diff --git a/cmd/bd/refile.go b/cmd/bd/refile.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77e0b2a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/bd/refile.go
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/routing"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage/sqlite"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/ui"
+)
+
+var refileCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "refile <source-id> <target-rig>",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Move an issue to a different rig",
+	Long: `Move an issue from one rig to another.
+
+This creates a new issue in the target rig with the same content,
+then closes the source issue with a reference to the new location.
+
+The target rig can be specified as:
+  - A rig name: beads, gastown
+  - A prefix: bd-, gt-
+  - A prefix without hyphen: bd, gt
+
+Examples:
+  bd refile bd-8hea gastown     # Move to gastown by rig name
+  bd refile bd-8hea gt-         # Move to gastown by prefix
+  bd refile bd-8hea gt          # Move to gastown (prefix without hyphen)`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("refile")
+
+		sourceID := args[0]
+		targetRig := args[1]
+
+		keepOpen, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("keep-open")
+
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		// Step 1: Get the source issue (via routing if needed)
+		result, err := resolveAndGetIssueWithRouting(ctx, store, sourceID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalError("failed to find source issue: %v", err)
+		}
+		if result == nil || result.Issue == nil {
+			FatalError("source issue %s not found", sourceID)
+		}
+		defer result.Close()
+
+		sourceIssue := result.Issue
+		resolvedSourceID := result.ResolvedID
+
+		// Step 2: Find the town-level beads directory
+		townBeadsDir, err := findTownBeadsDir()
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalError("cannot refile: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		// Step 3: Resolve the target rig's beads directory
+		targetBeadsDir, targetPrefix, err := routing.ResolveBeadsDirForRig(targetRig, townBeadsDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalError("%v", err)
+		}
+
+		// Check we're not refiling to the same rig
+		sourcePrefix := routing.ExtractPrefix(resolvedSourceID)
+		if sourcePrefix == targetPrefix {
+			FatalError("source issue %s is already in rig %q", resolvedSourceID, targetRig)
+		}
+
+		// Step 4: Open storage for the target rig
+		targetDBPath := filepath.Join(targetBeadsDir, "beads.db")
+		targetStore, err := sqlite.New(ctx, targetDBPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalError("failed to open target rig database: %v", err)
+		}
+		defer func() {
+			if err := targetStore.Close(); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "warning: failed to close target rig database: %v\n", err)
+			}
+		}()
+
+		// Step 5: Create the new issue in target rig (copy all fields)
+		newIssue := &types.Issue{
+			// Don't copy ID - let target rig generate new one
+			Title:              sourceIssue.Title,
+			Description:        sourceIssue.Description,
+			Design:             sourceIssue.Design,
+			AcceptanceCriteria: sourceIssue.AcceptanceCriteria,
+			Status:             types.StatusOpen, // Always start as open
+			Priority:           sourceIssue.Priority,
+			IssueType:          sourceIssue.IssueType,
+			Assignee:           sourceIssue.Assignee,
+			ExternalRef:        sourceIssue.ExternalRef,
+			EstimatedMinutes:   sourceIssue.EstimatedMinutes,
+			CreatedBy:          actor,
+			// Add note about origin
+		}
+
+		// Append refiled note to description
+		if newIssue.Description != "" {
+			newIssue.Description += "\n\n"
+		}
+		newIssue.Description += fmt.Sprintf("(Refiled from %s)", resolvedSourceID)
+
+		if err := targetStore.CreateIssue(ctx, newIssue, actor); err != nil {
+			FatalError("failed to create issue in target rig: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		// Step 6: Copy labels if any
+		labels, err := result.Store.GetLabels(ctx, resolvedSourceID)
+		if err == nil && len(labels) > 0 {
+			for _, label := range labels {
+				_ = targetStore.AddLabel(ctx, newIssue.ID, label, actor)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Step 7: Close the source issue (unless --keep-open)
+		if !keepOpen {
+			closeReason := fmt.Sprintf("Refiled to %s", newIssue.ID)
+			if err := result.Store.CloseIssue(ctx, resolvedSourceID, closeReason, actor); err != nil {
+				WarnError("failed to close source issue: %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Output
+		if jsonOutput {
+			outputJSON(map[string]interface{}{
+				"source": resolvedSourceID,
+				"target": newIssue.ID,
+				"closed": !keepOpen,
+			})
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("%s Refiled %s → %s\n", ui.RenderPass("✓"), resolvedSourceID, newIssue.ID)
+			if !keepOpen {
+				fmt.Printf("  Source issue closed\n")
+			}
+		}
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	refileCmd.Flags().Bool("keep-open", false, "Keep the source issue open (don't close it)")
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(refileCmd)
+}