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Westley Richards .500 3" NE Modele De Luxe Hand Detachable Lock Double Rifle completed in the year 2000.

Since the turn of the 20th century, Westley Richards & Co. has offered shotguns, bolt action sporting rifles, and double rifles with a variety of options and upgrades. Prior to WWII, the firm offered guns and rifles in the most basic of form to models that were elaborately embellished.

One of Westley’s most iconic engraving motifs just as relevant today as it was over 100 years ago, is the Modele De Luxe. This grade, or "quality" as its used in the English gun trade, features game scenes on all three sides of the action body surrounded by scroll. Some examples I have encountered even had carved fences and extra engraving on the top lever and furniture. This pattern most often depicted flora and fauna common to the areas such a gun or rifle would be used and this theme of engraving worked equally well on a shotgun as it did a double rifle. 

Ordered at the turn of the 21st century, this rifle was made under the watchful eye of Simon Clode and is simply a modern interpretation of the the firm's Modele De Luxe, first described in the firm's 1912 catalog and described as being made to the "highest quality and finish" and features. Westley’s incomparable hand detachable locks, the firm’s unmistakable Snap Lever and Doll’s Head Rib Extension and fitted with disk-set strikers, two triggers, and a manual safety.

This rifle features game scenes on all three sides of the action body showing Lord Derby Eland, Cape Buffalo, and a bull elephant, no doubt a “hundred pounder”, as well as the bust of a lion on the top lever. The rifle was commissioned by a customer who hunted these species in Sudan in 1979. The customer shared stories of this epic 42 day hunt where he was charged by elephants, spat in the eye by a cobra, and held at spear point by nomadic herders. To commemorate this trip, engraved over the trap grip cap is a map of Sudan and “1979” in the center. This rifle’s fences also have carved vignettes of a mamba on the left side and a hooded cobra on the right side.

The chopper lump barrels are 25”, this barrel length another hallmark of  Westley double rifles, with a W.R.&Co. pattern quarter rib, 1 standing/2 folding rear sights lined in gold and engraved with their respective distance (50, 100, 150 yds), and Westley’s combination foresight with folding sight protector. Barrels are engraved with the Maker’s name down the middle of the rib and the cartridge and regulation engraved on the top of each barrel.

The rifle has a highly figured walnut stock done in the traditional Modele De Luxe style with checkered side panes, drop points, and a traditionally beaded RH cheekpiece and a 14 15/16” LOP over a leather covered pad.  The stock oval is engraved with the initials: MPF and the sling swivels, which are handmade for this rifle, accommodate a 1” sling.

The rifle is complete in its original oak & leather case with canvas cover (all made in house at W.R.&Co., which at this time was still in the Bournbrook factory) with a green baize interior and Maker’s trade label with Maker’s two-piece ebony cleaning rod, horn handle disk key, and nickel silver oil pot and snap caps all made by Mike Marsh.

The rifle remains in near "as new" condition and is a wonderful example of how the Modele De Luxe engraving theme is so timeless.

A rifle in one of the firm’s most enduring proprietary cartridges and configurations paying homage to a storied hunting destination in safari history.

Only a few modern rifles by Westley Richards & Co. come to market and even more rarely do rifles made to this level pop up. This is one of the best modern Westley Richards double rifles to come to market in recent memory. 

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