DandyofPunjab
.300 member
Reged: 14/11/05
Posts: 182
Loc: Punjab
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Greetings,
I have been offered an interesting .318 Westley Richards rifle which is not in great condition but is a very interesting rifle nonetheless. It has a full stock but what is of greatest interest to me is the fact that it has a bayonet socket, something I have never seen on rifles other than those used by the military. Can anyone shed more light on this?
P.S. Excuse me the poor quality of the pictures. This is how I received them.
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Fear None, Frighten None
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2028
Loc: Denmark
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I love it!! 
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Awesome. very interesting.
In looking at 318 WR over the last 10 years, have never seen anything like it.
Apart from the full wood and bayonet lug, The gun has quite a few extras not found on all 318's - extra rear sights, peep sight, lever floor plate release
When you say "have been offered", if you haven't purchased it already, I would do so ASAP.
The gun (Wood and metal work) will tidy up quite nicely.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3618
Loc: Colorado
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Snap it up!
Looks much like the early "stutzen" Mausers but the bayonet fitting is very unusual.
Dons will chime in I'm sure.
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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casper50
.400 member
Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1551
Loc: Alaska
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Many African rifles had to do double duty as game rifle and sometimes war weapon. I've seen many with the ladder sights but not one with a bayonet lug. If you don't want it I'll take it, my takedown 318 needs a companion.
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Quote:
Many African rifles had to do double duty as game rifle and sometimes war weapon. I've seen many with the ladder sights but not one with a bayonet lug. If you don't want it I'll take it, my takedown 318 needs a companion.
Casper
Have you seen a 318WR with a latter sight ?
I haven't - yet - but like anything that came out
of England, if you asked for it and paid for it,
they'd make it.
DandyofPunjab
If you haven't already bought it, do so quickly
or let someone else buy it LOL
Edited by 500Nitro (28/02/10 08:31 AM)
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dons
.333 member
Reged: 18/08/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Essex
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Can't shed any light on this rifle, but my advise is.....buy it. 
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A10ACN
.300 member
Reged: 30/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: USA
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I've seen bayonet lugs or sockets on sporting rifles in, IIRC, auction books. I was led to believe that they were marketed for tiger and leopard last defense. Most of the other features on this rifle, I've seen on various other W/Rs over the years except the 7 leaf sight. Gotta wonder what the range was on that bad boy!
Like others have said, neat rifle and you should buy it or give someone else the hook-up.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40695
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Quote:
It has a full stock but what is of greatest interest to me is the fact that it has a bayonet socket, something I have never seen on rifles other than those used by the military. Can anyone shed more light on this?
Last ditch defence against a tiger, ie the bayonet.
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John aka NitroX
 ...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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DandyofPunjab
.300 member
Reged: 14/11/05
Posts: 182
Loc: Punjab
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I will keep the rifle on hold for the time being. If any one else wants to buy it in meantime, they can PM me and I will send the contact details of the seller. But since this rifle is in India, buying and exporting it is a Herculean task, involving a lot of red tape and money which, in my opinion, would not be worthwhile. If it was a fancy double rifle, that would be a different story.
Quote:
was led to believe that they were marketed for tiger and leopard last defense.
Quote:
ditch defence against a tiger, ie the bayonet.
Thank you for the insight guys. Very interesting indeed.
Few more pictures
 
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Fear None, Frighten None
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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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On the bayonet fixture, I've owned a double rifle which was clearly a sporting rifle by design and manufacture - which featured a bayonet lug.
There is a place for the bayonet in a hunting situation -- the brisket of a charging cat, pig, or bear in tight woods or jungle...
Cheers
Tinker
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--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--
"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40695
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Do you know what the bore is like?
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Quote:
Do you know what the bore is like?
At least it has some rifling left which is good.
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DandyofPunjab
.300 member
Reged: 14/11/05
Posts: 182
Loc: Punjab
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Quote:
Do you know what the bore is like?
I have no idea as i have not seen the rifle but they seller says it is in pretty good nick
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Fear None, Frighten None
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apr1775
.275 member
Reged: 02/10/08
Posts: 57
Loc: Virginia, the united States of...
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Strange indeed. I'm sure it was a custom order. Do the factory records still exist? That bayonet mount does not look like any I've seen on a Mauser, but it does look like a No 1 SMLE mount.
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Carpetsahib
.333 member
Reged: 29/04/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Western NC
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Is it possible to obtain some details or photos of the grip cap? For instance, what is the function of the large screw in the center of the cap? I assume that it provides access to a storage cavity beneath, but maybe not. It's a fascinating rifle by the way...maybe I will make a similar rifle sometime. It would be great for hunting wild boar!
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Carpetsahib
.333 member
Reged: 29/04/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Western NC
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Also, can you tell us the barrel length?
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DandyofPunjab
.300 member
Reged: 14/11/05
Posts: 182
Loc: Punjab
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CarpetSahib,
Excuse me for late reply...last few days were very busy i will try and find out the details for you.
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Fear None, Frighten None
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