I’ve drooled over this particular piece for years, ever since I first saw it in Lud Olson’s book, Mauser Bolt Rifles. It’s an original John Rigby & Co. Mauser sporter, made by the REAL Rigby company (not the guys making gaudy, blinged-out parodies in California). It is also the sleekest, sexiest, most beautiful bolt-action rifle I’ve ever seen. You just don’t see lines like that on anything being made today.
Part of that sleekness comes, oddly enough, from the chambering. It fires the .350 Rigby Magnum No. 2 cartridge, which is more or less a rimmed, British .35 Whelen. Being a rimmed cartridge, it needs a special, slanted magazine box to ensure proper feeding and avoid rim lock. That unusual magazine (similar to the one used on Siamese Mausers) also means the floorplate is at a steeper angle relative to the axis of the barrel and action. The stock follows the contour of the floorplate, resulting in a very short forearm and a long, lean look. I absolutely love it.
They do exist, these classic pieces and right here in South Africa there seem to be a few floating about, many in pristine condition. They are used regularly and though not legal, can safely bring down the ‘old dagga boys’, the fraternity talk about.The new Rigby gunworks in London will make you a perfect rifle today at an even more perfect price. But your US dollar will probably stretch a long way down here in SA and if you still are looking for the venerated .350 Rigby, contact the chaps down in the Southern Hemisphere and you might be in luck. Best wishes, James
I have a .350 Rigby Rimless Magnum built on a Dakoya 76 action by Roger Green of Evansville, Wy. I used it to very good effect on a safari to Zimbabwe in 2006, taking 11 animals ranging in size from impala to eland. With modern steel and powders I safely load 250 gr NorthFork bullets to 2600 fps & 310 gr Woodleigh softs & solids to 2400 fps. It is stocked in a beautiful piece of California English walnut in the American Classic style. The checkering is a simple point pattern. The fore end is ebony, and the butt plate and grip cap are buffalo horn. In the USA I have used it on game fron pronghorn to black bear. It is my favorite all-around rifle.