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Westley Richards Droplock Double Rifle .577

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Westley Richards Droplock Double Rifle .577
3" SN: 16491 'Best Quality' Side-by-side boxlock dangerous game double rifle chambered for .577 3" Nitro Express, manufactured in London, England circa 1904. To date Westley Richards has produced just over one hundred rifles in this caliber, several of these rifles belonging to famous hunters such as Ernest Hemingway, Stuart Granger, Count Alfred Potocki and James Sutherland. This rifle was owned by avid hunter/collector Jim Wilkinson and it is the same rifle written about in "CRUMPLER!" an article by Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper of Gunsite published in Gun Digest magazine No. 37 circa 1983. Configuration: Blued & case hardened finish, fine scroll engraving with game scenes including a bear on the lock cover plate & rhinoceros on the trigger guard, 26" chopper lump barrels with dolls head third fastener & quarter rib fitted with one standing & four folding leaves marked for 100, 150, 200, 250 & 300 yards, ramped blade front sight with bead top, selective automatic ejectors, selective single trigger, bolted tang mounted sliding safety, hand detachable engine turned locks, gold inlayed "1" on the top lever, barrel rib & Deeley release lever, sling eyes, multi-point checkered walnut splinter forend with fancy cut horn tip, and semi-pistol grip shoulder stock with drop points, steel grip cap, gold oval escutcheon, beaded right handed cheekpiece, Old English red rubber recoil pad & 15 1/8" LOP. The barrels are marked "WESTLEY RICHARDS 178 NEW BOND ST LONDON", "GUN MAKERS BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII", ".577 BORE. 3IN CASE." & "100 GRS CORDITE 750 GRS BULLET." All observed serial numbers match. Includes an Emmebi leather wrapped locking trunk case with partitioned interior lined in green suede. Case contains keys, two sets of snap caps and twenty-four rounds of Kynoch ammunition. Also includes a copy of the manuscript for "CRUMPLER!" submitted by Jeff Cooper and photocopied pages from the Gun Digest it was printed it. The bluing has thinned with approximately 75% coverage showing a couple dings, a minute amount of pin prick pitting and wear patterns above the forend & near the muzzle on the barrels & also on the tangs of the receiver. The exterior surfaces of the receiver retains little finish while to unexposed and protected areas show vivid colors. The top of the receiver has a small amount of pitting forward of the top lever and the right recoil shield displays a moderated sized dark spot of pitting. Action is crisp, the bores are excellent, markings are clear and the glossy wood stocks are good+ with some finish loss, semi-worn checking & small blemishes.
Condition is NRA Very Good.
***C& R Firearm***
[From the Jim Wilkinson Rifle Ranch Collection]