John Rigby & Company

John Rigby & Company, gun and rifle makers, is a firm specialising in the building of high-quality sporting rifles and shotguns. Originally an Anglo-Irish company, Rigby was bought in 1997 by an American investment group headed by Geoff Miller, and is now based in Paso Robles, California, USA.

History

The company was founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1735, and is known to have traded as W. & J. Rigby during the period 1820 - 1865 during the flintlock and percussion eras. In its early days, Rigby's was particularly well known for producing high-grade duelling pistols. A London shop was eventually opened in 1865, and the Dublin premises finally closed in 1897.

Around 1880, John Rigby became superintendent of the government Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and was in charge of development of the British service issue .303 British calibre rifle. He was a distinguished rifleman who had competed at international level with the Irish team, and was mainly responsible for bringing Rigby's name to the fore in riflemaking.

Rigby landmarks include the 1897 introduction of the .450 calibre Nitro Express Double Rifle; the 1899 production of the Rigby .275 calibre (7x57 Mauser) Mauser system and the Rigby .350 calibre Express Rifle; and the 1900 introduction of the .350 Mauser System.

In 1907 the Rigby .470 became Rigby's main big game double rifle, and in 1912 the .416 Rigby calibre magazine rifle was introduced. Between 1900 and 1960, the Rigby Mauser System was predominantly made in calibres .275, .350 and .416 Rigby, with some .303 calibre rifles in the early days. After that period a wider range of calibres were manufactured. Rigby also made boxlock and sidelock shotguns throughout this entire period.

Royal Warrant

Rigby has been gun or rifle makers by royal appointment (holders of the royal warrant) to:

* King George IV (d. 1820)
* King Edward VII (d. 1910)
* King George V (d. 1935)
* King George VI (d. 1952)
* Queen Elizabeth II

The warrant to Queen Elizabeth II was revoked after production moved to the USA in the late 1990s.

Ammunition developed by Rigby

* .275 Rigby in 1899.
* .350 Rigby in 1899.
* .470 Rigby in 1907.
* .350 Rigby Nitro Express in 1908
* .416 Rigby in 1912.
* .450 Rigby in 1995.

ee also

* Firearms
* Antique Guns
* Big Game Hunting

References

* [http://www.johnrigbyandco.com/pages/History.html John Rigby & Company History]