December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/13/2024
Circa 1895 per serial number. Octagonal barrel with vertically dovetailed front sight in a serrated quarter rib with raised island, horizontally dovetailed rear sight with one standing leaf regulated for 100 yards and 2 folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards. Top rib serrated at the chamber, with adjacent flats marked with "Jno Rigby & Co" and St. James address. Barrel flat and underside of barrel with serial number (last digit restruck from 9 to 7; appears to be a factory error), Nitro proof, .303 designation, Rigby trademark, and "Class C" designation. Svelte splinter forearm with horn forearm, turning lever release, and English flat top checkering, interior with serial number and Class C designation. Boxlock action with Rigby trademark, serial number (also mis-stamped and corrected) and view proof. Sides of action with gothic "Jno Rigby & Co" with supporting English acanthus scroll, and teardrop shaped recoil shields. Disc set striker with large sets marked "Class C". Top lever break with automatic safety, "SAFE" inlaid in gold ahead of slide. Single trigger protected by a short tang trigger guard affixed to a more traditional tang which extends approximately 2/3rds of the way to a steel pistol grip cap. Stock of a heavily fiddled and wavy grained walnut with sidepanels, English flat top checkering about the wrist, a silver vanity plaque at toe line, and a partially serrated steel buttplate with small teat at heel. CONDITION: Barrel retains approximately 80% of the blue with thinning to silver at high edges and at muzzle, with scattered handling marks and superficial scratches throughout. Rear sight an inexpertly executed replacement, with visible evidence of installation and attempted blending. Forearm with a long repaired crack along left side, with scattered handling marks and abrasions throughout. Action with flashes of case colors, mostly in protected areas. Stock good with heavy handling marks and dents and some scattered abrasions to checkering. Mechanically fine, rifling is extremely soft towards chamber with better definition towards muzzle.