May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
Heavy profile octagonal barrel, round at the shank, with bead front sight on sweated on island with Westley Richards patent flip-over sight hood and moon sight. Base engraved with scrollwork, while side hood is matted. Sling eye base sweated to underside of barrel. Top flat of barrel is matted to the express rear sight base. which is fit with four leaves: one standing for 50 yards, three folding for 100, 200, and 300, all with silver express lines and dressed with scroll and rays. Left flat with "Westley Richards & Co London" and "Length of case 2 5/8 65/410 GRS", right with "Shrimant Sampatrao Gaikwad Baroda", probably the owner. Marked with a triangle at shank. Fore ring of action stippled across the top, with offset serial number and engraved "WESTLEY RICHARDS .425 MAGNUM EXPRESS". Griffin & Howe style sidesaddle scope mount with matching serial number and mounted with an Ajack fixed 4x scope with German #1 "fencepost" reticle. Safety flag engraved "SAFE" for legibility when engaged. Bolt knob is a highly unusual horn ball. Box magazine is engraved with scrollwork and dangerous game scenes, including a stalking tiger on left, an elephant on bottom, a cape buffalo, and a lion on trigger guard, and fit with a checkered horn handstop. Nicely carved and checkered stock, with extensive coverage of modified point pattern checkering, including mullered borders and fleur-de-lis intrustions, and horn forearm cap, of a nicely figured flame colored stock with shadowline cheekpiece, brass oval at toe line, sling eye, pistol grip cap with trap, and an orange recoil pad with covered screws. CONDITION: Barrel retains the vast majority of the reapplied blue, with some scattered handling marks and impressions. Legends somewhat softened but legible. Stock excellent with some handling marks and impressions from the field, but free of cracks or chips. Mechanically fine, bore excellent with strong rifling and mild frosting. Scope clear but a little discolored. An impressive rifle that clearly spent some time hunting in India.
Caliber/Bore
.425 Express Magnum
Manufacturer
Westley Richards