Have you ever been face-to-face with a piece of history? If you have, you start asking yourself “who touched this in the past,” or, “I wonder what they were thinking during that time?” If you have ever held a piece of history in your hands, especially a firearm or a piece of military history, you know what I mean. The first time this happened to me was when someone handed me a cannon ball that was unearthed at the San Jacinto Battleground, the site where Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836.
In January 2025 I attended the Houston Safari Club Foundation’s (HSCF) Worldwide Hunting Expo and Convention in The Woodlands, Texas. I was fortunate to be involved and had the opportunity to give three seminars during the event. When I finished, I was able to enjoy the convention and walk the floor looking at the exhibits, gear, optics, taxidermy, and visit hunting and fishing outfitters from around the world. I am always amazed at the new products being displayed and the various hunting trips being offered.
As I was walking the floor of the convention, a particular booth caught my eye. Being a big fan of old world and new models of double rifles, I noticed a Rigby double-rifle boxlock, chambered in .500. The booth was manned by Gary Duffey, U.S. sales representative for John Rigby & Co. As I was admiring this $58,000 double rifle, Mr. Duffey was telling me about the gun I was admiring as well as other similar firearms. He turned out to be one of the most knowledgeable individuals regarding firearms I have ever met.
Mr. Duffey then looked at me and asked me if I would like to see the two guns lying on the table behind the Rigby .500. Of course I did, and to my total surprise, lying no more than 18 inches away was one of the most famous guns in the world! In fact, both rifles were historic. I never believed that in my lifetime I would ever be that close to and actually touch two of the guns owned by one of the most famous hunters in the world—Jim Corbett!
The two guns that were on the table were the famous .275 Rigby and a double, side by side .500 Henry Adkins and Sons blackpowder rifle, both owned by the world-renowned famous hunter Jim Corbett. Gary Duffey said that Jim Corbett’s .275 Rigby was purchased by Rigby in 2015, and that the .500 Henry Adkins and Sons blackpowder rifle is very recent acquisition by John Rigby & Co.
.275 Rigby
The .275 Rigby was the rifle that Jim Corbett used to kill many man-eating tigers and leopards in the provinces of British-controlled India. This gun was presented to Jim Corbett by the lieutenant governor of the United Provinces in India for killing the tigress named the Champawat Man-eater in 1907. Affixed to the stock of this gun is the original oval silver plate commemorating this feat.
The Champawat Man-Eater was responsible for more than 436 human deaths. Jim Corbett used his W.J. Jeffery, chambered in .450-400 Nitro Express, to end the reign of terror from this tigress. This firearm uses a smokeless powder called cordite. This firearm also replaced the second Jim Corbett gun that was lying on the table, a blackpowder double side-by-side rifle chambered for .500.
Jim Corbett’s .275 Rigby was used to kill most of the man-eating tigers and leopards that were responsible for more than 1,200 human deaths in India. When people hear the name Jim Corbett, his .275 Rigby is synonymous with his name.
.500 Henry Adkins and Sons
Jim Corbett’s .500 Henry Adkins and Sons blackpowder rifle was what he used to hunt tigers and leopards before being replaced by the J. W. Jeffery .450-400 Nitro Express. Henry Adkins and Sons made hunting rifles during the period of 1890-1939 in Castle Road, England.
Jim Corbett’s .500 Henry Adkins and Sons black powder rifle was the firearm he used to kill the famous Temple Tiger in the early 1900s. This is documented in his book, The Temple Tigers and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon. In this book, Jim Corbett describes in detail his double barrel, side-by-side “hammered” .500 black powder rifle. He also describes the unique “Jones Underlever” break. An under-lever break action firearm is one that has a lever under the double triggers, located underneath the gun.
The .500 Henry Adkins and Sons rifle that Jim Corbett owned was a very interesting rifle. Mr. Corbett often referred to this gun as his “big .500 bullet” and his “modified rifle.” According to the Vintage Gun Journal, Issue 67 January 2025, a “modified rifle” is one that was made for black powder cartridges but was rechambered and proofed for “modified cordite.” Modified cordite is the smokeless powder cordite that has been modified to lower pressures. These firearms shot cartridges that had lower pressures than standard cordite, but higher pressure than blackpowder.
Jim Corbett
Jim Corbett (1875-1955) was born in Nani Tal, India. His made his living as a railway clerk, overseeing cargo and shipments. He became a professional hunter of man-eaters after the professional hunters at the time were failing to bring in the Champawat Man-Eater. After he successfully brought in this murderous tigress, Jim Corbett became the go-to professional hunter in India. What made Jim Corbett unique was that he often used himself as bait to lure the man-eating tiger or leopard within rifle range. Many times, his shots were in such close range when he killed his prey, his barrel almost got in the way!
Jim Corbett’s most notable man-eaters that he hunted and killed were the Champawat Tigress that killed over 436 humans (1907); Muldeshwar Tigress (1910); Panar Leopard that killed more than 400 humans (1910); Rudraprayag Leopard that killed more than 125 humans (1926); Talla Des Tiger that killed more than 150 humans (1929); the Chowgath Tigerss (1930) and her cub (1929) that killed at least 64 humans; Bachelor of Powalgarh (1930); Mohan Tiger (1931); Kanda Tiger that killed at least five humans (1933); Chuka Tigress that killed at least three humans (1937); Thak Tiger that killed at least 4 humans (1938); and the Pipal Pani Tiger (1939). As mentioned above, all the man-eaters that Jim Corbett killed had a 1,200 human toll combined.
Jim Corbett chronicled his adventures in seven books he published. These included Jungle Stories (1935); Man-Eaters of Kumaon (1944); The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag (1948); My India (1952); Jungle Lore(1953); The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon (1954); and Tree Tops (1955). These books are fun to read and tell the story of probably the bravest man in modern times!
Most men and women who like to shoot and/or hunt really enjoy going to gun shows and hunting conventions. Just do not aimlessly wander around the convention floor. Stop by and chat with exhibitors, vendors, guides and outfitters. Ask questions and learn as much as you can. I visited the Rigby booth several times throughout the HSCF Expo weekend, and there was never a crowd, line, or anyone looking at Jim Corbett’s rifles. It was like no one knew they were there.
John Rigby & Co’s newest acquisition, Jim Corbett’s .500 Henry Adkins and Sons rifle, were showcased and formally introduced at the Safari Club International (SCI) Convention in Nashville, Tennessee in January 2025. Along with this famous firearm is supporting documentation and provenance. Both guns, Corbett’s .275 Rigby and his .500 Henry Adkins and Sons, are in a display case so the general public can admire them from afar.
When these guns are not on tour, Jim Corbett’s rifles are usually housed at the Rigby Factory Museum in London. If I had not stopped and talked to Gary Duffey from Rigby, I probably would never have had the chance to be that close to, and with permission, to touch one of the most famous guns in the world!
