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Sale A1062 Lot 1216

WESTLEY RICHARDS
A .470 NITRO EXPRESS SINGLE-TRIGGER BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 01712,
26in. replacement nitro barrels, partially matted raised sight rib with some bold scroll engraving, open sights for 100 yards with gold-inlaid line, block-mounted bead fore-sight with flip-up moonsight and patent fold-over protector, sunken rib engraved 'WESTLEY RICHARDS 23 CONDUIT ST. LONDON.', tubes engraved '.470 NITRO EXPRESS. 75 / 500GRS.', Westley Richards patent treble-grip action with striker discs, Westley Richards patent toplever, bolted manual safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' and 'BOLTED' details, hinged floorplate, converted to non-selective single trigger from double trigger, bold acanthus scroll engraving, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 1/2in. well-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, engraved steel pistolgrip-cap (with trap), sling swivels and including 1/2in. extension and 1in. rubber recoil pad, weight 11lb. 2oz., in its brass-cornered canvas and leather case with sighting targets

Provenance: This rifle is the former property of Elmer Keith and is accompanied by letters from him to the vendor.

Our thanks to Cameron Hopkins, Editorial Director, Combat Tactics; Contributor, NRA Publications; Contributing Editor, Sports Afield; Contributor, Small Arms Review; who has kindly provided the following on Elmer Keith:

'An outspoken advocate of big-bore calibers [sic] and cartridges, the late Elmer Keith (1899-1984) is best known for his ballistic experiments with the .44 Special that led directly to Remington Arms Company's introduction of the .44 Magnum revolver cartridge in 1956. A prolific writer on hunting, shooting and "wildcat" cartridge development, Keith was a contemporary of Roy Weatherby and a Western big game hunting guide. Despite the tempo of the times, Keith stubbornly championed big-bore calibers in spite of Weatherby's advocacy of small-bore, high-velocity magnum rifle cartridges for big game hunting. Along with Jack O'Connor, the two were featured frequently in lively debates on the merits of large-bore vs. high-velocity cartridges in American shooting publications.

'Keith owned several double rifles, but this Lot was one of his favorites [sic]. He took this Lot, a single-trigger .476 Westley Richards, on his first safari to Tanganyika in the mid-1960s to shoot Cape buffalo, rhino and elephant, an experience that left a lasting impression on the inventor of the Keith-style bullet and such cartridges as the .333 OKH:

' "A rhino took me in Africa at just 18 paces and I could not get a shot at his shoulder to break it and aimed at his chest for a heart shot when he turned and faced me, but just as I started the trigger squeeze, he ducked his head and charged. Heavy tree boles covered both shoulders, so I hit him in the end of the nose right under the front horn at 10 paces. The 520 grain cupro nickel solid from my Westley Richards shattered all the upper jaw teeth on the right side and he went down on his chin with front feet folded back, but continued to kick toward me. I was well caught in wait-a-bit thorn, so I waited for him to regain his feet for my second shot. When he came up on all fours I shot him in the right shoulder but just as I fired he fell on his nose again with his hind quarters still erect from the effects of the first slug. My second slug went in over the shoulder in the ribs and penetrated through to the right hind quarter. The bull continued to kick himself toward me at a few feet range as I was reloading the big double, so I yelled at John Lawrence, my white hunter, to take him on. John did so instantly, giving him a slug from his .416 just back of the bone in the right shoulder."
Elmer Keith, Guns & Ammo, August 1982

'Keith was an unabashed lover of English-made double rifles: "In England and on much of the continent of Europe, double barreled [sic] rifles are considered as all-around rifles by a great many sportsmen. To my notion, they are primarily brush and timber rifles, although when chambered for a suitable long range cartridge they may be used for about all hunting. It is in the brush and timber, under the stress of quick snap shooting at running big game that they really come into their own. For such use, I prefer them to any other type of rifle. They are short for the length of the barrels, balance perfectly, and for those two shots are just as fast as the automatic. I prefer the two quick shots from the double rifle to a whole magazine full from the repeater for such hunting. Such double rifles have the fastest of all safeties, just like a fine double shotgun, and placed exactly where it is the handiest- on the top of the grip. Such rifles should always be ejectors, to facilitate reloading as quickly as possible. I firmly believe the double barrel rifle to be the most reliable of all types from the standpoint of safety to the hunter, when facing dangerous or wounded game. Its smooth breech offers nothing to catch on limbs or brush in timber hunting and it carries in one hand at the balance perfectly. Almost any repeating rifle is liable to jam, or fail to throw another cartridge in the chamber during stress of excitement, through the hunter failing to bring the bolt back far enough to the rear to catch the head of the next shell, whether bolt or lever action. To my notion, Charles Cottar and the English are right, and I was all wet in recommending the aperture or peep sight over any other sight for very close snap shooting. We live and learn and what may seem the best to us today may not seem the best a couple or three years hence. All men make mistakes but darn few of them will admit it."
Elmer Keith, Big Game Rifles & Cartridges, 1936

'Elmer Keith remains the most out-spoken and influential of any American shooting writer. He was presented the Outstanding American Handgunner Award along with numerous other accolades during his colorful lifetime. His love of big-bore calibers was exceeded only by his zest for adventure. This Lot represents the quintessence of Keith's legacy, a large-bore double rifle that he cherished and took afield on one of only two African safaris the short man in the big Stetson hat ever enjoyed.'

Estimate £25,000-30,000

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