A Westley Richards 7mm Bolt Action.

This shot shows a couple of things. Firstly some very nice engraving with great attention to little details which is something I find extremely important when engraving these rifles. All the various parts are somewhat disjointed on a bolt action and the engraving can therefore afford to change in style along the rifle, creative embellishment of small areas. Here you see a combination of styles which work well together.

Secondly I would like to point out that the square bridges have quick detachable bases for a telescope incorporated but covered up. If you look close you will see the small slots for your nail to pull off the sliding covers which will reveal a dovetail slot to which the scope is affixed. These mounts are the Smithson system, not revolutionary but beautifully made and eminently practical.

6 Comments

vancedaigle on August 14, 2015 at 6:34 pm

Simon,

Spectacular Sir, Leave it up to Westley and the Professionals that work there to make such beauty of a Action. I love the caps on the bases, something that normally in my opinion is not a best look. I would bet that even Paul seeing this would be impressed. That action in incredible on so many levels, the more I look the more I see details.

In Christ
Vance,

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Neill Clark on August 14, 2015 at 7:04 pm

Exquisite
The quality of the engraving is amazing. Please please can we see a photo of the whole rifle, bolt action rifles are my first love, this must be a beauty.

Mind you, if I were the lucky owner I would worry about losing those mount block covers.

Craftsmanship without equal Simon, your team are as good as it gets.

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- Simon Clode on August 14, 2015 at 8:07 pm
  
  I will photograph the whole rifle when it is all assembled. I took the opportunity to take this in advance of that, it is easier to get in position! We keep 100's of this type of reference photograph so we can say we like this, don't like that sort of thing prior to future engraving work.
  
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Woody Cotterill on August 15, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Dear Simon, thank you for posting this beautiful exhibit integrating such expertise in metalcraft and artwork.

How do you get the distinctive lighter blue of the extractor ring? I noticed this on your other bolt actions, not least the exquisite .425 magazine in posting in April.

all best

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- Neill Clark on August 15, 2015 at 9:06 pm
  
  That's a good question, and I like the almost copper colouring on the extractor itself as well, here's looking forward to an answer. Another mark of real craftsmanship.
  
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- Simon Clode on August 15, 2015 at 11:06 pm
  
  Thank You, the whole rifle will come later when complete. We put the different colour finish to the various parts of the action, the lighter blue and the orange/blue colour. These are chemical treatments specialised by the hardeners we use, Richard St Ledger who case hardens our actions and blues the parts in a variety if tones. The only thing I really know about the process is it costs a lot of money!
  
  Reply