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

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Pretty ingenious design to accommodate a one arms man.

VERY interesting! Definitely let us know what you find out.



Tim

How does the presumed one armed individuaL operate the bolt? Knew a one-armed hunter. He used a light semi-auto.

I'd guess the original user tucked the butt stock under the stump of his missing arm to cycle the bolt. There seems to be reinforcement metal along the left side of the stock. I'd guess it contains trigger linkage. It's a beautifully made rifle.

I've only ever seen one other one like it and it was described as being for a one-armed man. Interesting find.

Wonder how old it is?

Based on the Mauser serial number, the action dates to 1912.

1912 was a good period for Rigby.
I owned a Rigby double made that year, that shot 3 from each barrel into 1 5/8" @ 50 yards. Don't know that anyone could do it better even with todays technology.

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.

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Need, please meet solution.

A one arm man decided that he wasn’t going to be out of the shooting game. I tip my hat.

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


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One of my brothers has the use of only one arm ( the last big polio epidemic in the 50’s). He has always favored short, light rifles. He had a Ruger .44 carbine early 70’s, but replaced it with a BLR in .308 which he’s just about worn out. He recently surprised me by getting a new .308, this one a Merkel K5. He’d like this Rigby, I think. I suspect that to work the bolt he’d t hold that buttstock between his legs as he does a spinning rod.

There was a gunmaker back in the day J. Venables & Son. I have a 16ga back action hammer gun from that maker. I wonder if there is a relation there.
What a unique rifle congratulations on such a nice and obscure find.

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

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That is really a cool looking rifle. Hope you enjoy it.