Choose from the Americas (USD) or Global (GBP) websites to see content specific to your location and shop online.

Discover our improved returns policy

Complimentary delivery with the Explora club

Westley Richards

+44 (0)121 333 1900

Group 3 Created with Sketch.
Request a brochure
Contact Us
Delivery & Returns
Your browser is out of date!

In order for us to provide you with the very best experience while visiting our websites, you must use an up-to-date browser.

Update my browser now

Blog Post Featured Image

Arabian Themed Exhibition Engraving At Westley Richards

There is classic, full-coverage, Westley Richards scroll, which has been a favourite of many traditionally-minded sportsmen for over a century and there is 'different'. This 20-bore sidelock ejector falls distinctly into the latter category, resembling the elaborate work we once did for Indian maharajahs more than the sober styles preferred by the English nobility.

This will become an exhibition grade, 20-bore, lightweight, game gun, with 27" barrels. Here, we have photographed it just after the engraving and colour case-hardening processes have been completed.

Blending engraving, carving, inlay and sculpting into one gun and making it look balanced, classy and tasteful is a task requiring a great deal of artistic sensitivity. It is so easy to get wrong.

In the case of this 20-bore, we think the craftsmen and artists involved have struck the right balance. This action certainly looks dramatic and eye-catching but it avoids the danger of imbalance.

The trick is to make guns like this look more like a Fabergé egg than a piece of costume jewellery.

 

The motifs in the design include: a falcon carved into the top-lever, full use of gold for borders, lettering and numbering, carved fences, the Saudi Arabian national emblem, Arabic lettering and stylised scenes of traditional hunting, with horsemen, falcons and quarry.

There was some debate about the best background to showcase the gold work, the final decision to go with deep, glossy case-hardening colours has worked beautifully, creating a complex, luxurious look to the entire gun.

 

The action is a classic, Holland & Holland 'Royal' type, sidelock, self-opener, so the silhouette is familiar, the degree of finish exceptional.

The carved steel falcon's head top-over has a golden eye and the top flows from feather to scroll work as it meets the fences.

 

The left hand lock features a Saker falcon in pursuit of a hare, with a mounted hunter observing. The left lock features a raised gold scene of a mounted hunter about to launch a falcon towards Arabian partridges.

The background is carved scroll elements, with deeply carved fences, inlaid with gold elements and motifs.

 

An exhibition or presentation grade gun, by definition, needs to be special, it needs to stand out and it must be genuinely exceptional.

This one is progressing nicely and we look forward to showcasing the finished gun in due course.


Whether for the discerning collector or the avid sportsman, Westley Richards firearms represent the epitome of excellence in the world of bespoke gunmaking. Known for the droplock shotgun, over and under shotgundouble barrel rifle and bolt action rifle, the company has achieved an illustrious 200 year history of innovation, craftmanship and artistry. As part of our best gun build, clients can choose from three levels of gun engraving: the house scroll; signature game scenes; and exhibition grade masterpieces. All Westley Richards sporting arms are built at their factory in Birmingham, England. Discover more about the gunmaking journey at our custom rifles and bespoke guns pages.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published