Ben Smith gets hands on with the premium double rifle at an exclusive event
Late last year we attended an exclusive night hosted by Rigby Australia showcasing their Rigby Shikari double rifle. It was the only Shikari in Australia and provided prospective clientele the opportunity to view and handle the rifle. The night was held at the new superstore (and it is literally a super-sized store) – Venture Hunting & Outdoors at Springwood in Queensland.
John Rigby & Co. was founded in the 18th century by John Rigby, who not only pioneered rifles with the famous Mauser action, but also his own cartridges, including the .275 Rigby (renamed 7x57M), .416 Rigby and more modern .450 Rigby.
Rigby turned 200 years old in 1975 and ownership was kept within the family. Post 1975 Rigby was sold off and a few bumps in the road occurred until bought out by L&O Group in 2013. L&O Group are the current owners who manufacture the guns – bolt actions, double rifles and shotguns – as you see them today.
Rigby unveiled the Shikari boxlock double rifle in 2023, which is a modern interpretation of one of Rigby’s original designs from the 1890s. The boxlock double rifle is based on an Anson & Deeley action, which was patented in 1875. Matching this older style action to modern gun making techniques has allowed Rigby to produce one of the best modern day double rifles available to big game hunters.
It comes in the Nitro Express calibres of .450/400, .450, .470 and the big bopper of .500 NE.
The Shikari rifles can be fully optioned, with a choice of engraving styles, wood grades and casings. All Shikari double rifles sold come standard with your own choice of Turkish walnut blanks and the stock will be specifically made to measure to their future owner’s preferred custom dimensions, with an oil finish.
The gun displayed on the night was nothing short of amazing. It looks stunning, and when brought to the shoulder, the balance was out of this world, you can feel Rigby’s pedigree and knowledge built into this double rifle.
The official agent for Rigby rifles in Australia is Pro-Tactical and the national sales manager is Tom Auger. For further information he can be reached on 0457 760 822.