Westley Richards , 170 New Bond Street, London
12 bore Bar in Wood, 'Crab Jointed' Bar action hammer gun
no. 5527
Year of production: 1880

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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun represents a fine condition example of the very individual hammerguns that Westley Richard became famous for in the last quarter of the 19th Century. Their 'trade mark' was the use of 'bar-in-wood' stocking combined with a 'crab joint', a testement to their highly skilled stockers, and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very individual and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. Remarkably, one year after this gun was acquired for restoration, its original canvas, leather and oak case was purchased by us as a 'make weight' item in a sale lot from the same auction house and was only discovered to belong to this gun by chance! We have relined the case using its original blocks and partitions and equipped it with appropriate styled pewter oil bottle and cleaning rod. The original label has been reinstated in the case lid and a key has been made up to fit its lock. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of Westley Richards' patented design and features:
Top lever opening, operating the famous Westley Richards patented single bolt,
engaging a 'Doll's Head' top extension,
Bar-in-wood stock with 'crab joint',
Double triggers,
Bar action locks,
Rebounding hammers,
Patent 2-part strikers,
'Deeley' forend catch,
Steel butt plate.
Gun weight 6lb 15oz
Engraving style Border.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3lbs Rear trigger 4lbs

The bold Damascus barrels are 30 " in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2007.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from figured walnut. The 'Deeley' catch forend carries a horn tip and the stock is finished with a lightly engraved and blued steel butt plate and screws.
The stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot.

The 18 (approx) lines per inch chequering has been cut to a normal sidelock design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre but up to 30 coats of hand rubbed oil.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867
Westley Richards's bolting patent no. 1572 of 1871,
Westley Richards's striker patent no. 1960 of 1866,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873.