John Rigby & Company
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| Industry | Firearms |
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| Founded | 1775 Dublin, Ireland |
| Founder(s) | John Rigby |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Rifles, Shotguns |
| Services | Engraving |
| Website | http://www.johnrigbyandco.com/ |
John Rigby & Company, gun and rifle makers, is a firm specialising in the building of high-quality sporting rifles and shotguns.
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[edit] History
The company was founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1775, 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 Lock, 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) built on the Mauser action and the Rigby .350 calibre Express Rifle; and the 1900 introduction of the .350 Mauser actioned rifles.
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. After Theodore Rigby's death in 1951, the Company was owned by Vernon Harris, whose widow sold the business to David Marx in 1968. Marx later partnered with J. Roberts & Son. In 1995, Paul Roberts introduced the .450 Rigby magnum Rimless, based on the Rigby .416. The Company is currently headquartered in the United States, with guns and rifles produced under license in London.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
