Category: John Rigby, Dublin, Ireland

John Rigby – Rigby Banks actioned falling block single shot target rifle: set for the back shooting position; 451 Cal; 33″ heavy target blued barrel.

John Rigby Long Range, match percussion rifle: 461 Cal; 34″ rnd tapered barrel.

52 Bore Best Quality John Rigby Percussion Match Rifle of historical importance, being attributed to Lord Elcho. 32¼” heavy round tapered barrel marked “John Rigby & Co Dublin and London”.

52 Bore John Rigby Percussion Match Rifle. 36″ heavy barrel marked “John Rigby & Co Dublin & London”.

This short description text is extracted from “Handbook of Rifle Shooting” by Alex Lord Russell (1869, Toronto). It provides contemporary description of the late form of Rigby muzzle loading match rifle.

Mr. Rigby has kindly furnished the following description of his rifle, which made such a favourable impression on the minds of all riflemen, by its extraordinary performances at the late Small-bore trials at Woolwich.

The early Rigby rifles competed in some of the trials of small-bore rifles held by the National Rifle Association for the rifles to be used in the finals of the Queen’s Prize at Wimbledon. In 1865 the Rigby was selected for use; this was the only year 1860-1870 that a rifle other than a Whitworth was selected. In direct response to the success of the Gibbs-Metford rifle with its shallow groove rifling and hardened bullet, Rigby began a program of rebarreling in 1866 and 1867.