An Old Favourite In A New Rifle: The .450 3 1/4" Nitro Express

This stunning rifle is just such an order. Built to the highest level of specification and beautifully engraved, it chambers the old, straight-cased .450 cartridge that was banned by the British for use in India and Sudan, giving rise (in 1907) to Lang’s .470, which was ballistically almost the same but bypassed the legal restrictions then in place.

Old it might be but effective it surely is. The 450 NE was based on the old .450 black powder case, loaded with 70 grains of Cordite and a 480-grain bullet. Kynoch’s latest load data lists the .450 as sending a 480-grain bullet down range at 2,150 fps and delivering muzzle energy of 4,930 ft/lbs.

It was, for a while the favoured British cartridge for dangerous game but by the time the restrictions placed on its use were rescinded, the public had got used to the .470 and that round remained the more popular of the two thereafter.

However, like the .425 Westley Richards and the .318 Accellerated Express, the .450 NE retains a certain amount of affection amongst traditionally minded hunters and we are sometimes asked to build a new one.

For this order, we built a hand-detachable lock double rifle and added decorative side-plates. With 25” barrels it weighs 10lbs 8oz and is regulated for Kynoch cartridges, loaded with 480-grain Woodleigh bullets.

The stunning African game scenes were engraved by Vincent Crowley, surrounded by full deluxe bold scrolls. Gold embellishment extends to the name, the serial number and the word SAFE. The brushed surfaces reveal the details of the lion, elephant and buffalo in all their glory.

Single triggers are not historically unusual on Westley Richards double rifles. The .577 we have in the vault, which once belonged to James Sutherland, as famous a big game hunter as has ever lived, has one and he wrote that it never once let him down.

Here we have used a selective single trigger and a manual safety, to maximize flexibility and speed of fire. For fast target acquisition, we use a traditional quarter-rib and standing and leaf sights, regulated to fifty, one-hundred and two-hundred yards.

The 'Modele de Luxe' is a beautiful specification, featuring the very best of figured walnut and full coverage engraving. The exhibition grade stock has a cheek-piece and a pistol grip with grip trap cap.

We shape our stocks for double rifles, just as we do those on our shotguns. This customer required cast off 1/8” at heel and 3/16” at toe. Bend is 1 ¼” at comb and 2” at heel. This way, the rifle can be thrown to the face and fired fast, in the manner of a shotgun. It should shoot where you look.

Westley Richards customers invariably approach us with new ideas, often based on old favourites interpreted in a personal way. As every build it bespoke and unique, we can, and do, make anything possible.

This beautiful double .450 NE will, we hope, soon be in Africa, participating in a quest to bag all the animals so beautifully engraved on the steel surfaces you see here now.