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War Era 416 Rigby Dangerous Game Rifle by Auguste Francotte
Guns International #: 101188653 Seller's Inventory #: RigbyFrancotte1
Category: Rigby Rifles - Francotte Rifles
Seller's Information
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Seller: Rookhawk
Company:
Member Since: 7/20/12
First Name: Troy
Last Name: Moritz
State: Wisconsin
Zip: 54767
Country: United States
Phone2: (847) 833-1422
Fax:
Number of Active Listings: 1
Total Number of Listings: 22
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Cashier's Check, Certified Check, Money Order, Cash Face-toFace
Description:
The gun was made circa 1942 by Auguste Francotte which makes it a unique piece. It appears to be the only wartime era Rigby that Francotte made and one of only a handful made during all periods.
The gun is beautifully balanced, has an exhibition grade walnut stock, silver's recoil pad, shadow line cheek piece, and ebony forend tip & grip cap. The magazine has the classic 4+1 capacity. It has a "swiss watch" quality standard and set trigger that are perfectly tuned. The action is of course, silky smooth. Standing and folding Rigby style quarter rib rear sights. 26" barrels. The barrels were made by the preeminent barrel making firm in Belgium for Francotte, Laurent Lochet-Habran, Feed and loading is perfect. Bore is excellent. Minor wood repair left of tang for a chip done excellently. Stock is excellent / no cracks / near exhibition wood. English Red Silvers Pad. Accuracy is very good with the factory ammo I have used, probably better if you wish to handload. Length of pull is approximately 14-5/8".
This is probably the best do-all dangerous game rifle for Africa that will handle elephant, buffalo, and yet still has the accuracy for large plains game at distance.
You will not find a golden era dangerous game Mauser of this quality, in this caliber, by a renowned maker for less. With custom wood, canvas, and leather case, label, and accessories included as pictured. 9 boxes of premium factory ammo also available for additional cost.
The set trigger is really a slick system, the primary is your typical 3.5-4.5 pound, crisp dangerous game trigger, the set trigger is really light and perhaps 1 pound consistently. I've seen several and owned a few guns with them previously in calibers up to .375HH. This is the first .416 Francotte I've seen so adorned in original configuration of the 4 extent known Auguste Francotte 416 Rigby rifles. (the other 3 are 1960s-1980s models though as this is the only golden era example I'm aware of)
As to dating the rifle, I'm hesitant to proclaim the gun "surely pre-war" because some buyer could become incensed since pre-war safari rifles carry a premium versus a gun made during or shortly after wartime. There are several marks and codes that dial in the gun's era. The last barrel made by Lochet-Habran was in 1951. The proof worker's mark was used 1924-1948 reducing that range. The serial number of the gun is within 70 digits of two known serial numbers for Francotte guns made in 1941 and 1942. Thus, it is speculative, but it could have been made immediately before the occupation of Belgium in May of 1940 when rifle manufacture would have been possible for foreign trade, but it is less likely it would be postwar as it is incongruent with all known Francotte serial numbers from latter years and there was little chance that a rifle would have been allowed to be produced during 1940-1945 occupation unless it was for a politically influential person. The nomenclature is all in English as well and there is no engraving for European caliber equivalent of 10.6×74mm, just "Auguste Francotte a Liege - Cal. 416 Rigby" on the barrel. Thus, the gun could be made in theory anytime from 1924 up to 1948, but the serial number is the most compelling piece suggesting a date later than 1939 (examples of his guns known 900 digits earlier) and before 1944 (examples of his guns known 1200 digits later). By 1945 they were 1600 digits later in serial numbers with consistent increasing numbers.
Another novelty I had not seen often on the continent with safari rifles was the use of internal crossbolts. Certainly, they had external crossbolts available but for whatever reason, this gun has them internally affixed, a lot more work for the stocker.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Auguste Francotte
Model: 416 Rigby
Caliber Info: 416 Rigby
Barrels: 26
Action: Mauser
Triggers: double / set
Stock: European Walnut
Fore End: ebony
Butt Pad: Silvers Red
LOP: 14-5/8
Manufacture Date: WWII
Case: Canvas Case with Label
Proof:Nitro: Nitro Proof