Not that this affect very many folks, but I just ordered a few things from W-R in Springfield, MO. The kid told me they are moving to Montana in about 6 weeks, as apparently someone from there is a new partner (I assume a big financial investment partner).

Just in case someone was going to physically visit W-R.

Wow, didnt know there was that much money in Montana......but I'm basing it on the cost of a pair of Courteney boots from WR.

Just because they bought a name doesn't make them gunsmiths !

.

I'm sure they had reasons to relocate, in this day and time to make money, its either online or walkin, If they are looking for walkin you would have thought with the upscale stuff they have the Galaria area of Houston would have worked, but the overhead to relo may be the reason for the move to Montana, nice place. Hope it works for them.

Couple (five?) years ago both my sons were going to college in the Springfield area. When visiting them I would visit the W-R shop and the various related pawn shops in the town along with some gun shows. I recall that a year or two ago there was a big raid on the place and associated pawn shops. Some of the principals were apparently coloring outside the lines and caught federal charges. There was much to-do on this forum about the matter. Obviously this move to Montana has something to do with the outcome of the federal charges.

I still can't reconcile a "pawn" shop and Westley Richards in the same premises.



I recently bought some Westley Richards gear from their online sale.



A day pack had straps so short that I can't get past my elbows.



The maglight holder won't close when a maglight is inserted because the "holster" is too short to fit the "bell" of the flashlight.



The canvas culling belts seem OK so far and look they will well do the job. Twenty rounds too of .375 and .450 should be quite handy. Haven't tried the bullet pouches for .450 No.2 NE yet.



While it is quite well made, materials etc these things are non-functional because of simple dimensions being out! Really disappointing especially for the price.

Alf- All your observations are spot on. Having been here for the last 25 or so years, I hope they are familiar with our Draconian state tax laws. They, more than location ,have kept Montana's economy from making any significant growth. Taxes on inventory and business equipment are particularly prohibitive. The other side of that coin is that this screwed up local economy keeps this states population low and it's great outdoor resources intact.

Mac,



What brought the ATF down on Westley Richards was the claim that Bob Francis (a felon) was dealing in firearms.



December 16, 2003



6 charged after ATF stages raids on Ozarks gun sellers

Firearms shops in Springfield, Marshfield, Mountain Grove targeted





By Eric Eckert

News-Leader Staff



Federal officers swept through Springfield, Marshfield and Mountain Grove Tuesday morning raiding gun shops and making arrests.



Officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives hit the gun shops just before 6 a.m. Tuesday. More than 100 agents from several Midwestern states worked all day in the biting cold securing hundreds of firearms, a carload of computer equipment and business records.



They will begin loading the weapons into large moving trucks and tractor-trailers today, said ATF spokesman Larry Scott.



"It's one of the most significant operations we've ever had in southwest Missouri," Scott said. The message, he said, is it's incumbent on licensed gun dealers to go by the law.



Scott said parts of the investigation went on for three years.



The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, "brought to light (that) we are going to have to be very cautious of what's going on out on the street."



Six people were charged in U.S District Court with federal firearms violations. Four were arrested and released Tuesday on their own recognizance after appearing before Magistrate Judge James England.



� John Robert "Bob" Francis is charged with dealing firearms after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal firearms without a license, a felony. He and his wife, Nancy Francis � charged with aiding and abetting her husband � were not in custody Tuesday.



� Barton Westerman, who is Nancy Francis' son and Bob Francis' stepson, is charged with aiding and abetting his stepfather. Westerman is an employee at his mother's gun shops � Westley Richards Agency and Gunsmoke Gun and Pawn on West Chestnut Expressway in Springfield.



� William Earl Gates, who operates Gator's Pawn in Marshfield and a business of the same name in Mountain Grove, is charged with dealing firearms without a license. Court documents show his license expired in Marshfield, but he has an active license for his business in Mountain Grove. According to court documents, a former employee told ATF officers that Gates had been dealing in firearms at the Marshfield location.



� Cathleen Schlichting and her husband, Steven Schlichting, were charged with aiding and abetting each other by selling and delivering a firearm "without noting the true name, age and place of residence of the true individual and purchaser of the firearm." Cathleen Schlichting is a licensed firearms dealer and operates Gunsmoke Gun/Gold Exchange on East Division Street. Court documents allege Steven Schlichting facilitated several "straw purchases" � a purchase whereby a firearm is sold to someone who can lawfully buy a firearm, but then turns the weapon over to a person who may be prohibited from making such a purchase.



The Schlichtings, Westerman and Gates appeared in federal court and were released on a signature bond.



Westerman's attorney, Kyle Domann, said his client is a tiny piece in a large puzzle.



"Throughout this investigation they (law-enforcement officers) wanted to see if Bob Francis was still in the business of selling guns," the attorney said.



At Gunsmoke Gun and Pawn, owned by Nancy Francis, ATF officers worked for hours Tuesday sifting through a cache of weapons. Scott said the guns would be wrapped up and packaged in cardboard before being loaded into moving trucks.



"Some of these are very expensive," Scott said, cradling a hot cup of coffee in the biting wind.



Court documents show Bob Francis pleaded guilty to felony charges in 1986. Following his conviction, Bob Francis and his wife were warned that he was only allowed to work in the "non-firearms" portion of the pawn business and was not allowed to possess firearms.



Investigators filed a probable-cause affidavit alleging Bob Francis made numerous gun deals � several with undercover ATF agents wired with recording devices � since September 2002.



During a meeting with an undercover agent on Sept. 24, 2002, the affidavit shows, an agent "gave Bob another $1,000 towards the Jeffrey 450/400 rifle. Bob bragged, ... 'We sold 900 guns in three days.' (and) 'We are working on a deal three times the size of that one, 3000 guns.'"



On Nov. 12, 2002, the document states, an undercover agent met with Bob Francis at Westley Richards to discuss the sale of a Bauska Arms rifle. "The (agent) gave Bob another $1,500 and transferred the $2,000 on layaway, originally intended for the Jeffrey rifle, to pay for the Bauska rifle," the affidavit reads.



If convicted, Bob Francis could spend more than a year in prison.



Scott said the Gates and Schlichting cases are not connected with the Francis case.



Following his appearance, Steven Schlichting said he would "let the justice system work things out" but wouldn't comment further.



The Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and the Internal Revenue Service participated in the raids.



Regards,



Terry

It will be neat to visit WR when I visit Bozeman! But to move out here because it's a good business or financial environment!! Montana is consistently one of the lowest 4 or 5 States in per capita income. We are in the same general area for financial growth each year as well. Our economy is built on agriculture and tourism. I'm sure they are moving out as one of the Principals in the business owns property in Paradise Valley, or enjoys skiing or fly fishing. The business will have to rely on internet or mail order sales. Very little money out here for $80 ties or $100 ammo pouches.

FN in MT

Not that it really matters to some, but I think the Westley Richards leather goods are as good or better than anything around, including Galco, etc.



When I win the lottery, I'll buy and move Westley Richards - USA to a steel prefab building in a light industrial park in my home town. That would be a class act!!



To own a W-R bolt or SxS rifle would be worth the cost if only for tradition. God Bless Westley Richards.

Will,
I agree on the leather goods. I've got SEVERAL of their 10 rd ctg slides, a few of the 5 round jobs and a mess of the 4 rd pocket slides. NEAT sruff. Problem being though that VERY FEW MT hunters will feel the same way.

FN in MT