I am torn between two double rifles that are currently being offered for sale.
A 450-400, 3" Westley Richards droplock and
a 450-400, 3" Jeffery side lock.

Both have essentially the same features, 26" chopper lump barrels, disk set strikers, cross bolted, cheek piece, and essentially the same condition of the barrel lands and grooves. Obviously both are of superior quality. The Westley Richards had been reconditioned to new in England and has a superior piece of wood and is also 1/3 less in price. The Jeffery is original throughout and showing some wear.

Any help in sorting this conundrum out would be of great help.

Nice problem to have. Got any photos to show?

I would go with the one that your gut tells you to go with. In every similar situation I have faced I always had one rifle, girl, boat...that just struck my fancy a little bit more, though the other one was so very close.

If everthing is equal functionally, follow your heart.

Also please point me in the direction of the one you don't select since I am looking.

Best,

JPK

Do they fit/feel the same? You really seem to be in a good position choosing between those two. Maybe Mac/Dugaboy will weigh in. He is a Westley Richards collector, but he will give you his honest assessment.

Before you anythink buy !

Speak to Gunmaker Lechner & Jungl Graz / Austria it is the perfect choice for any weapon in high Quality !

Regards
hunter1

If both are in equally good shape mechanically, it would be hard to go wrong with either choice. I have a Westley Richards 450-400 3", and it is one of my favorites.

I am in the minority, but my personal preference is for the look and feel of a droplock or boxlock. I would be glad to answer any questions about my double if I can be of any further help.

Go with YOUR preference in feel if this is to be a using rifle, and you will never be sorry. If it is just a collectible, go with what is most visually pleasing to you.

Merry Christmas,
Jim

W-R Double

quote:

Originally posted by lb404:
I am torn between two double rifles that are currently being offered for sale.
A 450-400, 3" Westley Richards droplock and
a 450-400, 3" Jeffery side lock.

Both have essentially the same features, 26" chopper lump barrels, disk set strikers, cross bolted, cheek piece, and essentially the same condition of the barrel lands and grooves. Obviously both are of superior quality. The Westley Richards had been reconditioned to new in England and has a superior piece of wood and is also 1/3 less in price. The Jeffery is original throughout and showing some wear.

Any help in sorting this conundrum out would be of great help.

What a great problem to have! Haveing to choose between two of the best double rifles ever made, is a problem I wish I could afford once a week!

There are two things that would make me decide one over the other. As a collector, the re-finish of the Westley Richeards would detract from it, unless the work was done by Westley Richards. On the Jeffrey the side lock would be an influence. What I mean by that is I personally, do not care for sidelock double rifles, as much as the finer rifles with boxlock actions. I much prefere Westley Richards rifles over Jeffrey, but, again, that is a personal choice. Both are top of the line rifle makers. I also prefer the drop lock if one has a choice of either type of hand removable locks. One of the reasons I dislike sidelock actions is, first the price, then they take too much wood away from the weakest part of the stock, and in older rifles, one sees many cracks, and/or oil soaking in that area with sidelocks in older rifles. Stock cracks are seldom seen on Boxlock rifles.

If I were buying one or the other to use, and to keep, then the Westley Richards would be my pick of the two. I must admit to being somewhat prejudiced in favor of any double made by Westley Richards, and Also the 450/400 3" chambering. In this case, both chambered the same way, so the choice for the rifle best suited to "YOU", is the one that fits the best,because they are both quality rifles! The price differetial, in this case is not justified, IMO. a side lock is no better than a drop lock, as far as actual value goes.

1. Choose based on fit and condition FIRST.

2. IF fit and condition are identical, then my personal preference would be the sidelock. Even though droplocks are nifty, they do not have the look of a sidelock.

3. Always send a used double to an expert for evaluation before you buy it. There are some shoddy restorations out there.

I have seen pictures of both of those rifles.
I would pick the one that handles the best for you.

Both rifles are too long for me. They both might need to be cut to fit. The side lock is 42K and the drop lock is 27K. No chump change. I have been looking for a quality 450-400 3" for a very long time. I think that the cheaper one, the refinished Westley Richards is possibly a better deal in the sense that being a refinish, much of the original value has been realised and somewhat deminished. It would be less of a loss to cut the stock. Am I on target on this train of thought?

lb404,

Go with the Westley Richards & put the extra 15K towards a nice safari! It's a beautiful rifle, looks like a great refinish. You can't go wrong with a Westley Richards Droplock.

The Jeffrey has the original "checkered horn buttplate" while the WR has a spacer/rubber pad. I agree, it would decrease the value of the Jeffrey much more than it would the WR.

Get the Richards, especially if you are going to start adjusting it for you. It is a beautiful rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by lb404:
Both rifles are too long for me. They both might need to be cut to fit. The side lock is 42K and the drop lock is 27K. No chump change. I have been looking for a quality 450-400 3" for a very long time. I think that the cheaper one, the refinished Westley Richards is possibly a better deal in the sense that being a refinish, much of the original value has been realised and somewhat deminished. It would be less of a loss to cut the stock. Am I on target on this train of thought?

Another option would be to get a properly fitted buttstock done, and save the original. Financially you might come out better this way if you ever decided to sell it in the future.

Jim

I just saw pics of both of them. They are quite a pair of beauties. You will be lucky to have either in the safe.

Looks like he bought the Westley Richards, or someone else did, because the Jeffery is still there, but the W/R is gone!

OK, am I the only dummy that has no idea where these can be seen or what he was talking about?
Peter.

Being a Westley Richards droplock owner...I would got with WR for sure.

Take a look at champlinarms.com and schwandtclassicarms.com (or something like that).

A factory rebuilt WR for $15K less and you have to ask?

WR and use the money for a safari.

Obviously if we are having this conversation money isn't an issue.

Not many here can afford a double rifle, let alone a $46K double.