description

Built on a “Top Lever”, A&D boxlock action with a third bite rib extension, two triggers, and automatic safety. The action is scaled for the 20 bore, slimmer and lighter than a 12g gun.

The 28” barrels are original Fauneta barrels made of Westley Richard’s Special Steel with rifled chokes, 2 ½" chambers, and a quarter rib with 5 flush-folding sight leaves (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 yds) all engraved with their respective distance and “platina” lined.  A small brass beaded sight blade at the muzzle. The chokes act roughly as a “modified” choke when shot is used in the gun. The gun also includes Westley’s patented “Deeley” ejectors which were available as an upgrade on this model for about £4.00.

The original stock is nicely figured and has a rounded knob, which was called a “half-pistol” grip by the company, traditional drop points and 15” LOP over a traditional rubber recoil pad. The original silver stock oval remains intact and still has the original initials “S.K.” intertwined over the number “61”.

The gun remains in its original configuration with most of its original black left on the furniture and barrels, which were re-proofed in London in 1973, as are the majority of these guns that resurface. The gun also retains ample amounts of its original case colors on the receiver. It is conceivable to imagine this gun originally made with a rubber recoil pad, it now has one to replace that, albeit an old addition. The butt stock has been refinished and was probably done in 1973 when the barrels were re-proofed as there is a nice patina on the stock and pad.

The gun weighs 7 lbs. 7 oz. and is complete in its original lightweight leather case. 

A rare gun, especially in this kind of condition. 

The Explora and Fauneta Guns

The Explora was patented in 1901 and was based on a 2 1/2" shell. The Super Magnum, introduced around 1905, was based on a 2 3/4" shell along with the Fauneta, which was available in a 20g or 28g with 2 1/2" shells. At least one 8g Super Magnum Explora is known to have been made.  The Explora and Fauneta guns by Westley Richards & Co. were a ballistically improved version of the smooth bore shotgun with rifled chokes, first patented by Lieutenant-Colenel George Vincent Fosbery V.C. in June of 1885 (Pat. No. 7568) and subsequently made by Holland & Holland under the trade name Paradox.

Westley Richards &Co. sold the Explora and Fauneta as a "system" with the "L.T." Capped bullet designed by W.R.&Co. MD Leslie Taylor and first patented in 1901. 

The new “L.T.” bullet design was described as “…a cone shaped brass cap that was hollow and placed on top of cylindrical lead bullet.”

Taylor accomplished two things with this bullet design: By concentrating most of the bullet’s weight in its base, he was able to maximize the bullet’s spin to “retain gyroscopic stability” giving sufficient accuracy out to 300 yards. In addition, the pointed brass cap imparted good penetration on the target, before collapsing on-itself, sometimes called "mushrooming" and increasing its surface area, creating a larger wound channel. 

Maximizing the bullet's accuracy as well as its terminal performance is what all leading bullet manufacturers still strive to do. The fundamentals that Taylor figured out in 1901 are the basis of the bullets dispatching animals today well past 1,000 yards.

W.R.&Co. Grades 

The Explora and Fauneta were available in all "qualities" or grades:

Modele De Grande Luxe (Heavily engraved with gold inlays)

Modele De Luxe (Engraved with game scenes)

Best Quality (House pattern scroll engraving)

Best Quality, Plain Finish (Gold name)

Second Quality (2/3 coverage scroll)

Special Grade – No engraving

The Second Quality gun which were characterized by about 2/3 coverage of a traditional small scroll engraving in a sort of “diamond” pattern. This is an engraving pattern used by Westley’s on guns, double rifles, and bolt action rifles up to this day. 

W.R.&Co. Action Types

Throughout Westley’s history, the firm offered Anson & Deeley boxlocks with different third fasteners than the firm’s famous Doll’s Head rib extension and Snap Lever with its retracting bolt. The term “top lever” was used in Westley’s ledger books and catalogs to describe any action that did not include the Snap Lever and Doll's Head.

One of the top lever actions available from W.R.&Co. was a version with a Scott spindle top lever and a non-camming rib-extension third bite. This was noted in the catalog as the Treble Bite. Westley Richards & Co. offered a wide variety of guns and rifles at different grades and price points and the guns or double rifles made to the lower price point were often made on these "top lever" actions.  

This grade of gun could be had on either type of action, but was probably most often ordered as a "top lever" type. 

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