Along with showcasing examples of the guns recently produced, select pre-owned guns and rifles are always an interesting part of what we bring to the Dallas Safari Club and one never knows what might show up!
In that tradition, here are a few of the high-quality, vintage and pre-owned rifles we currently have in our inventory, that we thought would be especially interesting to the DSC community.
Fresh to market is this Westley Richards & Co. .470 3 ¼” NE Best Quality Droplock Double Rifle completed in 2012. An excellent example of a modern interpretation of Westley’s classic Best Quality hammerless ejector double rifle with patent hand detachable locks.
Westley Richards .470 3 1/4” NE Best Quality Double Rifle with Hand Detachable LocksThe rifle includes all of Westley’s hallmark features, including the Model ‘C’ doll’s head rib extension and snap lever work, manual “beetle back” safety, and famous hand detachable locks or droplocks. The rifle is fitted with two triggers, disk set strikers, and has a strap over the stock’s comb. The trigger guard is rolled and has an extended guard tang and trap grip cap. The nicely figured stock has a RH beaded cheekpiece and a 14 5/8” LOP over a leather covered recoil pad. The 23” chopper lump barrels that are topped with Westley’s pattern quarter rib and iconic combination foresight with rear-folding sight hood. The rear sight has 1 standing Express sight and 2 folding leaves (50, 75 yds) that are lined in gold.
Traditional House and Gold Name engravingThe rifle has Best Quality engraving with the traditional House scroll and the Maker’s name in flowing banners on the side of the action and an appropriate game scene cameo on the cover plate. Just as the big bore rifles of the pre-war era were usually engraved with an elephant, this .470 NE depicts a calm “hundred pounder” on the bottom, the engraving done by Marcus Hunt (signed M.A.H) who, in my opinion, is one of the finest game scene engravers in England. As evidenced here, he does elephants especially well. In addition, the rifle has Gold Name engraving (including s/n and “SAFE”), and a gold oval that can be engraved to the customer’s preferences. The rifle is complete in the original Maker’s lightweight leather case with accoutrements.
Modern Westley Richards guns and rifles are extremely uncommon on the second-hand market and this is a rare opportunity to acquire what is a quintessential Westley Richards Hammerless Ejector Double Rifle, and it is available for immediate delivery.
Best Quality game scene engraving by Marcus Hunt (signed M.A.H)Our second featured rifle is a Westley Richards & Co. .425 Rimless NE Hammerless Ejector Double Rifle completed 14th October 1924 for Goolamhusain Allibhoy & Sons, Bombay.
Westley Richards .425 Rimless NE Hammerless Ejector Double Rifle completed 14th October 1924.This is one of only 34 double rifles ever chambered by the firm in its famous .425 Magnum Express. Introduced in 1909 and described in period literature as “Especially adapted for sport in India where it takes the place of the prohibited .450 bore, and in Africa, wherever big game is to be met”; the cartridge shoots a .435” caliber, 410gr bullet at 2,250 fps matching the ballistics of the other famous .400” caliber cartridges by the British.
Built on our famous Anson & Deeley action with fixed locks, the rifle includes Westley’s Snap Lever work, Model “C” Doll’s Head, “beetle” back non-auto safety, two triggers, and disk set strikers.
Westley’s unmistakable Doll’s Head Extension, Snap Lever work, “beetle-back” safety, and pattern quarter ribThe original 26” saddle lump barrels have original B’ham nitro proofs are fitted with W.R. patented ejectors (5098/1906) with spring loaded détente for rimless cartridges, and Westley’s pattern rib and ramp front sight.
Deeley forend latch, House engraving, and an extended guard tangEngraved on the left side of this rifle’s action body is a stalking tiger and a running Indian rhino on the right side, with the Maker’s name engraved below each game scene. Traditional scroll engraving supporting the game scenes and is also on the breech balls, cover plate, guard bow and tang.
The rifle remains excellent as refinished by Westley Richards & Co. sometime in the 1980’s or 90’s and is an excellent example of a very rare Westley Richards & Co. double rifle and the factory refurbishments the company was well known for in the latter part of the 20th century.
“Fine finished and well engraved” as prescribed in 1920’s Westley Richards & Co. Sales LiteratureAnother example of the very rare and unique firearms we are privileged to offer for sale is this J. Purdey & Sons .500/.465 NE Beesley Patent Self Opening Sidelock Non-Ejector Double Rifle with Jones Patent “Sprung” Rotary-Underlever.
J. Purdey & Son .500/.465 NE Beesley Patent Self-Opening double rifle with Jones “Sprung” underlever reportedly left with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke ‘on permanent loan’An extremely rare rifle, Purdey’s has only completed just over 400 double rifles in their whole history, this one was built in 1908 and remains in original condition. Based on the famous Beesley patent self-opening sidelock action, this non-ejector has the very rare “sprung” Jones patent rotary-underlever, which is a “snap” action version of the exceedingly strong Jones underlever, that snaps shut automatically when the barrels are closed, as opposed to being closed manually as required by the original Jones design. The bolstered treble bite frame with clipped fences, two triggers, bolted automatic safety and “arrow” cocking indicators, is engraved in an early version of the “Extra” finish; a bold acanthus scroll which is Purdey’s “deluxe” engraving. This is a pattern still employed by Purdey’s today.
A bold acanthus type of engraving, an early version of the “Extra” finish; Purdey’s “deluxe” engravingThe rifle was originally completed for the Earl of Landisborough, before finding its way into the hands of a Swedish businessman who regularly took it hunting in East Africa. It is said that rather than travel back and forth from Africa with the rifle that it was left in the capable hands of Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke ‘on permanent loan’.
Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke (1886-1946), was a Swedish aristocrat, renowned big game hunter, author, serial womanizer, and husband of famed writer Karen Blixen (author of Out of Africa under the pen name Isak Dineson). The rifle includes a letter of provenance from the previous owner stating the rifle was obtained by his uncle who was good friends of the Blixen-Finecke family.
A very rare rifle in its own right, that remains in wonderfully high, original condition despite its age of 112 years. Not only is it a very fine rifle from one of England's most famous and revered makers, but it also has a very interesting history and provenance linking it to one of the most colorful characters from the golden age of African Safari.
These three rifles are just a small selection of fine vintage and pre-owned firearms we offer for sale on our used-gun website, https://www.westleyrichards.com/usedguns/, and that we feature regularly here on the blog.
We are constantly in search of rare and unique guns and rifles and welcome any inquiries regarding either guns you might be in search of or looking to sell.
Please contact Trigger or me to set up an evaluation or consultation.
Managing Director, Anthony “Trigger” Alborough-Tregear
+44 (121) 333-1904
or
U.S. Manager, Duke ‘L.D.’ McCaa
Westley Richards has an outstanding reputation for supplying a comprehensive selection of pre-owned guns and rifles. We pride ourselves on our in depth knowledge of the many sporting arms built over the last 200 years, placing particular emphasis on big game rifles, like the 577 Nitro Express, 505 Gibbs and 425 Westley Richards. Whether looking to grow or sell your collection of firearms, or simply require a trusted evaluation, our team from the sales department would be delighted to hear from you. To view the latest available, head to the used shotguns and used rifles pages, and for those interested in new firearms, explore our custom rifles and bespoke guns pages.
