HIGHER

watches with interest as Rigby and David McKay

bolt magazine sporting rifle, circa 1900, eclipsed the pre-sale estimate of £700-900 when it went to a well-pleased new owner for the tidy sum of £3,000. Serial numbered 1816, the rifle’s 25-inch barrel, nitro reproved in 2023, bears the engraving ‘John Rigby & Co. 27 St. James’s Street, London’.

With its block-mounted, bead fore-sight, blockmounted open rear sight with two folding leaf sights marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, the subject is married to the iconic Mauser action. Thumb cutout numbered 2602, the action’s receiver ring is engraved ‘Waffenfabrik Mauser. Oberndorf A/N. 1900’. Bases accommodate Parker Hale A22 or A28 telescopic sights, the bolt with adjustable peep sight, and floorplate with military style release. The 7lb 7oz rifle includes figured semi-pistol grip half-stock, 15 1/8th inch pull, and chequered buttplate.

The lustre of the subject bolt magazine sporting rifle is contained not only in its superb condition and tradition of quality, but also in the winning combination of two legendary firearms producers. John Rigby founded his company in Dublin, Ireland, in 1775, and 90 years later a London office began operation under the direction of his grandson, also named John. After the originator died in 1818 and the Dublin concern closed its doors, the enterprise continued under sons William and John Jason Rigby.

The accession of the founder’s grandson, John, raised the company to new heights. He took control in 1858 and captured several prizes in exhibitions held in London and Paris, prompting the opening of the shop in London’s West End. John Rigby was an outstanding marksman and used his experience in the development of the Rigby target rifle for per- the German Mauser company and secured rights to the UK distribution for its popular sporting rifle. The subject sale piece is representative of that cooperation, and the story of Mauser and its place in firearms lore is well documented.

John Rigby died in 1916, and his son Theodore gained control of the company. Afterwards, a series who acquired McKay Brown in mid-2021 upon the retirement of its founder. “The guns were our standard Classic Scottish Scroll engraving carried out by Creative Art. The guns were made with 29-inch fixed choke barrels with a flat top rib, standard wood stocks with LOP 14 and 9/16ths. The guns are colour case hardened with black furniture and cased in a Dark Havana motor case. Client extras were feathers inlaid into the bow of the guard.”

The handsome pair bears tube engraving that reads ‘David McKay Brown, 12 Hamilton Road, Bothwell, Scotland.’ The action and furniture are finely carved in relief with ‘Scottish scroll’ engraving on a finely matted background, the sides with cartouches signed in ‘David McKay Brown’. Alongside the Prince of Wales ostrich feather plume engraved on the trigger guards is the motto ‘Ich Dien’.

The two subject shotguns are indicative of the quality of David McKay Brown as well as the famed

Glasgow, in 1941, and grew up with an ever growing interest in firearms. By the time he had reached his teens, he owned an impressive collection and later began an apprenticeship with Alex Martin of Glasgow. In 1967, he entered business for himself repairing guns. Soon enough he built that initial round action side-by-side, and the company steadily gained appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship.

Over-and-under

By the early 1990s, McKay Brown responded to a trend among British shooters toward over-andunder shotguns. The first McKay Brown over-andunder round action was completed in 1992. Meanwhile, as McKay Brown enjoyed the patronage of a steady clientele, Grant Buchan had been making fine quality shotguns and rifles with the trade name of Buchan Guns. In 2021, McKay Brown made the decision to retire and sold his company to Buchan, assuring that the business would continue to be headquartered in Scotland under the direction of an outstanding Scottish gunmaker. True to its charge, the company flourishes today.

of owners, including a group of American investors, bought the concern but maintained the Rigby name, which has held royal warrants under five British monarchs. In a fitting coda to the Rigby saga, L&O Holdings, the principal owner of Sig Sauer, Blaser, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, and Mauser, acquired Rigby in 2013. Since then, a good portion of the Rigby operation that had been located overseas has returned to London, where Rigby is headquartered at Vauxhall.

Brown bargain

Also during the July Holts sale, an exquisite pair of David McKay Brown 28-bore round action ejectors soared past the pre-sale estimate of £25,000-35,000, and the hammer fell at £47,000. Lot 1352 included the shotguns serial numbered 8124 and 8125.

“I can confirm that the guns were built for a UK client,” related Grant Buchan, principal of the firm

Scottish round action gun. First appearing in 1879, the round action has since been built only by three Scottish gunmakers, James MacNaughton of Edinburgh, John Dickson & Son of Edinburgh, and David McKay Brown of Bothwell, near Glasgow.

The round action is an exclusively Scottish hallmark distinguished in the action being completely rounded to produce an aesthetically stunning firearm that is lightweight and presents a pleasing curve in wood and steel. The mechanism is situated above the triggers and identified as trigger-plate action rather than being contained within the action of the gun. Since the mechanism is atop the trigger-plate, the body is solid action and without the encumbrance of the mechanism, allowing a rounded construction that produces a slim profile.

McKay Brown produced his first round action side-by-side gun in 1974. He was born in Bellshill,

In February 2022, Buchan told Gun Trade News that he was “thrilled to have acquired the McKay business and to have David on board as our consultant. It will open a new chapter in Scottish gunmaking. We aim to make fifteen to twenty McKay Browns a year.”

McKay Brown praised Buchan saying: “Grant is deeply knowledgeable about deploying modern gunmaking processes to help make guns that are reliable, balance beautifully and meet the demands of today’s shooting.”

As for the exquisite pair that sold at Holts in July, Grant offered that the guns were not made for anyone famous or to celebrate any specific occasion. However, it is obvious that the guns, in themselves, are a celebration of the very finest in Scottish and UK gunmaking.

Buchan added: “All our guns today are built specifically to order as we don’t build guns for stock. I think the sale price was a good figure considering a new pair today of similar spec would be around £168,480. Quite a bargain for whoever bought them and saved themselves the two-year wait.”

Designed for Pest control & target smashing.

• Manual loading, side lever action, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle

• QuietEnergy fully shrouded barrel & Integrated Sound Moderator – Approx 50% Quieter

• Quattro Trigger: 2-stage full adjustable match trigger for trigger travel and trigger load

• Aluminium frame with integrated picatinny rail • 3 power adjustable Transfer Port

• Reversible cocking handle for ambidextrous operation

• Tactical telescopic stock

• Elevation adj cheek rest • Externally adj hammer preload

• Foster quick disconnect male fitting • Patented anti-knock system

• Includes Foregrip with bipod & hard case