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Often when referring to the level of embellishment of a gun, the word "quality" is used in the English gun trade the same way "grade" is used in the U.S. market. This is sometimes confusing to U.S. customers that the word “quality” is not necessarily referring to how well the gun was made, instead it often refers to what type of embellishments or other upgrades the gun has.
By LD McCaa

For the most part, guns and rifles made in England between the two world wars were all made to a very high level. Because quality was so consistent from one gunmaker to the next during this period, the between-the-wars era is often referred to as the "golden age" of the English gun trade.

Prior to WWII, Westley Richards & Co. offered a variety of different grades or "qualities" of guns and rifles in efforts to target a wider market. Like most English makers, Westley’s Best Quality was the closest thing the firm offered to a standard model, available with all of Westley’s patented features such as the One Trigger or foresight protector along with a horn forend tip, and/or horn bolt knob, and may or not include the firm’s “house” engraving. Above and beyond the Best Quality, was the Modele De Luxe and Modele De Grande Luxe, both qualities or grades that feature the same patented mechanical features as the Best Quality but much more elaborately engraved and embellished.

On the opposite end of the firm’s offerings were guns that were more utilitarian in their appearance. Still made to a very high level of workmanship, these models were made to sell at a certain price point and did not incorporate the more expensive options available on Best Quality and Modele De Luxe versions. The different levels of embellishment were designed to appeal to many different tastes and budgets and the models that were the plainest were simply meant to be a more affordable option.

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