Wm & Jn Rigby
Featured Pistol
Six Shot Revolver
Serial No 9341
Wm & Jn Rigby 60 bore 6 shot revolver. ( photography courtesy A. Iosson)
William & John Rigby were involved in the production of this type of revolver for a period of
15 years. The first being sold in 1843 (serial no 9029). In total the Rigby register* shows only 152
having been manufactured and sold. However, examples have been found unnumbered which leads us to believe they were manufactured under contract or under licence by other Dublin gunmakers associated with the Rigby house.
In the Dublin trade directory of 1835 no less than 9 gunmakers listed were ex employees of the Rigby's. All these gunmakers would have been trained to a very high level and this is where Rigby could place work when his production levels dictated. No doubt Ribgy supplying the parts
from his 24 Suffolk Street manufactory.
Dublin Trade Directory 1835 | |||||||
Anglin | Joseph | Bath Street, Irishtown. | # | ex Rigby | |||
Aston | John | 44 Gt Brunswick Street | # | ex Rigby | |||
Calderwood | Thomas | 14 Earl Street.N. to Lord lieutenant. | |||||
Dempsey | William | 192 Gt Britain Street | |||||
Devine | James | Howth | |||||
Flanagan | Martin | Sea View. Irishtown | # | ex Rigby | |||
Gallagher | Henry | 207 Gt Britain Street | |||||
Hanson | Charles | 36 Grangegorman Lane. | |||||
Harris | Henry | Sandymount Ave | # | Ex Rigby | |||
Kavanagh | William | 4 Ormond Quay | |||||
Lanigan | John | 14 College Green | |||||
Mc Laughlin | Edward | 9 Bolton | Street | # | ex Rigby | ||
Murphy | 190 Britain Street | Gun Barrel | |||||
O'Flanaghan | Francis | 10 Erne Street | |||||
Parkinson | John | 19 Arran Quay | |||||
Pattison | Mark & John | 17 Crampton Court | |||||
Pepper | George | 25 Capel Street | |||||
Quinlan | Thomas | 1 Kelly's Court | # | ex Rigby | |||
Rigby | William & John | 24 Suffolk Street. Shooting Gallery | # | ||||
Ryder | Thomas | Seafield. Sandymount. Armourer to the pigeon House. | |||||
Smith | George | Bath Street, Irishtown. | # | ex Rigby | |||
Truelock | William & Son | 9 Dawson Street | |||||
Tuite | Richard | Sea View. Irishtown | # | Ex Rigby | |||
Wilson | James | 43 New Row, Thomas Street. | |||||
Willett | Robert | Bath Street, Irishtown. | # | Ex Rigby |
Wm & Jn Rigby Revolver No 9341. Removable nipple shield (two screws). 1844.
(Photography courtesy A. Iosson)
The above model being one of the first batch sold has a two piece grip (common). The rarer model having a single piece grip.
In addition, the above model has a detachable nipple shield with two screws. Later pistols are found with integral nipple shields or alternatively removable nipple shields with three screws.
Of the 152 revolvers listed in the Rigby Register*, 54 were sold cased with all accoutrements
including the brass shot measure at a cost of 12 guineas each.
We are always interested in knowing of serial numbered Pepperbox Revolvers manufactured by the Rigby house or those produced by their associate Dublin houses.
The above notes are a condensed version of an article written for the Bisley Antique & Classic Arms Fair in October 2014. This article available on request.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
*Great Irish Gunmakers Messrs Rigby.
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