$250,000 Rifle

[Mr VJP]

SCI, Rigby Set New World Record For Most Expensive Bolt-Action Rifle

Editor's Note: Today's feature comes to us courtesy of SCI.

Along with John Rigby & Co., Safari Club International has done it again. SCI and Rigby have redefined the upper limits of fine firearm values with the sale of a special Rigby bolt-action rifle for $250,000 at auction during this year's SCI Hunters' Convention.

The .275 Rigby rifle, a tribute to Jim Corbett's legendary rifle, by John Rigby & Co. is described by that company's Managing Director Marc Newton as "the best Rigby .275 bolt rifle ever made" and fetched the highest price ever for a bolt-action rifle at SCI auction. It was the story behind this special rifle that helped bring such a high price.

"My team and I are delighted to learn that this incredible piece of gunmaking will find a home with not only a fine gun collector, but a lifelong Corbett fan. Without a doubt this is the finest .275 made in the company's history and to see it set a new world record at SCI was the highlight of my career," Newton explained.

Last year, Rigby acquired Jim Corbett's original Rigby rifle that he used to end the carnage caused by several maneaters in India, and that inspired Rigby's Managing Director Marc Newton and his London, England-based team to create the masterpiece that set a new world record.

Jim Corbett was a world-renowned hunter, writer and conservationist, who, among other things, dispatched many man-eater tigers in India a century ago with his .275 Rigby. That original Corbett rifle, now owned by Rigby, also was at the SCI Convention for members to view.

Bidding on the Corbett tribute Rigby started at a brisk pace, and blew by $100,000, with several bidders upping the offer in $5,000 and $10,000 hikes. The pace continued steady as the bids topped $200,000. It took another $50,000 to separate the winning bidder from the rest.

Big things happen at the SCI Convention, and the auction of the Rigby Corbett rifle stands witness to the buying power and status of SCI members, who are among the most serious hunters and hunt defenders in the world. They also know and appreciate the finest in firearms.

Proceeds from the sale of the rifle will help fund SCI mission programs.

Sold with the Rigby Corbett rifle were a special display credenza created by master cabinetmakers Julian & Sons and an original oil painting entitled "Last moments of the Champawat maneater" by artist David Southgate. Rigby purchased the painting and Southgate is donating the purchase money to Jim Corbett National Park in India.

"This incredible generosity from Rigby and SCI Members shows that SCI is the leading organization when it comes to raising the funds needed to protect hunting and be first for hunters," said SCI President Larry Higgins.

According to President Higgins, SCI Members and its supporters "put their money where their mouth is" when it comes to raising money to "protect hunting and the rights of all hunters."

The Rigby Corbett rifle is the second in a five-rifle, five-year World Heritage Rifle series that was kicked off by SCI last year. Each rifle in the series recognizes hunting in a separate region of the world.

The first rifle, which sold for $140,000 at auction at the SCI Convention last year, was built by John Bolliger's Mountain Riflery of Idaho and recognized Africa.

Rigby's Corbett rifle recognizes hunting in Asia, and next year's World Heritage rifle, to be made by New England Custom Gun, will recognize hunting in Europe.

The fourth rifle in the series, to be made by Ryan Breeding, will recognize hunting in Oceania and will be auctioned at the 2018 SCI Convention.

And the final rifle in the series, to recognize hunting in the Americas, will be made by John Bolliger's Mountain Riflery, and will be sold at auction at the 2019 SCI Convention.

SCI's leadership in the fine firearms world began in 1982 when the organization launched its Big Five rifle series, in which a special rifle was sold each year for five years — each honoring a member of the Africa Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, Cape buffalo and leopard).

When the gavel fell on the first rifle of the Big Five series in 1982, the bolt-action Elephant Rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum made by David Miller Co. of Tucson, AZ set a new world record of $41,000.

Rifle 2 in that series honored the rhino, and it was also a bolt rifle (.375 H&H) made by Champlin Firearms, which sold for $43,500.

Rifle 3 was a double (side-by-side in .375 H&H) that honored the buffalo. It was made by Friedrich Wilhelm Heym Co. and sold for $65,000.

Rifle 4 was a bolt gun in .375 H&H that honored the lion by Paul Jaeger Inc. It set another new record of $140,000.

Rifle 5, honoring the leopard, was by David Miller Co., a bolt gun in .338 Winchester Magnum that brought a then-record $201,000 when auctioned at the SCI Convention in 1986.

There have been other celebrated high-end gun auctions at the SCI Convention, including one called the Grizzly Rifle by John Bolliger that sold in 1992 for a new record of $225,000 and a one-of-a-kind side-by-side .600 Nitro rifle by Holland & Holland that sold for $270,000 at the SCI Convention in 2000.

SCI's next Convention is set for Feb. 1-4 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV USA.

For more information and to see a photo gallery of the Rigby Corbett rifle, go to www.huntforever.org and search keyword: Rigby.

--Steve Comus
SAFARI Magazine

 

[mac]

haa for the avid collector !

[Dinsdale]

Tried to get my schedule worked around to attend SCI, but just to busy with work and upcoming trip.

 

Rigby bought Corbetts original 275 Rigby (some folks might recognize that by 7x57 Mauser as its the same thing) and his 450/400 double.

 

Would have just loved a look at one of Corbetts guns, to have both there is really something.

 

More on the new rifle and originals on Shawn Joyce's blog;

 

http://diizchesafari.blogspot.com/2016/02/sci-2016-john-rigby-co.html

 

 

For those who like a great read google "Corbett" and man eaters of India for some great books.  

[Marion]

What is so special about the rifle?

You Can't Beat My Meat!

[fasteddie]

I lost out on the bidding . I dropped out at $240,000 .