With content as diverse as hunting literature and ethics, exclusive previews of new-build guns and rifles as they emerge from our workshops, latest safari clothing and leather goods launches, insights into gunmaking skills and techniques, sporting stories from the field and recent discoveries from the Westley Richards archives, there is a wide range of subject matter that is sure to appeal to all true lovers of best British gunmaking.
Here, we present the 2024 'best of' review and encourage readers to delve into the most-read articles featured in 'The Explora' this year.
Westley Richards New Model Sidelock Over & Under Game Gun
While many sportsmen continue to appreciate and use side by sides, the majority of guns seen on British shoots today are over & under in configuration. This trend has its roots in the 1909 Boss over & under patent of John Robertson & Bob Henderson. The Boss is still made in London by the company that launched it and has been copied by numerous other makers, like Hartmann & Weiss, over the ensuing decades.
The Art of Double Gunning
The 19th century history of sporting shotguns was dominated by mechanical inventions devised with the twin aims of making a breech-loading gun safe and secure and that of making it faster and easier to load, discharge and re-load. The speed of the loading-firing cycle was something of an obsession. Snap actions, ejectors and single triggers are added complications, which serve primarily to make a gun faster to shoot and re-load.
A 'New' 1897 Westley Richards Falling Block Rifle
An original Westley Richards falling block rifle has been used as the basis for this new-build European big game rifle in 7x65R. Re-purposing good examples of vintage actions to create new custom rifles was commonplace in the British gun trade until quite recently. All the major rifle makers used to rely on original Oberndorf Mauser actions for their magazine rifles, for example. Today, with the availability of new Mauser actions, that is no longer normal practice.
Trigger's Safari Packing List
Ask one person how to prepare for safari and you will get quite different advice to that which might come from another. We asked managing director ‘Trigger’ about his approach to the subject, since he has hunted in Africa more times than most and has a wealth of experience to help inform his choices. Surprisingly, top of his list we found the very modern concept of Apple Airtags, which he adds to key items so they may be found quickly and easily, if misplaced or stolen.
The Golden Era of Safari Re-imagined by American Artist - Nicholas Coleman
The spirit of safari has long resided within the walls here at Westley Richards. From 1812, when cartographers simply left huge blank areas in maps of the African continent, through the hot century of colonial expansion, exploration and wars of conquest, to the last gasp of the British colonies in the post-war era, Westley Richards guns and rifles featured prominently.
Two in One - A Rifle For World Travel
The 19th century history of sporting shotguns was dominated by mechanical inventions devised with the twin aims of making a breech-loading gun safe and secure and that of making it faster and easier to load, discharge and re-load. The speed of the loading-firing cycle was something of an obsession. Snap actions, ejectors and single triggers are added complications, which serve primarily to make a gun faster to shoot and re-load.
The Explora Club Photo Competition - Winners 2024
Westley Richards is delighted to announce the winner of the 2024 Explora Club Photo Competition. The quality of entries submitted was very high and the subject matter extremely varied, spanning several continents and myriad scenarios, from landscapes through still-life to intimate portraits. Every one captures something of the essence of what hunting means to each of us. The range illustrates the glorious diversity of experience, activity, people, animals and landscapes encompassed by the term ‘hunting’ and each delivered, to our offices, some element of personal insight from our readers’ worlds into our own.
Classic Format Westley Richards .404 Magazine Rifle
If we were to build a rifle for professional hunter, but with every component and every choice of material designated 'best' quality, then add a little highlighting to lift the appearance, it would probably look a lot like this. We start with a no-nonsense platform. In this case a double-square-bridge 'Magnum' Mauser '98. This action is so well-tested and so well-proven that it needs no justification. It still acts as the benchmark for everything else.
Gunmaker Tool Series: The Checkering Tool
Checkering badly is the easiest way to ruin a beautiful gun or rifle. This seemingly small detail is as important as any other stage of gunmaking at the Westley Richards factory and the tools used are crucial in getting it right. Once the checkering has been laid out and cut, the gun is delivered to the workshop of Julian Fanthome, who applies the final oil finish.
Awesome or Awful? - Were Shot and Ball Guns Seriously Capable or Shoddy Compromises?
The history of sporting arms made in Britain and intended for travel, mostly to serve the needs of colonial ex-patriots, adventurers or settlers, is interesting because the expansion of European interest in Stanley’s ‘In Darkest Africa’ coincided with some seismic shifts in firearms development. In 1890, the Cape Colony was busy building railways, Cecil Rhodes was its Prime Minister and Paul Kruger was President of the South African Republic. However, much of the interior was still relatively untamed.
The Fine Art of Spotting
Horology aficionados will be familiar with the effects of jewelling to the internal surfaces of old watch movements and case backs. The process, which we refer to as 'spotting', is less common in the gun trade but at Westley Richards it has been used for specific components since the late 19th century. The original purpose of spotting was to create micro-abrasions on the surface of the steel, which would make it hold oil better, thereby increasing the protection afforded against corrosion.
A Remarkable Westley Richards Sidelock .375 Buffalo Rifle
Of the double rifle actions historically available from Westley Richards, the most common is a treble-grip, featuring our hand-detachable locks, bolted doll's-head rib extension and patent top-lever. However, we do make a smaller number of fixed-lock Anson & Deeley rifles and some sidelocks. Here is one of the latter. Like our other models, our sidelocks are easily recognisable as Westley Richards rifles.
The Explora Blog is the world’s premier online journal for field sports enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, conservationists and admirers of bespoke gunmaking,fine leather goodsand timelesssafari clothes. Each month Westley Richards publishes up to 8 blog posts on a range of topics with an avid readership totalling 500,000+ page views per year.
Blog post topics include: Finished custom rifles and bespoke guns leaving the Westley Richards factory; examples of heritage firearms with unique designs and celebrated owners like James Sutherland and Frederick Courteney Selous; the latest from the company pre-owned guns and rifles collection; interviews with the makers from the gun and leather factory; new season safari wear and country clothing; recent additions to our luxury travel bags and sporting leather goodsrange; time well spent out in the field; latest news in the sporting world; and key international conservation stories.
