Was in Dixie Gun Works in Union City TN and a fellow was haggling with Hunter Kirkland (owner over some gun trade deal) He whips out a BIG honking rifle with a very pretty stock and a double square bridge action that caught my attention. It was a .470 Royal? Guy said it was a .505 Gibbs necked down to .475...had a case capacity of 160 grains or so? The action was a BBK and the barrel was a hexagonal barrel with a integral quarter rib. All metal was in the white. The stock was very nicely stripped walnut pretty straight but lots of stripes. Very nice checkering and double cross bolts. He claimed the stockwork was done by Dakota Arms and these guns were made by some guy in California. The action was pretty rough to operate. He was asking $5500 which I thought was pretty steep for a rifle that needed some action work and blueing. But everything else looked well done.
I also saw a very very nice Griffen & Howe made o3A3 carbine. The nicely figured stock needed refinishing but was in no way scatched or dented...just the original finish was dingy. The metal was perfect. It had a Lyman peep and had never been drilled for a scope mount. He also was asking $5500. That may or may not be good....no idea. But it was an exceptional rifle in terms of condition considering it was nearly 80 years old....
My guy back home called me today and he had a minty Westly Richards in something like .257 Rigby... We'll see tomorrow...I have no idea what a minty Westly Richards is worth? Any ideas?

Minty.

I have no idea but "fresh from the Mint" or Minty sounds like a really fine rifle. I am interested 'cuz I am supposed to be looking at a 318 WR (very old) that is also supposed to be Minty within a few days.
Frank

KN,
the guy is NUTZ for even asking for ANYTHING like that price...

Remember, a "custom" rifle is generally aftermarket worth 50cents on the dollar, TOPS... and a wildcat, based of EXPENSIVE BRASS, without a load of dies and brass, especially with it NOT having load data.. it's going to barely worth 50% of the parts.

So, parts
BBK action
$550 new (now can only be used on gibbs)

octagon barrel (haven't seen a hex) with intragal sights (now worthless due to wildcat chamber,)_
1500 new

we'll assume a really nice, but not great piece of wood. If the wood was TOO nice, it has a NEGATIVE value, as it could be a weak spot

$500 new

various bits and pieces (chamber reamerand gunsmithing NOT included, nor can it be)
500 new

that's 2550 in parts, new...
(being NICE i think)
that's 1250 for the parts, wholesale...

1750 would a GREAT recovery price for a collection of pieces that do not function as a rifle (rough) nor is finished (bluing and action work)

in other words, I would have told him "fifty five hundred WHAT? Dimes ?

The 03 is also outrageous....

but, hey, you don't get ifyou dont ask....

btw, for sale... 1981/38 nagant rifle, finish capture, tikka barrel, and the CONCEPT of rebarreling to 50/110 or 405..... parts worth 110, so it's gotta be "Worth" 1200 at that store.

jeffe

Saw the Westley Richards this AM. It is indeed minty. It wasn't a a 257 but the barrel was marked .425 Magnum. Not sure what that is...

The gun had express sights with three leafs. The front sight cover tilted straight up on a pivot pin...I assume to change the blades. The gun is based on an FN action and also has a peep sight on the cocking piece. Bluing and stock are darn near 100%. Checekring looks to be about 24 LPI but I didn't measure. About the only thing that doesn't appear original but is in no way badly done is the red rubber recoil pad. I suspect it was probably metal or horn originally. It has not been drilled for scope mounting.
There was tasteful scroll engraving on the receiver. The floor plate had a lever release. Asking price was $5,000. I'll go back and get pictures if anyone is seriously interested. I personally have no interest in the gun nor would I make any money off the transaction. The dealer that has this gun has been doing business in the Louisville KY area for over 25 years.

Hmmm, .425 WR on an FN action. '50's vintage, I suspect, or early '60's. That'd indicate that the red pad is likely original. No one in his right mind'd shoot a .425 with a metal or horn buttplate. $5K seems a hair high for a "newish" WR but there's one born every minute, don'tcherknow.