Folks,



I was reading the February issue of 'Sporting Classic' magazine today. In it there was an interesting article on the esteemed gunmaking firm Westley Richards. The article mentioned the "hand detachable drop lock" designed by Leslie Taylor and John Deeley. The author said, "[...] [T]he Westley Richards made with the detachable drop lock, with or without the single trigger [...], is the finest firearm yet made."



As I've noted on these forums before, I know next to nothing about doubles. So therefore it's not surprising that I've never heard of this type of lock.



I found a short description of the lock on the WR web site. It did not go into much detail, however.



Can anyone describe this lock, it's drawbacks and advantages?



Anyone point me to a photo of such a lock and how it works?



Thanks!!



-Steve

Steve

Go to Nickadu's Files, Hatari Times, 476 Westley Richards. That is why he is posting all of this neat stuff.

Mickey,



Thanks! I guess I should'a checked there first. Very interesting!



The advantages seem quite apparent. What about the drawbacks, perceived or real? Any?



-Steve

I think that the Westley Richards Drop Lock is the ultimate in a Double Rifle. I would love to have a Drop Lock in a 577. I have a friend who has the Drop Lock in a 400 3" and it is a very neat handling and accurate rifle.

The only drawback I see is the single trigger issue. I prefer two complete systems, even if I will probably never need it. I think I heard somewhere that they are no longer making thme as the cost is very high. I hope this is an error.

Mickey:
Not all W-R Droplock guns have single triggers. I suspect double-trigger drop-locks would be in the majority.

A friend of mine has one: very nice.

Also, the Chapter on Paradox guns in Graeme Wright's book "Shooting the British Double Rifle" has a couple of excellent photos of a Drop-lock 'Fauneta'.

The article stated that you could have one with either double or single triggers.

If you go to the Westley Richard Build your own double rifle web site, you can assemble a custom rifle. It has the option for drop locks. Kind of a fun page, but it makes me wonder why I didn't become a neuro-surgeon...

Take Care,

-Steve

A used gun looks very good price wise compared to new (at least as I'd like it!)

I have used a Drop Lock extensively and can tell you they are perhaps the finest double on the market. New ones are a bit pricey, but the quality is superb.

Aleko

Anyone besides WR make a drop lock action or a variant, thereof?



Does WR have the patent locked up (no pun intended)? That seems unlikely if the design is so old that Deeley contibuted to it's creation.



-Steve

Steve,

Here's a photo of a Westley that Ottmar and I restored almost 20 years ago. It seems like a pretty nice setup to me. Who knows what the cost of another set of locks would be, though. I have another customer up north of me that has a .577 in a Westley drop lock double. He's offered to let me shoot it, but I haven't found the time to get that done.

Rodger,



Very Cool!! That is simply gorgeous.



Again, Why didn't I listen to my mother and become a doctor... Why... why. . .







-Steve

Regarding the spare lock sets, I found the current price on the WR website. $5245.00 just for the "spare" locks. Whew!