London gunmaker John Rigby and Co. has collaborated with specialists from firearms importer Sell-In-Swiss to create an exceptional collection of limited edition rifles that pays tribute to Switzerland and the famous precision of the 7.5×55 Swiss calibre. The series is limited to just 52 pieces in total, the idea being that two of these rifles are created for each of Switzerland’s famous 26 cantons.
The design is derived from Rigby’s legendary Highland Stalker rifle, echoing its elegance and simplicity, but the aesthetics and features mark the Swiss Rigby Rifle out as a truly unique firearm. As with all Rigby rifles, indicated by the mantra ‘fit for purpose’, the Swiss Rigby Rifle embodies robustness, precision and functional reliability in a rifle that any discerning hunter would be proud to carry.
The famous 7.5×55 Swiss calibre combined with an open sight and rear dioptre means that this gun shoots to extreme precision and can shoot from 300 metres without difficulty (300 metres is the standard length of a Swiss rifle range). The individual rifles in the series are numbered on the magazine floor, which also showcases the calibre and the designation “Swiss Limited Edition”. This design will never be reissued and is not being included in the Rigby catalogue. It is truly limited to these 52 pieces, and there are already plenty of famous names from the hunting world already lining up to take a closer look.
Each Swiss Rigby rifle will be delivered in a beautiful hand-manufactured gun case that serves not only to keep the rifle safe when it’s being stored, but also looks superb in any gunroom. The interior and exterior design and colours of the case have been meticulously chosen to ensure the case is a totally new design, marking the significance of this collection.
Ever since the company was founded in 1775, every firearm produced by John Rigby & Co. has been registered in the famous Rigby directory. The famous London Best, the incredible big game calibres that Rigby is known and loved for around the world. Every single gun represents hundreds – sometimes thousands – of hours of painstaking work by the talented gunsmiths and engravers in the Rigby workshop. The Rigby ledger is now a piece of history, if you flip through its pages you will discover prestigious names including Jim Corbett, Winston Churchill, and various members of different royal families. Purchasing a Swiss Rigby rifle will grant 52 lucky individuals the privilege of seeing their name included in a piece of living history.
In addition to having their name handwritten in that famous ledger and owning a limited edition Rigby rifle, each owner of a Swiss Limited Edition will also become a member of an exclusive new club from the moment their rifle is commissioned. The private Swiss Rigby Club is only for those 52 owners of the Swiss Rigby and will be a gathering point for people who are passionate about hunting, that famous Swiss calibre and Rigby as a brand. The club will be a forum for members to share where they’ve hunted with their rifle and where they plan to take it next, swapping tales of cunning, daring and success! There will be sporting challenges complete with both kudos and trophies for the winners, and even an exclusive collection of members’ clothing complete with the iconic Rigby ‘double-R’ branding.
Marc Newton, managing director of John Rigby and Co. comments: “Rigby is known around the world for our superb game rifles and rich heritage of gunmaking, and we have made plenty of rifles for Africa, India and more locally, Scotland. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to collaborate with Sell-In-Swiss on this project and branch out to new territories and calibres. I’m immensely proud of what our gunmakers have produced here and know that these rifles will be treasured and by their owners and be taken to some of the most spectacular corners of the world for the job they were made for – hunting. There are only ever going to be this collection of 52 pieces in existence. Once the mould is broken, we won’t be doing this ever again”.
