Overview

Whether you were a sportsman, civil servant, subaltern, or tea planter, you wanted a good rifle if you were headed out to the colonies. From the height of British imperialism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through its demise in Asia, Africa, and beyond in the twentieth, John Rigby & Co., an elite cadre of gunmakers working at the heart of Britain's empire, crafted some of the finest sporting rifles and guns ever made. Thus begins this fascinating story of John Rigby & Co., which details the legendary exploits of famous Rigby owners Jim Corbett, W.D.M. Bell, Field Marshall Mannerheim, and others.Rigby's story is the story of colonial adventure, of the world's most famous big-game hunters and their rifles. In Rigby: A Grand Tradition, authors Calabi, Helsley, and Sanger bring Rigby owners Jim Corbett, W.D.M. Bell, Field Marshal Mannerheim, the Maharana of Udaipur, and others to life in rich detail. Extensively illustrated and including a thorough treatment of the development of the technology behind Rigby rifles and ammunition, this book provides substantial insight into the people, adventures, and rifles behind big game hunting in the early 20th century.

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9781933608914

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Reviews

Rigby: A Grand Tradition combines the eye appeal and readability of a coffee-table volume with the scholarship and attention to detail of a history. The result is the most comprehensive picture yet of Rigby's unique position in fine gunmaking. -California Side by Side Society Quite simply, this outstanding book needs to be in your library. It is a great story and an excellent reference work combined. The hardcover book consists of 196 color pages, lavishly illustrated and extremely well done. I enjoyed a pot of coffee over mine because I couldn't put it down. The tariff is $45; believe me, it is worth every penny. -Black Powder SPG This fascinating book includes the family history of the Rigby's, their various inventions and classic firearms. Detailed descriptions of various rifles are presented along with the most colorful stories of their owners. Among the chapters there are captivating stories of safari hunts-featuring such notable characters as kings, maharajas and the well-known professional hunter Jim Corbett.When I recieved this book, I just couldn't put it down until I read it straight through! Not only is the material most informative but the writing style is a reflection of the elegance and propriety of a literary golden age. --Brett Boyd, The Single Shot Exchange

<p><p>Rigby: A Grand Tradition combines the eye appeal and readability of a coffee-table volume with the scholarship and attention to detail of a history. The result is the most comprehensive picture yet of Rigby's unique position in fine gunmaking. -California Side by Side Society<p> <p><p>Quite simply, this outstanding book needs to be in your library. It is a great story and an excellent reference work combined. The hardcover book consists of 196 color pages, lavishly illustrated and extremely well done. I enjoyed a pot of coffee over mine because I couldn't put it down. The tariff is $45; believe me, it is worth every penny. -Black Powder SPG<br><p> This fascinating book includes the family history of the Rigby's, their various inventions and classic firearms. Detailed descriptions of various rifles are presented along with the most colorful stories of their owners. Among the chapters there are captivating stories of safari hunts-featuring such notable characters as kings, maharajas and the well-known professional hunter Jim Corbett.<br>When I recieved this book, I just couldn't put it down until I read it straight through! Not only is the material most informative but the writing style is a reflection of the elegance and propriety of a literary golden age. --Brett Boyd, The Single Shot Exchange<p>

Author Information

Silvio Calabi was an editor of sporting magazines for 30 years. He is a Knight of the International Order of St. Hubertus, a member of Safari Club International and the Namibian Professional Hunting Association, and a director of the California Side By Side Society. With Roger Sanger, he co-founded the Gold Medal Concours d'Elegance of Fine Guns. He is the co-author, with Sanger and Helsley, of the critically acclaimed book Hemingway's Guns. From his home on the Maine coast, Calabi travels and hunts widely. Steve Helsley, of El Dorado Hills, California, is a retired law-enforcement executive, a consultant to the National Rifle Association, a technical adviser to the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, a firearms collector, historian and photographer, and a widely published authority on vintage and tactical guns. He has collaborated with Sanger and Calabi on many articles for shooting magazines as well as the critically acclaimed book Hemingway's Guns. Roger G. Sanger founded the California Side By Side Society and served as its President for many years. In 2001, with Silvio Calabi, he co-founded the Gold Medal Concours d'Elegance of Fine Guns and then, with Steve Helsley, the Western Side By Side Championships. Sanger is a Knight of the International Order of St. Hubertus and a co-author, with Calabi and Helsley, of the critically acclaimed book Hemingway's Guns. He lives in Carmel, California, and Sun Valley, Idaho.

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