GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
SCARCE AND DESIRABLE "BEST" QUALITY WESTLEY RICHARDS HAND DETACHABLE LOCK SINGLE TRIGGER EJECTOR DANGEROUS GAME DOUBLE RIFLE IN .425 WR WITH MAKER'S CASE.WESTLEY RICHARDSSXS BOXLOCK DBL RIFLE17276425W/CASE, 2 ACCESSMODERN; C&R(ca 1912) Cal. .425 WR. 26" Shoe lump bbls are fitted with full length rib with usual dolls head extension, central portion milled away forming quarter rib, which holds one standing, four folding leaf express sight. Transition to sunken mid portion of rib is nicely scroll engraved, as is area leading up to front sight ramp holding silver bead and flip-up night bead. Ramp is fitted with Westley Richards patented flip-over sight protector. Mid-rib is engraved "Westley Richards 178 New Bond St. London. Gun Makers By Appointment to His Majesty George V Rex et Imp." Tops of bbls at rear are engraved "Magnum Nitro Express .425 Bore" "For W. R. Patent Rimless Cartridge." Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 65 grains of cordite and 410 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls are stamped "H.L" and with SNs. A narrow sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Case hardened action has hand detachable locks, use no. "1123", which are engine turned and gold inlaid for "L" and "R" under hinged floorplate. Action also features bolted automatic safety marked "SAFE" and "BOLTED" in gold, along with Westley Richards very reliable patented single selective trigger. Top of action in front of top lever pivot is so engraved. Action is engraved with 80% coverage varying sized scroll which is very nicely cut. "WESTLEY RICHARDS" is in scrolled ribands on each side. Scroll surrounds somewhat naive vignettes of game suitable quarry for this big bore rifle; elephant on floorplate and black rhino on trigger guard bow. SN is on trigger guard tang which extends to scroll engraved steel grip cap with trap. Very nicely veined and stump figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock with checkered side panels, drop points, point pattern checkering at grip, and small right hand cheekpiece with shadow line and bead, measures 14-1/4" over red Old English pad. Left side of buttstock and toe line behind grip cap, are stamped with Kenya registration numbers. Toe line also has vacant rectangular crest plate and narrow sling loop matching that on bbls. Matching splinter forend with inset horn tip and Deeley release, is fitted with Deeley ejectors which combine with broad movable blades slotted through extractor lugs which are cammed into cartridge head grooves when action is closed. This system is time tested as to reliability for the use of rimless cartridges in double rifles. Drop at heel: approx 2-1/2", drop at comb: approx 1-3/4". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 10 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". Makers oak and leather case with shaped brass corners, is lined in dark green cloth and has Westley Richards paper label in lid, with other cleaning and use instructions labels. Case contains WR marked square oil bottle, broken case extractor, and the key. CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. Bbls retain nearly all of an old good quality re-black over some light marks and scratches, and with some subsequent rubs and silvering. Action retains 20 - 30% orig case hardening color, the balance pewter gray. Blue of top lever is silvered on thumbpiece. Floorplate is considerably silvered, retaining perhaps 30% blue. There is only about 15% orig blue remaining on trigger guard. Stocks retain nearly all of a well done hand rubbed oil finish with some subsequent light scratches and marks, checkering competently re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright, sharp, and shiny throughout. Action has just a hint of looseness. Bbls are on face. Mechanically fine. Case leather is dark with numerous bumps, dents, and rubs with remnants of old shipping and hotel labels. Interior cloth has considerable insect damage in lid, otherwise fine, with rubs. Labels foxed to dark brown, wrinkled and rubbed. 53052-6 mgm119 (25,000-35,000)