Silver Supporter
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I have no idea where I would go these days to find a rifle maker like the one who restored my old rolling block. That guy passed away and I haven't found anyone else that would be capable of, or willing to do that kind of work.An acquaintance of mine, the late Ronald Wharton, was a bespoke gunmaker of the Rigby school, having been apprenticed there and working there for much of his life until the Ayrabs walked through the front door with all the money, and he walked out the back with all his tools.
He set up on his own in Dorking, Surrey, and soon established a faithful clientele, afficionados of Rigby-style rifles without the Rigby-style prices, mind you, his basic gun, twenty years ago, started off at £6,000 - then $12,000.
Today you can happily part with around $120K for a nice Rigby in their revitalised action.
FYI, Sir, the line is long.