RARE 12 GAUGE BALL & SHOT GUN WITH RIFLED BORES BY JOHN RIGBY
inv # 21-2537

Cal. 12 Bore Rifle.
S# 17135 (1901)

Shotguns firing heavy projectiles were popular before the turn of the 19th Century & most major manufacturers had their own version of Holland & Holland’s famous Paradox. Rigby’s termed their guns of this type “Ball & Shot. Known examples are quite scarce.

This rifle, for it is fully rifled, has 28″ dovetailed steel bbls. fitted w/ file cut quarter rib holding rear sight w/ folding leaves for 50 & 100 yards. Front rib is engraved “BALL & SHOT GUN”. Bone front sight dovetails into end of slight rise to this rib at muzzle. Tops of bbls. are engraved “Jn Rigby & Co” “72 St Jame’s Street. London” in old English script. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London Nitro proofs for 1 1/8 oz. shot & w/ Rigby dbl. “R” trademarks. Both bbls. are rifled w/ 6 shallow semi smooth grooves that run straight for the first 20″ & are given a twist towards muzzles in imitation of Fosbury’s patent Paradox. Both bbls. have approx. 007″ restrictions at muzzle ends. Case hardened boxlock Webley screw grip action features automatic safety, third fastener that engages shaped doll’s head rib extension, bushed strikers, intercepting safety sears & dbl. triggers. Action is engraved w/ 60% coverage well cut scroll “Jn Rigby & CO” is on each side. Top lever pivot is engraved “PATENT”. Scroll engraved floorplate & trigger guard are blued & S# is on trigger guard tang. Newly made, correctly shaped, rnd. knob pistol grip buttstock of well marbled & lightly figured European walnut measures 14 3/4″ over dark brown leather covered pad. Multi point pattern borderless checkering w/ flares into comb is at grip & a vacant gold oval is on toe. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Wood is also replaced & is stamped “JB 75” on inside.

MEASUREMENTS:
BARRELS: Bore diameter: Right .729″, Left .729″. Restriction: Right .007″ (IC), Left .006″ (IC). Min. Wall Thickness: Right approx. .048″, Left approx. .032″
STOCKS: LOP: 14 3/4″. DAC: 1 5/8″. DAH: 2 3/8″. No cast.
WEIGHT: 7 lbs., 4 oz.

Status: Curio