The maker’s records confirm that this best quality toplever hammerless non-ejector double rifle was completed in 1901 for the Hon. G. Baring with 28 inch barrels and chambered for .450 special smokeless cartridges. The Hon. G. Baring mentioned is most likely Guy Victor Baring, Member of Parliament for Winchester. The was the son of Alexander Hugh Baring, Fourth Baron Ashburton, and his family was connected with Barings Bank. The Second Baron Ashburton established the Ashburton Shield in 1861, a prize still competed for to this day at the U.K. National Rifle Association’s annual Schools' Meeting at Bisley. Guy V. Baring was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College and Sandhurst and served primarily in the Coldstream Guards in Africa. He was a special service officer in the Jubaland Expedition in 1901, the same year the rifle was completed, and this rifle would have been well-suited for hunting dangerous African game. He rose to the rank of captain the following February and was elected to Parliament in 1906 and 1910 and officially left the Coldstream Guards in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, he rejoined. The Coldstream Guards were among the first to arrive in France and suffered heavy losses throughout the war. Baring rose through the ranks and took command of the First Battalion after the Battle of Loos in 1915. As the lieutenant colonel in command of the First Battalion at the Battle of the Somme, he was killed in action during an assault on September 15, 1916. The rifle was built with blued steel barrels featuring a beaded blade front sight and three leaf (one standing, two folding) rear sight on the matted solid rib which is signed "John Rigby & Co. 72. St. James's St. London". "SPECIAL 450 BORE BIG GAME RIFLE." and "FOR SPECIAL CORDITE CARTRIDGES AND BULLET 480 Grs." engraved on the left and right barrel respectively, front sling swivel, lovely scroll engraving around the breech, single extractor, and London nitro re-proof marks on the flats including the 3 1/4 inch marking. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened rising third bite action which is marked “R&B/Patent 1141/8800" on the standing breech for the Rigby & Bisell rising third bite patent no. 1141 of March 21, 1879. The action displays extensive highly attractive scroll engraving surrounding Rigby signatures on either dipped edge lockplate before continuing onto the toplever, triggerguard, and both tangs. The rifle features bushed firing pins, double triggers, and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid "SAFE" indicator. The rifle is fitted to a beautifully figured and multi-point checkered forend with Rigby patent release and engraved fittings as well as a pistol grip stock with teardrop carved flats, horn grip cap, rear sling button, and Silver's rubber recoil pad. Included is a copy of the Special Customs Invoice indicating that the rifle was sold to Norman Blank by James Purdey & Sons of London and sent to him on July 7, 1966. Length of pull 15 1/2 inches. Weight 11 lbs. 2 oz. Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very fine as professionally refurbished, retaining 95% blue finish with much of it turned a brown hue, some oxidation towards the muzzle, traces of original case colors on the action with the majority a fine grey, minor handling evidence, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent.