Wm & Jn Rigby Serial 9341

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.