Westley
Richards ,
170 New Bond Street, London
12 bore Bar in Wood, 'Crab Jointed' Bar action hammer gun
no. 5527
Year
of production: 1880
Click on these images for more detail.
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.
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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:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.8mm (0.740")
|
0.741"
|
0.028" Minimum
|
0.009" (1/4)
|
Left Barrel |
18.7mm (0.736")
|
0.737"
|
0.030" Minimum
|
0.005" (IC)
|
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:
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
|
Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
14 5/8"
|
14 3/4"
|
14 3/4"
|
15 1/4"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 1/4"
|
1 3/8"
|
1 3/4"
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
1/8" (approximate)
|
1/4" (approximate)
|
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.