Our services at a glance
Research & Gun Provenance
You can now trace the provenance of your Rigby gun with our historical research service. We can confirm for you when your gun was made, to whom it was first sold, and its action and serial numbers. With many guns, we can also provide information on its style and finish. For those considering selling a gun, this service also provides proof of authenticity.
Send us the serial number of your Rigby rifle or shotgun and our in-house historian will search the relevant ledgers to find its provenance and other information. Rigby’s 87 history-filled ledgers, which are kept at our purpose-built London showroom, include entries that date to 1780.
With Rigby you don’t just own a gun you also own a slice of history and we are very happy to be able to share this information with our clients. This service means those who already own a Rigby can take pride in its history and enjoy owning a certificate stating its provenance taken direct from our ledgers.
Provenance details and certificates are available in the following formats:
Information by email:
£45 (incl. VAT)
Certificate by email:
£60 (incl. VAT)
Printed certificate:
£100 (incl. VAT) + standard shipping
Please note there may be instances where we are unable to retrieve specific details about your gun. In such cases, we will get in touch to promptly issue a refund.
Here at Pensbury Place, we have a large number of Rigby’s historical records, transactions and accounts, some of which go back to 1780. They are housed in Accounts Ledgers, Day Books and Serial Number Books.
To research a gun or rifle for a Rigby owner, we rely on the searchable records in five surviving serial number books. Serial number records pre-dating 1871 are very brittle and dis-ordered. These are currently undergoing restoration and cannot be accessed.
The books we do have are:
Book 1
Date: 1871 to 1883.
Serial Nos. 13700 – 15463 (Dublin).
Book 2
Date: 1872 to 1895.
Serial Nos. 13793 – 16298 (London).
Book 3
Date: 1883 to 1897.
Serial Nos. 15464 – 16554.
This book also contains Rigby-Mauser records from Serial No. 1000-1999.
Book 4
Date: 1892 to 1912.
Serial Nos. 16299 – 17765.
Book 5
Dates: 1905 to 1906.
Serial Nos. 2400 – 5028. Content is mostly additional production details on revolvers and Mauser rifles.
Mauser Book
Dates: 1902 to 1986.
Contains Rigby-Mausers from Serial No. 2000 – 6848.
Details from the late 1960s onwards are not always fully recorded.
We have no records relating to the period during which Rigby was owned and operated from California (1996-2013).
From: £ 45.00
Repair, Refurbish & Cleaning
Our skilled in-house gunsmiths specialise in servicing, repairing, and refurbishing Rigby sporting guns and rifles. While we exclusively repair Rigby guns, we can connect you with some of the UK’s top independent gunsmiths for other makes and models. Contact us for a quote or to discuss your requirements.
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Regulating & Zeroing Rifles
Our gunsmiths can fit iron, electronic and telescopic sights and scope mounts; regulate double-rifle barrels; and sight in your Rigby rifle to shoot your specified cartridge accurately. Following the example of John Rigby himself, our team are experienced shots. Contact us to find out more.
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Visitor’s Gun Permits
We have extensive experience in applying for firearms permits for visitors to the UK and maintain excellent relations with the various police agencies involved. Should you be attending a Rigby event in the UK, we will help process your visitor permits, which require the company to sponsor your visit. If you meet this criteria, please contact us for advice and assistance.
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Rifle Accuracy Service
Our gunsmiths can help optimise the performance of your Rigby rifle, by diagnosing and resolving any accuracy issues. We can examine everything from scope mounts to ammunition to ensure your rifle is operating most effectively. In addition, we can develop bespoke ammunition to accommodate your rifle. Contact us to find out more.
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Rigby Wood Cellar
The Rigby Wood Cellar offers discerning customers the chance to invest in premium walnut stock blanks for future bespoke gun creations. As quality walnut blanks become harder to source and more expensive, this service provides an exceptional opportunity to secure a ready supply and get ahead of the curve.
Customers can store their blanks in a secure, climate-controlled environment at Rigby, for a small yearly fee. Options include fully dry blanks ready to use or wet blanks, ideal for long-term projects. Personalised assistance is available for matching blanks from the same tree, ensuring a harmonious finish for sets, trios or collections.
Yearly reports on the condition of the blanks, including humidity levels and weight, provide valuable insights on their preservation and maintenance. Rigby’s head stock maker, Martin Levis, added: “Choosing your walnut stock blanks from Rigby means investing in quality that lasts, as each blank is thoroughly inspected by our team. At Rigby, we understand the value of craftsmanship passed down through generations and with our best walnut blanks, you’re not just purchasing a stock—it’s a legacy in the making.”
When you purchase a blank from Rigby, a portion of the proceeds supports replanting walnut trees. Additionally, the manufacturing waste is repurposed at the walnut factory into wooden pellets, maximising sustainability.
For more information or to speak with Martin Levis, please email: martin@johnrigbyandco.com.
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