Westley Richards Gunmaker

[Frederik]

Well in the month of March I was in the UK to market some hunts and low and behold where did I find myslef 5 days into this marketing trip.

Ok so part of of tour gave us a stop at a certain Westley Richards gunmaker. Well I couldnt belive it it's not holland and holland but from what I have heard is that not even one of the gunmakers at H&H even hunts. At least the production manager at WR has hunted Africa before and has shot some ele's in his life.

So here goes for the photos its gonna be a lot of info and eye candy !

Spotlessly clean factory floor

Sights and ribs for the barrels.

Trigger action

Filing bit by bit untill it fits the trigger action exactly. As you can see everything is handmade.

Stock and action fitting same way everything done slow and made to perfectly fit every indivudual gun.

The engraver !

The longest project he had took 4 1/2 years to finish 4 guns mixing gold untill he got the correct colour.

Some almost finished products

Hey I also want to hold that one please!

Three double rilfe rounds from left to right .500 NE .600 NE and a custom ordered and made by WR .500/577 People with too much money ordering things like this.

I wonder how good the security is in this place ????

There is a 2-3 1/2 year waiting period for ordering a gun but if you consider the time and work put into it it's worthwhile if you have the money.

Some tusks and a half over here.

Well I hope you enjoyed it it was a big experience to have been there and with a perosnal guided tour by the Floor manager which they only mostly do for cutomers if was a big bonus.

Oh and btw I though nah I shouldnt post this it would break some people's heart but I just had to show off what I did see.

 

[Frederik]

Oh, before I forget my dream double rifle would be a Westley Richards .500 NE :loopy:

One day maybe one day.

 

[Skyline]

Thanks for posting that! I may not be able to afford one, but I can sure appreciate a work of art when I see it.

 

[Shallom]

Great stuff... always good to see things being done the good old-fashioned way. I wish it was also good old fashioned prices, but I suppose that would close the factory down : (
Thanks for sharing your tour bwana. Very different from the Krieghoff Factory in Germany.

 

[GWH]

Magic looking rifles, thanks for sharing

 

[RayAtkinson]

Great post and thanks for the pictures..I really enjoyed that..

I have owned a number of double rifles over the years, my favorites being a Army-Navy in 450-400-3.25" and a Jefferys in 450-400-3" and best of all my latest Searcy on the small frame. It is the most accurate double rifle I have owned..I also had a few doubles in larger bores, but any double over the 450-3.25 has a bit more recoil than I want to share..

I can with effort shoot any big bore, but it does take an effort on my part therefore I'm into the 450-3.25 caliber and under as they require no effort as to recoil on my part.

As to Wesley Richards I had a 375 Flanged at one time and I loved that rifle but figured it was a bit light for DG or so I thought at the time. Today I would be perfectly content to hunt DG with that rifle and wish I still had it. My hunting partner and best friend has a wonderfull 450-400-3" Westley Richards, maybe I will trade him out of it one of these days.

 

[Gloucester]

Westley Richards Rifle

I had a Westley Richards rifle built last year in 375 H&H. It is a beautiful rifle - I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS GUNMAKER HIGHLY ENOUGH. The value for money is considerably better than other well known custom rifle makers.

 

[nitro476]

Westley Richards

I had a beautiful Westley Richards 476 nitro that was a fantastic rifle. It was in it's original leather case. It was a beautiful rifle and was very accurate. i should not have sold it but at the time the money was needed for other non- luxury items.

 

[Frederik]

Like I said if you can afford it you will not regret it wish I could have one. Maybe in the future I will cross paths with one

 

[DUGABOY1]

I have been collecting double rifle for many years, and my favorite has always been Westley Richards double rifles. Right now I have only one WR double. It is a 500/450 No1 express, with 28" barrels, ejectors, and very fine scroll engraving on all steel. The barrels are rifled with Metford rifling. Metford rifling looks worn out to the un-schooled eye, and is the reason I bought this little rifle for a grand total of $2100 USD, along with 20 pieces of brass, and RCBS dies. It is in it's fitted oak&leather case, and I have a letter from Westley Richards stating that it was sold out of the London store, to an un-known buyer in 1892. That little rifle seems to just point itself!

There is no question that Westley Richards are quality double rifles, and the care in building them is "OLD SCHOOL" for sure. Thanks for the pictures!

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

...That little rifle seems to just point itself!

That's a great way of putting it , I really enjoyed that. It's a great sensation when you find that rifle that just becomes an extension of you and as you said, seems to just point itself.

It would be great to see some pictures of your favorite double rifles.

 

[Burgin]

Westley Richards

Great to hear all of these comments on Westleys. Simon Clode is the owner and a very good friend of mine. Frederick, you got a special treat by getting to see the new factory and showroom. About 1 year ago they were just moving from the old shop to the new one. I may have been one of the last people to go in the old and one of the first to go in the new. Lucky me.

I have some pictures of me by those same tusks (150 each) and regulating a WR 470 in the white. Cannot find a way to resize. If someone can coach me I will send those through.

New to the forum but not new to DR's, Africa and hunting.

 

[Burgin]

Follow up

I can see that my pictures did make it up. I have a Heym 500NE (third double I have had) that I shot this 63x60 Bull with. Hunting Lion, Buffalo, Ele this July.

 

[DUGABOY1]

That's a great way of putting it , I really enjoyed that. It's a great sensation when you find that rifle that just becomes an extension of you and as you said, seems to just point itself.

It would be great to see some pictures of your favorite double rifles.

Jerome, I have to take some pictures anyway, for our DRSS website! The site is new, and is still in construction. I have just been putting it off, because I'm computer illiterate, but I have a Photo bucket account, so when I figure it out, I'll post some pictures.

The website in just under my sig line on this post! I'm the fourth one to the right on the history page. Just another OLD FAT MAN!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Hello,

I also have a Westley Richards it was made about 1865 its an 8 bore single damascus bbl shotgun. But I have yet to put it to the litmus test on geese.

Regards

Bavarianbrit

 

[monish]

Frederick

Thanks for posting the snaps , Westley Richards are the premium rifle /gun makers lucky you to have visited the works , I do have one of their bolt rifles in .318 (8MM) firing a 250 grain SN at 2400 FPS introduced in 1910 a very popular caliber once upon a time in pre independent India.

Monish

 

[Oldsarge]

And deservedly so!

 

[classicsafari]

I much prefer the aesthetics of the WR DR over the H&H and my dream rifle would be a Drop Lock WR in 450NE.
For now I have to be content with a WR BR in 425;

 

[Red Leg]

Frederick

Thanks for posting the snaps , Westley Richards are the premium rifle /gun makers lucky you to have visited the works , I do have one of their bolt rifles in .318 (8MM) firing a 250 grain SN at 2400 FPS introduced in 1910 a very popular caliber once upon a time in pre independent India.

Monish

Actually the .318 Accelerated Express is not an 8mm. The British measure the land rather than the groove making the .318 almost a 9mm at .33 inches. It is very similar to the .338-06 in performance. As you note, the vintage rifles have twists optimized for the .250 gr bullet. I love mine and its hard not to get an exit wound. Simply a great old caliber.

 

[Orvar]

Trig and the whole shop are always a blast to visit. By far the most welcoming @ first glance. And always up for a laugh.

I have a WR 280FL NE, thats in need of some of Alan M's TLC. She'll be in the bush next yearn though, after ~75yrs in a case