My personal experience with Westley Richards when I did an article on fine guns for India Today Plus in 1998 was particularly bad. I had written to several of the world's great gunmakers at the time including Holland and Holland, Purdey, Johann Fanzoj, Boss, William Powell, John Dickson, Perugini and Visini, Lebeau Courally etc and everyone sent me material for my piece. Walter Clode of Westley Richards was the only one to send me a reply where he told me that he would not bother with sending any material because India had banned the import of guns by resident Indians. The tone of the letter was offensive and condescending and my piece went through without any mention of his company's guns. Years later, I had revenge of a sort when an Indian businessman in the UK wanted a pair of shotguns made and I managed to steer him in Johan Fanzoj's direction, and away from W-R who had been his initial choice. He saved money, got a set of really nice guns and is very happy with my suggestion.

While W-R undoubtedly make good guns, their top brass have an attitude problem when someone contacts them. Maybe this also extends to customers and maybe it doesn't. I know that it does extend to other dealers in the UK, more than one of whom has told me that they had particularly bad experiences with W-R when they went to buy something from them.

Good hunting!