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Westley Richards Deluxe Drop Lock Ejector, 12 Ga, 2 3/4" 27"bls, Hinged plate, Excellent Plus
Guns International #: 100941129 Seller's Inventory #: 86-2017
Category: Westley Richards Shotguns - Shotguns - English Double
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: rcrwin70
Member Since: 9/26/07
First Name: Roger
State: Hawaii
Country: United States
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 1
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: cashiers check or money order or pay pal plus 3%
Description:
SOLD *** Westley Richards Deluxe Drop Lock, Ejector, 12 gauge, 2 ¾” 27” bls, Hinged Floorplate, Excellent Plus
Westley Richards Deluxe Detachable Locks (Droplock) Ejector shotgun, 12 ga., 2 ¾” chambers, 27” fluid steel barrels, choked F, IM. In excellent condition, this is the most advanced boxlock action ever created: the hand detachable lock action with side panels, hinged bottom plate, clipped fences and two triggers. Action has long bar beetle back automatic safety with “SAFE” in gold, dolls head extension 3rd bite, concave game rib engraved “Westley Richards.”
No serious shotgun collection or battery of fine shotguns is complete without a Westley Richards droplock. If you don’t have one, your ensemble is incomplete. And if you want one, this is a BEST example.
It is the Deluxe model with full coverage scroll engraving over a pleasing combination of coin finish and blackened bottom plate, trigger guard, and lower tang. The makers name is engraved in banners on both side panels, with beautifully figured dark English walnut with straight hand stock with vacant inlaid monogram gold oval; and matching splinter forend with an inlayed horn tip.
Although built in 1923, serial number 7171 still has bright bores and a lifetime of use with minimum wall thicknesses of .035” for both barrels, and was totally re-inspected and tuned up by Westley Richards in 2015. The barrels were re-blacked by Westley Richards at that time as it was found without issue and with all original components, and had been well maintained. Chokes are .729 left (F) and .733 right (IM). Dimensions are 14 ½” (to checkered butt) x 1 ½” x 1 7/16” with ¼” cast off (for the right hand). Weight 7 lb. 4 oz. This is a great example of droplock boxlock that if more length is needed, could easily go to 15 ½” with the addition of a 1” leather-covered pad.
Major Sir Gerald Burrard, in his trilogy on sporting guns, The Modern Shotgun, wrote:
“Westley Richards detachable lock guns are undoubtedly the strongest, weight for weight, of all the box lock actions.” See his explanation below*
This pre-owned gun was purchased by me from Westley Richards and shipped from London. It comes in its original case with maker’s label. The 1923 case has had some (minimal) professional restoration as 93-year-old English wool is not as durable as 93-year-old wood and metal that has been well maintained.
History of the Westely Richards Droplock:
Michael McIntosh, in his Gamefield Classics, writes (about Westley Richards):
“You’d think having patented the first effective top fastener for a break-action gun, the original boxlock design, and the two most widely copied forend fasteners in the world would be enough. In 1907, Leslie Taylor and John Deeley (then owners of Westley Richards) patented a bottom plate that is removeable… such that you can lift the locks out with your fingers and reinstall them, or replacements, in mere moments…. In 1908 Taylor patented a change in which the bottom plate is hinged at the rear and simply swings open like a trapdoor.”
Geoffrey Boothroyd, in his book, Sidelocks and Boxlocks, writes (with respect to Westley Richards drop lock):
“The detachable lock has a number of benefits. There is the utter simplicity of the lock, four moving parts, and the ease of removal and replacement. We are of course, fortunate, that Westley Richards are very much still in business and that they also still build guns…I don’t have a Westley Richards with detachable locks…Indeed, the locks, when detached, are a delight to behold and, if I were fortunate enough to own a Westley Richards gun of this type, I think I would keep these jeweled masterpieces separate from the gun and have them mounted in a suitable display case so that I could enjoy looking at them when not in use.”
*Major Sir Gerald Burrard, in his trilogy on sporting guns, The Modern Shotgun, explained that the detachable lock system, besides being nifty, is an extremely strong gun frame since there is no reason to drill a hole through the action bar for the tumbler peg, allowing the need to mill only narrow slots in the bar to accommodate the locks which leaves more steel in the frame than that of the conventional box lock.
Buyer must furnish current FFL copy for shipping. Buyer has 3-day full refund non-firing return privilege.
Price: $13,500.00
Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (Winchester pre-64 Model 70s) and will furnish a Letter of Provenance that this gun is from his collection. Please check out author’s feedback on ebay under rcrwin70roger. Shipping is $50 to buyer’s FFL, payment by MO, certified check , wire transfer or personal check with wait for validation. For questions, call (678) 971-4173 and ask for Roger.
SOLD