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J. RIGBY & CO.
A FINE AND RARE .400 RIGBY BLACK POWDER HAMMER RIFLE, NO. 15161
26-inch barrels with file-cut rib, the rear sight with folding leaf to 250 and raised fore sight, the rounded frame, non-rebounding back locks, bolted hammers and rotary underlever with fine scroll engraving and retaining most of its original hardening colour, 14 3/4-inch well figured stock with pistol grip and chequered steel butt plate, sling swivels and button, 7lb. 7oz., black powder proof, in its maker's brassbound oak and leather case
The maker confirms that the rifle was built in 1882 for J. Jameson of Dublin, Ireland. The calibre .400 Rigby is believed to be an experimental version of the .450/.400 black powder Express and the rifle is sold with a quantity of brass bullets and reloading dies. Sherman Bell has developed a load for this rifle utilising necked down .45-90 cases.
J S Jameson was born 17th April 1856 and was the son and heir to the Jameson Whisky business. He travelled widely and had a great taste for sport and natural history. He began his travels in 1877 with Ceylon, Calcutta, Singapore and Borneo. In 1878 he went to South Africa and hunted the borders of the Kalahari and in 1880 went on an extensive trip to Matabeleland and the Zambesi where he met Selous. He became well known as a friend of F C Selous and travelled and hunted with him from July until November that year before returning to England in 1881. Selous famously wrote of the trip in his classic book, "A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa". In 1883 he hunted in the Rockies on the North Foot of Stinking Water killing mountain sheep, buffalo, bears and wapiti. In 1887 he was part of Stanley's famous Emin Pasha relief expedition and it was while still attached to this that he contracted a fever and died at Bangala in 1888.
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| Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns |
| Sotheby's, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland |
| 2 September 2013 |
| Commission is 25% ex. VAT. Artist's Resale Right may apply |
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