleaning rod with 2 mops, jags, and brush, black morocco leather wallet with pull-through cleaning equipment, H & H marked round oil bottle, pair of H & H marked snap caps, 12 ga black leather hand guard, and a package of BB cleaning patches. PROVENANCE: Factory records show ordered 26 August 1903 by J.B.L. Stilwell as a Best top lever vertical bolt 12 ga w/ 30″ steel bbls and weighing 6.5 lbs. Thomas W. Connally Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, as refurbished, most likely by factory a considerable time ago. (Cataloger reached this conclusion after careful study, as finishes are of factory quality, have nicely aged over time, and appear original. Tell-tail signs of refinishing are case hardening over some pitting around right firing pin hole on breech face, orig wide screw slots show some use under new finish, and engraving on action is slightly softened.) Bbls retain 95%+ of a fine re-blue, engraving still strong. Action retains 80% of a correctly colored re-hardening, nicely silvered on fences and beads. Lockplates retain nearly all of their color. Top lever and trigger guard retain most of their blue, with engraving of trigger guard somewhat softened. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish, edges slightly rounded, checkering nicely re-cut. Pad is new. Action is very slightly loose. Bbls are slightly off face. Bores are excellent, with some polishing marks at breech ends. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is good, with numerous rubs and marks, especially on corners, which have rubbed through. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good, with some insect damage, and soiling from contact with gun and bbls. Labels are oil soaked, soiled and foxed. An earlier label has been removed, and King Street label installed, possibly at time of factory refinishing. Partitions have been removed at butt to accommodate added pad. Accessories are good. A fine handling gun by this highly respected maker, best known for his rifles. 4-55684 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2423

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Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2423	$7,475.00	FINE JOHN RIGBY RISING BITE BEST SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE. SN 17024. (ca. 1903) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls are engraved in Olde English script “Jno Rigby & Co. 72. St. James’s Street. London” on concave game rib, with long rising bite extension. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2″ chambers, SN, and Rigby double “RR” trademarks. Case hardened, classically Rigby styled, sidelock action with dipped lockplates, features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), Bissell patent rising bite third fastener (breech face marked “R & B Patent 1141 No. 857” (use number)), and double triggers. Water table is stamped with SN and Rigby trademarks. Action and lockplates are engraved with various sized, well cut, shaded scroll. Fences have classic Rigby leaf carving. “Jno Rigby & Co” is on front portion of each lockplate. Scroll engraved top lever and trigger guard are blued. SN is on trigger guard tang. Intricately marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over brown leather covered pad. Stock features typical Rigby styled drop points, standard point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and a vacant silver circle on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has front pivoting release engraved “Rigby’s Patent”. Iron has Rigby trademark, and is fitted with adjustment nut to make ejectors function as extractors. Bore diameter: left -.728, right -.729. Bore restrictions: left -.016 (Mod), right -.010 (IC). Minimum wall thickness: left -.026, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs 7 oz. LOP: 14-3/8″. Makers leather case is lined in scarlet cloth, and has “King Street” Rigby label in lid, along with instruction label. Case contains 2-pc ebony and brass cleaning rod with 2 mops, jags, and brush, black morocco leather wallet with pull-through cleaning equipment, H & H marked round oil bottle, pair of H & H marked snap caps, 12 ga black leather hand guard, and a package of BB cleaning patches. PROVENANCE: Factory records show ordered 26 August 1903 by J.B.L. Stilwell as a Best top lever vertical bolt 12 ga w/ 30″ steel bbls and weighing 6.5 lbs. Thomas W. Connally Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, as refurbished, most likely by factory a considerable time ago. (Cataloger reached this conclusion after careful study, as finishes are of factory quality, have nicely aged over time, and appear original. Tell-tail signs of refinishing are case hardening over some pitting around right firing pin hole on breech face, orig wide screw slots show some use under new finish, and engraving on action is slightly softened.) Bbls retain 95%+ of a fine re-blue, engraving still strong. Action retains 80% of a correctly colored re-hardening, nicely silvered on fences and beads. Lockplates retain nearly all of their color. Top lever and trigger guard retain most of their blue, with engraving of trigger guard somewhat softened. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish, edges slightly rounded, checkering nicely re-cut. Pad is new. Action is very slightly loose. Bbls are slightly off face. Bores are excellent, with some polishing marks at breech ends. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is good, with numerous rubs and marks, especially on corners, which have rubbed through. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good, with some insect damage, and soiling from contact with gun and bbls. Labels are oil soaked, soiled and foxed. An earlier label has been removed, and King Street label installed, possibly at time of factory refinishing. Partitions have been removed at butt to accommodate added pad. Accessories are good. A fine handling gun by this highly respected maker, best known for his rifles. 4-55684 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2423 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*FINE JOHN RIGBY RISING BITE BEST SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE.