casper50
.400 member
Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Alaska
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Looking at some auctions for another Westley to add to the collection when I came across this. Company knows guns so I believe what they say but it sure doesn't look like any Westley I've ever seen before. Company says that Westley Richards is engraved on the rib and locks. I've similar style locks but always on lower end Birmingham made guns.
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27629
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Cool rifle, but can't help with the question of it's heritage.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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show us the markings...
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DD, Ret.
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kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1803
Loc: middle of Germany
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Perhaps a gun made by the Birmingham guntrade, merely retailed, "shot and sighted" by Westley Richards?
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casper50
.400 member
Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Alaska
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I've asked for photos of the locks and rib markings.
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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Engraved marking usually indicated the retailer. Stamped manufacuturer.
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DD, Ret.
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9466
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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sometimes guns were made in belgium and sold als "Westley Richard" or names like this 
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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85lc
.400 member
Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1173
Loc: Georgia, USA
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I thought the rifles and guns marked Westley Richards were at least sold by Westley Richards and those marked W. Richards were just Belgiun made firearms that were not sold by Westley Richards
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RB
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Quote:
…….(snip)…….those marked W. Richards were just Belgiun made firearms that were not sold by Westley Richards
Not so, there was a "W. Richards" (William Richards) of Preston that was the brother of Westley. William sold rifles & guns under the name W. Richards 44 Fishergate, Preston, Lancashire.
W. Richards also maintained premises in Liverpool.
There were Belgian knockoffs that were marked variously "W. Richards" but never with the full Preston or Liverpool address and not with Birmingham proof marks. The Belgian ones are usually pretty easy to spot.
I have a W. Richards .577/.500 double rifle that is a legit Preston marked rifle.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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HeymSR20
.300 member
Reged: 23/11/11
Posts: 247
Loc: Scotland
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Don’t forget that Westley Richards were at the heart of the Birmingham
Gun trade, and one of the major makers. They certainly did make Cape Guns and sidelocks as a boxlocks and detacheable locks.
A good article from a few years ago from their Explora Magazine https://www.westleyrichards.com/theexplora/westley-richards-12g-cape-gun/
And if the gun in question is in nice gun at the right price does it really matter who made it? These things don’t often come up for sale.
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85lc
.400 member
Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1173
Loc: Georgia, USA
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Mike,
Thanks for the info about William Richards. I had not read about William Richards and only about the W. Richards from Belgium. I have only seen a few W. Richards, and those had Belgium proof marks.
I wonder why William didn't stamp his guns William Richards or at least Wm Richards or Liam Richards but we will never know why - perhaps wanted to ride his brother's name.
Again, Mike, thanks for the info.
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RB
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casper50
.400 member
Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Alaska
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I have no idea why the photos disappeared.
Here's the photos of the engraved WR name.
Edit: I've deleted the old post with the non working links and added the comment to this post.
Edited by NitroX (15/06/23 10:40 PM)
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