JOHN RIGBY 7mm MAUSER - RARE EXPERIMENTAL BULLPUP or CUSTOM RIFLE FOR A ONE ARM MAN

[buckstix]

JOHN RIGBY 7mm MAUSER - A RARE EXPERIMENTAL BULLPUP or A CUSTOM RIFLE FOR A ONE ARM MAN

I just added this one to my collection. I've always liked the "different" guns, and this one sure fits that definition. I can't wait to get it in hand. I will be contacting John Rigby asking for any information available for this rifle.

As always your comments are most welcome.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/RIGBY-ONE-000.jpg

[buckstix]

Hello all,

I had sent pictures of the rifle and a request to Rigby for information about this strange rifle. Today I got a very pleasant reply from the Rigby Historian. Here is what he wrote:

"... 4610 is a Rigby Serial number, It was made on 11th October 1919 for a Major J. D. Venables. ’Stock for one arm’
So, it seems it was made that way by Rigby. ..."

Based on his comment at the end of his report, the Historian seemed surprised that it was indeed made by Rigby.

Here is what I've found about the Major Venables. I can only assume he lost his arm and had the rifle custom built for him by Rigby.
I will continue to research History about the Major.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/venables-record.jpg

[buckstix]

Now its official . here is a copy of the Rigby Certificate.


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/rigby-cert-1.jpg

[yamoon]

I would guess he had a prosthetic left arm, otherwise operating the bolt would be a problem. My hat is off to him, he must have loved to hunt and was not going to let a small thing like missing an arm stop him.
Mike

[buckstix]

Hello all,

The rifle arrived today.

Testing showed that I could easily manipulate the rifle with having only a right arm ... I placed the muzzle down on the ground with the stock against my right shoulder. I could then load the rifle and work the bolt, and then grab the pistol grip, and then raise the rifle to aim and shoot. My chin / cheek would rest against the slanted oval on the stock. The recoil pad was against the shoulder and the sights were in-line to aim. By pulling the gun tight against the shoulder, I think recoil would be quite manageable. Since the caliber was listed as 275 HV it means the bullet would be 140 grain resulting in lower recoil.

here are some pics

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/RIGBY-ONE-0000.jpg

RIGBY-ONE-0000.jpg