Forums.NitroExpress.com

Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact NitroExpress.com: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper

*** Enjoy NitroExpress.com? Participate and join in. ***

You are not logged in. [Login]

Main Index · Search · Active Topics
New user · Who's Online · FAQ · Calendar

Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles

Pages: 1

R_Green
.224 member

Reged: 29/10/08
Posts: 8
Loc: Washington-USA

Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper
#224483 - 30/01/13 05:49 AM

A first for me!

A customer brought in for cleaning etc. A WR .375 St. Taper (2.5) built about 1924 with 16" "ORIGINAL" length barrels, bores are excellent. Nicely engraved for the period and probably a rifle for India by the animals depicted in the engraving. If any of you can give me some background on rifles built with 16" barrels with all other dimensions within normal ranges.

Roger

Post Extras:

500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: R_Green]
#224485 - 30/01/13 06:01 AM

Sounds short but as we know, the gun trade made what
people ordered.

Were they shortened ?

Would be a nifty little close country pig gun !

Post Extras:

R_Green
.224 member

Reged: 29/10/08
Posts: 8
Loc: Washington-USA

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: 500Nitro]
#224491 - 30/01/13 06:30 AM

I have not seen the provenance but customer indicates barrels left factory this way!

Roger

Post Extras:

500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: R_Green]
#224492 - 30/01/13 06:44 AM

Never seen one that short.

I'd love one like that for pig hunting.

Post Extras:

doubleriflejack
.333 member

Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 352
Loc: Oregon, U.S.A.

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: 500Nitro]
#224495 - 30/01/13 07:35 AM

In my collection, I have a similar Westley Richards .375 2.5" but with 26" barrels. Also, in my collection, I have four other .375 2.5" British doubles, not Westley Richards; one being a hammer gun regulated for 300 grain bullet--all others I have a regulated for 270 grain bullet. I have handloaded and shot them for years. All of mine have 26" to 28" barrels. I would be highly suspicious of 18" barrels, thinking that they may have been cut short by some previous owner, unless shown otherwise by Westley Richards the company. I am not saying that they didn't make them that short originally, only that it is highly unlikely!

Post Extras:

500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: doubleriflejack]
#224496 - 30/01/13 07:50 AM

I have a 22" WR double and believe me, that is Short !!!

Agree with DR Jack re what I have seen.

Post Extras:

Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3525
Loc: Colorado

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: 500Nitro]
#224507 - 30/01/13 01:50 PM

It is easy enough to get the real scoop on the gun if the owner wants to contact W.R. about it.
I did for my Alwar Westley.
For about $100 they even made me an "Esquire"

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

Post Extras:

NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39248
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: Huvius]
#224517 - 30/01/13 04:26 PM

I would guess if it is original with 16" barrels and was sold to an Indian client, it was a specialist howdah rifle, or some other similar idea based on the specific clients specifications.

Maybe after someone had a close call with a tiger on the elephants back!

16" is short, but we see modern 9.3mm's (bolt actions usually) sometimes very short too.

--------------------
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"

Post Extras:

R_Green
.224 member

Reged: 29/10/08
Posts: 8
Loc: Washington-USA

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: NitroX]
#224674 - 03/02/13 10:38 AM

This is just too unusual to not know positively one way or the other so I popped for the $100.00 to get the scoop straight from the "Horse's Mouth". Will report back when I have it in hand. I feel that NitroX's last post is right on the money. The engraving just behind the front sight base where it meets the rib and the placement of the big eye barrel swivel all just indicate the gun is as delivered.

Post Extras:

jaz
.300 member

Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Northeast US

Re: Westley Richards 375 Straight Taper [Re: R_Green]
#224681 - 03/02/13 03:00 PM

I would say a Howdah or a boy's gun, Check the original stock dimensions. For the peace of mind, get the ledger page from Westley
JZ

Post Extras:

Pages: 1

Extra information

0 registered and 87 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: CptCurl

Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 4673

Jump to

NitroExpress.com

Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact