Westley Richards

[Retired W4]

i have mentioned in the past that some of my prized possessions were my pre-27, a 5 screw 44 magnum and others. This gun is at the top of that list. A 20 Ga. Best Quality Sidelock from Westley Richards. Just a little eye candy for those who appreciate true works of art in firearms. One might ask how an old retired Army and corporate pilot ended up with something like that. Well, it was given to me by my very generous former boss. I had my choice of this 20 ga. and her .410 bore WR. Trying not to seem too greedy i chose this one. At the time Westley Richards had only made 6 .410's and those command quite a premium. And no, I don't shoot this. My 20 PB 626 Onyx is for quail hunting.

Enjoy.

 

[505Gibbs]

Oh damn! That is beautiful. You're VERY fortunate.
Must have been a hellofa pilot.

 

[Rpg]

What a great gun!

You’re a man after my heart: you don’t hunt with a gun that will embarrass the dogs.

 

[andy52]

I owned a Wesley Richards muzzleloader 12ga S&S made in 1858. I bought it for a song not knowing it's value when a guy offered me 3500 it became his.

 

[steveno]

I think I would have taken the 410

 

[rck281]

I used to own a WR rifle - a .375 H&H Magnum. Had an Elephant hide covered recoil pad. Bought it used on a business trip.
Does your shotgun have a drop lock?

 

[Retired W4]

I used to own a WR rifle - a .375 H&H Magnum. Had an Elephant hide covered recoil pad. Bought it used on a business trip.
Does your shotgun have a drop lock?

no, the drop lock is a different action altogether.. They do make droplock, sidelock and even boxlocks in rifles and shotguns. Typically their sidelocks run a little higher, depending of course how fancy it is.

Steveno, yea I should have taken the .410. It made no difference to her. Her husband, before he died, hunted with a beautiful old Parker. One day while we were hunting with some of his friends he used the end of the barrels to open up the lid of a gun case on the buggy. I almost lost it! OK, it's just a shotgun.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The only WR I own, is a 450 3.25" NE rifle. It is a field grade hammer double with the underlever action (discontinued in 1905, Rigby introduced the cartridge in 1898) With double 26" barrels it is around 8 pounds, and the felt recoil is on par with a 375 H&H. Just basic engraving around the chamber and hammer locks. Nothing as nice as yours.

I bought it in 1982 or 3 and don't fire it much, but do reload for it. Mine was made with Medford refiling, the lands and grooves have no sharp edged, for shooting Black Powder and Jacketed bullets. The 350 soft point Hornady over 120 FFFg DuPont makes "The" traditional Red Stag load, and works well on anything in North America. I have about 45 BELL
cases that are Boxer primed and 250 Eley/Kynoch, new Berdan primed cases. (and 3 tins of huge primers-750) The RCBS loading dies will work on the 450 NE and the 45-120 Winchester, with different shell holders.

Ivan

 

[jeffrefrig]

For all that gun is worth, you'd think it would come assembled! Really, that is a great-looking gun! You made a lot of us just a tad envious.

 

[ars1876]

My W R .20 ga. was made in 1884 and I shoot it all the time in Vintage Sporting Clays and practice . They were made to be shot. I have 7 English sxs's, the newest being 1912 and shoot them all with proper loads . They will all out live me .

 

[Retired W4]

My W R .20 ga. was made in 1884 and I shoot it all the time in Vintage Sporting Clays and practice . They were made to be shot. I have 7 English sxs's, the newest being 1912 and shoot them all with proper loads . They will all out live me .

The one pictured above was completed in 1978. I've considered handing it over to one of the auction houses such as Morphy's because it just sits in my safe. I do enjoy taking in out now and then to marvel over the craftmanship.

 

[2152hq]

I have a WR boxlock ejector straight grip 12ga.
Nice gun, lots of scroll engraving, 'fancy back' action, no finish left and plain as a fence post wood.
Oak& Leather retailers case.

One day while shooting skeet with it upon opening it after a shot, a rather loud snap and a crunch sound. I knew it wasn't a good sound.
The left bbl mainspring had broken.
So much for that.

The spring is a typical V style, that in itself is not a problem. But the spring also trips the ejector so it has a rather long and complicated extension all made as one piece and kind of off set from the V spring itself.

Still on the bench waiting for me to mill one out of a block of 1095, file and fit and harden & temper.
Brownell's & Midway most likely to be out of stock at the present time.
..I should doll her up with some appropriate wood as well when I get to the project.

W/R's ain't too shabby for a 'Brum' maker.

 

[Jack Flash]

I owned a Wesley Richards muzzleloader 12ga S&S made in 1858. ...

I thought it was Wesley Richards too. Learn something new every day.

 

[crsides]

I want to be your pilot when you start to give things away.

 

[S&W ucla]

I thought it was Wesley Richards too. Learn something new every day.

Me too! I'll have to run up to Birmingham and check'em out!

Seriously, a work of art. A 626 for quail ain't too shabby. Good luck this season!

 

[Retired W4]

Me too! I'll have to run up to Birmingham and check'em out!

Seriously, a work of art. A 626 for quail ain't too shabby. Good luck this season!

The 626 was also a present. She had a bunch of Citori's Hunter grade, which I sold for her, but none of her buddy's or her son's friends could hit with the little SxS, so it became mine by default.
Don't know why the pic rotated itself.

 

[Jebus35745]

I love SxS shotguns and that is one beautiful gun. I would almost have to hunt with it just to say I did. If you ever need help wiping it down I would be willing to help. That’s one of the top end guns.

I hunt with a true Sidelock but not nearly as nice. 12 ga BRNO with extractors and 2 triggers. It’s a hard to find with a beaver tail forend and engraved sidelocks. Larry