| buckstix |
| (.400 member) |
| 25/06/13 09:44 PM |
|
Re: Howdah you like this? Westley Richards 375 2-1/2 w/16" bbls
|
Hello All,
As a follow-up, ...... I've been communicating via email with Westley Richards & Co. in England, in an attempt to obtain more detailed information about the history of my interesting little rifle. Since this rifle was built on an earlier numbered action, I was hoping to find the original purchaser's name. My thinking is that perhaps "he" later commissioned the work for this shorter barreled rifle through Saleh & Co.
I questioned if information was available for the earlier serial number (T7848) referenced in the original ledger entry for this rifle's serial number. (T9590) -
Quote:
"... The rifle T7848 was originally built as a .30-06 double rifle that was altered so that the action was used to make the .375 non ejector #T9590. It is unclear as to how advanced the original .30-06 rifle was before the alteration. These works were completed in 1925.
..."
I asked if rifle T7848 was ever shipped out of the Westley Richards Factory to a Customer? -
Quote:
"... I am afraid that the ledger is unclear on this. Lets assume not. ..."
I asked if any other rifles were built by Westley Richards with 16" barrels? -
Quote:
"... It is unlikely that we built many rifles with barrels this short. I would think that it was used as a back up rifle in a Howdah, just in case! ..."
This last statement from Westley Richards makes me think I might indeed have a "one-of-a-kind".
I will keep copies of all these additional communications from Westley Richards with the original Factory Documentation and Letter of Authenticity so that the provenance for this rifle is preserved.
I've watched enough Antique's Road Show to have learned that in some cases, the Provenance can more than double the valuable of the item.
.