May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
Per an included letter from Robert Stutler, the former Vice President of Ruger, this rifle came directly from Bill Ruger. Stutler and Ruger worked closely for a number of years, and when Ruger passed in 2002, he bequeathed Stutler his choice of firearms from his collection, including this rifle. Ruger considered this rifle to be one of his favorites, and Stutler recounts that he often kept it leaning against his desk or on the floor next to him, and Stutler would clean it whenever Ruger took a nap during their visits. Originally manufactured for the Maharaja Holkar of Indore, with his information stenciled on lid of case. Chopper lump barrels with a brass bead front sight protected by a Westley Richards patent flip-over sight cover on a smooth raised island. Sight cover checkered on sides and engraved in floral scroll across top. 2" triangle of nicely cut scroll ahead of island with a large shell motif at base of island. Wide, slightly concave rib engraved "Westley Richards & Co, 40. Grange Rd, Birmingham. England. Rear sight on a slightly raised island, with long sections of well cut acanthus scroll en suite on either side of sight, fit with a three leaf express rear sight. Standing leaf regulated for 100 yards, and two folding leaves regulated for 200 and 300 yards. All leaves are fit with gold express lines and anti-glare matting. Chambers engraved "WR ·318 ACCELERATED EXPRESS." over right and "250 GRN. Bullets" on left. Slanted doll's head rib extension with shell motif and floral scroll. Underside of rib with a 1 - 1/2" triangle of scroll at muzzle, sling bow on island screwed to rib, and numbered "17692" for matching to the original action on left barel and "19896" on right, as Westley Richard's replacement number, and with "PG" behind. Flats with British Nitro proofs for a .318 Nitro Express cartridge at 3770 BAR. Westley Richards professionally replaced the barrels in the 1990s to extend the service life of the rifle and the work is nothing short of the fabulous quality that a modern Best maker can produce. Flat bottom splinter forearm with horn tip insert, Deely latch release, and point pattern checkering. Exterior iron engraved with well cut floral scroll and shell motifs. Action flats with British view and nitro proofs, and 2792 patent use number. Strikers are bushed, but do not have slots for a pin tool. Classic Westley Richards droplock action with small sized acanthus scroll throughout, with ribbons on either side of the action signed "Westley Richards". Droplock plate with game scene engraving of an antelope at the shore of a watering hole, with balance engraved with scroll en suite. Double triggers protected by a blued trigger guard engraved with a wandering rhinoceros, with a long tang engraved with serial number that runs all the way to the pistol grip cap. Steel pistol grip cap with trap engraved en suite. Iconic Westley Richards hinged top break lever engraved "WESTLEY RICHARDS / EJECTOR" ahead of lever. Automatic bolted safety with "SAFE" in gold ahead of slide and "BOLTED" offset, concealed when not bolted. Nice, densely grained walnut stock built with sidepanels, teardrops, two panels of modified point pattern checkering about the wrist, a beaded cheekpiece, brass heraldric device at toe line, sling bow on stud and an orange rubber recoil pad with English style covered screws, replaced at the same time as the barrels. In a leather-wrapped case with aforementioned stenciling and lined in a deep, rich sea green, with Westley Richards trade label in the lid and housing accessories comprising pair brushes, jag, gilt oil bottle, ivory striker pot, and canvas sling with brass ends. CONDITION: Barrels with essentially all of their original factory bluing, with some superficial handling marks, a few very small spots of silvering. Action excellent with flashes of case color around the recoil shields, as much as 10-15%, balance a lovely, smooth dove grey. Engraving crisp. Stocks excellent with some handling marks and impressions, and has had an extra layer of varnish added and pad replaced, probably when barrels were serviced. Mechanically fine, bores very good with strong rifling and mild frosting. Case very good with some rubs and discoloration to lining from age. Accessories very good, leather lid strap with heavy rubbing. One strap missing, one damaged, front handle and one ring missing. An important rifle that was a favorite of a pioneer of the firearms industry, belonged to Indian royalty, and is in one of the all-time great calibers to boot.
Item Dimensions: 27 x 11 x 4"
Caliber/Bore
.318 Accelerated Express
Length of Pull
15" over pad
Manufacturer
Westley Richards