Wm & Jn Rigby
Gunmakers
Dublin
Featured Pistol.
No. 9331
This cased double action six shot revolver was sold to Sir R. Blosse in 1844 for £12.12.00 *
Revolver with brass six shot loader.
This early model produced having a one piece wooden grip.
The nipple shield an integral part of the action body. Later versions were made detachable.
Wm & Jn Rigby
This featured pistol being one of 54 sold cased with all accoutrements.
Between 1843-1857 Wm & Jn Rigby officially, by their dated register,* produced 152 of these pepperbox revolvers. They appeared in different variants and were a huge success at the 1851 Great Exhibition, if somewhat over shadowed by the Adams and the Colt revolvers.
During 1851 a total of 14 pistols were sold. Following the Great Exhibition the sales nearly doubled to 27. In 1853 sales returned to 14 pistols. Thereafter a decline until in 1857 only 1 was sold through the Rigby's.*
Following further research it has been found that unmarked examples were produced. These possibly produced by "outworkers" or "satellite houses" under licence to the Rigby's. These do not comply with the Rigby serial number sequence.
We would be very interested in knowing of any others that are either numbered or unnamed and unnumbered.
Between 1843-1857 Wm & Jn Rigby officially, by their dated register,* produced 152 of these pepperbox revolvers. They appeared in different variants and were a huge success at the 1851 Great Exhibition, if somewhat over shadowed by the Adams and the Colt revolvers.
During 1851 a total of 14 pistols were sold. Following the Great Exhibition the sales nearly doubled to 27. In 1853 sales returned to 14 pistols. Thereafter a decline until in 1857 only 1 was sold through the Rigby's.*
Following further research it has been found that unmarked examples were produced. These possibly produced by "outworkers" or "satellite houses" under licence to the Rigby's. These do not comply with the Rigby serial number sequence.
We would be very interested in knowing of any others that are either numbered or unnamed and unnumbered.
* Great British Gunmakers Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 by D.H.L Back..
NB: The full article on the Rigby pepperbox production (1843-1857) written for the Bisley Antique Arms Fair brochure is available from ramrodantiques.co.uk. Price £5.00 + pp
Our sincere thanks to the owner for photography and permission to publish.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
Our sincere thanks to the owner for photography and permission to publish.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
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