John Rigby and Co., the renowned British deluxe hunting firearms maker, has announced the release of a limited edition run of their Big Game bolt action rifles dubbed Tsavo. These dangerous game rifles are dedicated to the story of the two most feared man-eater lions from the Tsavo region of Kenya that in 1898 killed 135 workers during the Kenya-Uganda railway construction.

Here is an excerpt from Rigby’s press release telling about these limited edition rifles:

Limited to a run of 12, each rifle bears its unique series number in gold on the floor plate, along with detailed engraving of the infamous pair of maneless lions. Their names – “The Ghost” and “The Darkness” – are inscribed on the Tsavo’s EAW swing-off scope rings, and the identity of their eventual nemesis – J. H. Patterson – is set into the bolt handle, along with their reported number of their victims (135). Stocked with specially selected grade eight Turkish walnut, the Tsavo’s looks and durability is further enhanced by Rigby’s London Best Oil finish and leather covered recoil pad.

Built around the magnum Mauser M98 double square bridge action in .375 calibre, the rifles benefit from all the features that define Rigby’s multi award-winning Big Game range. Each Tsavo is supplied with Rigby’s cleaning accessories in an exclusive leather case, styled to capture the intrepid spirit of the late Victorian era.

The retail price of Rigby Tsavo rifles is £22,500 which is about $28,000. Despite not being the most affordable firearms, limited edition rifles like these often have a high demand. About a year ago, the company released a similar series of limited edition bolt action rifles called Mopani (named after an African tree). According to Rigby, Mopani rifles were sold within a week, so chances are high that by the time this article is published, Tsavo rifles have been sold out, too.

Images courtesy of John Rigby and Co. (www.johnrigbyandco.com)