September 9, 10, & 11, 2025 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/9/2025
Cased Westley Richards highest quality Anson & Deeley Sherwood double rifle in .32/40 Express with 26” barrels. Length of pull of 14 - 1/4” to a checkered horn butt plate. The rifle sports a Prince of Wales stock with an engraved metal grip cap, double triggers with Westley’s iconic snap lever, doll’s head third bite, bolted safety, ejectors, gold inlaid “BOLTED” and “SAFE” ahead of the safety catch, gold inlaid serial number on the bottom tang, engraved top and bottom ribs, hooded front sight with a folding moon sight, quarter rib rear sight with one standing (100 yards) and 4 folding (200, 300, 400,and 500 yards) platinum lined leaves, drop points, vacant gold shield on the toe line, and a Deeley forend release. Maker’s name in banners on both sides, beaded pancake style cheek piece for a right handed shooter, checkered grip, forend, and panels behind the action, a widow’s peak horn forend tip, and 3/4” sling swivels. The top rib reads “WESTLEY RICHARDS 178 NEW BOND ST. LONDON. GUNMAKERS BY APPOINTMENT TO HIS MAJESTY GEORGE V. REX. ET. IMP.”. Housed in a leather cornered green canvas case with the maker’s label, brass cleaning rods, jag, mop, brass brush, key, rib brush, and a round brass box. Scroll engraving with a roe deer buck and doe on the underside and a brown bear on the trigger guard. Case color hardened action and blued furniture. Most all case colors remain. Much of this rifle's allure comes from is small action which is roughly the same size of an appropriately scaled 410 bore shotgun. Westley Richards has only taken 12 orders for the Sherwood double rifle in .32/40 Express (.32-40 Winchester). The barrel flats show London nitro proofs and are stamped "CORDITE 20 – 165 MAX" and "32". The rifle was ordered in 1910 and completed in December of 1911 for Lyon & Lyon of Calcutta. A brass shield is inlaid in the cheek piece and engraved with the letters “D” and “M” intertwined and with scimitars on either side, a smiling sun on top and a ribbon beneath that reads “MOEN UD DOWLA”. This refers to Amir-e-Paigah-e-Asman Jahi, Moin-ud-Daula Bahadur Innayath Jung, born in 1891, who was an Indian nobleman and one of the three great Paigahs of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. There is also the number “7” inlaid in the stock, most likely an armory’s rack number. CONDITION: The rifle retains all of its original parts and remains in its original configuration and underwent a very subtle, but complete refurbishment by Doug Turnbull, Keith Owen, and Bruce Bradshaw over a decade ago. The rifle remains excellent as refinished. Excellent chambers and bores with sharp and crisp lands. The barrels are tight on face. This nimble double rifle, in a rarely seen caliber and high condition, would be the envy of any firearm collection. From the collection of noted African hunter and collector Richard Cousins.
Item Dimensions: 29" x 9" x 3"
Length of Pull
14 - 1/4", neutral cast
Manufacturer
Westley Richards