This is a scoped Westley Richards, as presented on their web-page. Sporting a Lyman scope, in what appears to be Warne QR's.

Just a little something for all of you that thinks so highly of traditional european gunmakers, of what they will NOT do.......

I bet the mounts were an American addition to an otherwise very fine rifle.

Well, it WAS a nice rifle....

It still is a nice rifle. If the scope bothers you, just take the scope off and fill in the rib with a couple of spacers. Chapuis uses that set up.

303 British, 9 lbs. with scope.
2.5x Lyman Alaskan scope.
Kimber rings it looks like to me, for 7/8" scope tube diameter.
Cute.
Notice these Kimber rings: If the front one tightens counter clockwise, and the rear one tightens clockwise, then these levers are set incorrectly for recoil to keep them tight.

Assume they mixed a set to get both tightening counter-clockwise: I would go ahead and tighten that front lever a skosh more so that it was pointed upward a wee bit to mirror-image the rear lever position.

edit: Kimbers always did confuse me.

Er?......Uh? W.R. is from Birmingham (not Alabama) which would make them NOT American and NOT European as any Brit would tell you. Most European double manufacturers will mount scopes on their rifles. SO?.......what exactly was the point? Did I miss something? This thing Would make a good Double Deer rifle in Birmingham (Alabama)

Lyman Alaskan's must have been thought really cool at one time, in Alabama.

How old is that thing? Alaskan? 7/8" tube? Pre- Civil war no doubt!

"Before there was a state there was a scope. The Alaskan. A straightforward piece of hunting gear with a decades-old reputation for quality.

"When introduced just before World War II (by the Lyman Gun Sight Corp.), the Alaskan was to scopes what Mt. McKinley is to North American mountains: more handsome, more rugged, more steeled against the weather, and more or less above it all."

So said the 1990 Leupold brochure announcing their issue of a replica of the classic, complete with 7/8" steel tube.

Quite thorough Mr. RIP! So it's basically a stir stick slash field hammer. Good to know. Think I'd rely on my "point shooting" instead.

What it is, is a rifle with a scope mounted for practical use. It is not traditional, but it sure works. Can anyone provide pic's of claw-mounted scopes on a double mounted that low? When off the rifle, the rifle itself is really sleek without the clumpy clawmount-bases.

If this was such an abdomination, would not Westley Richards themself do something about it before they set it for sale on their pages?

That scope looks like it might leave a mark on the shooter when fired...

Stock number 25821
Calibre .303 British
Action Fixed Lock
Barrel length 25"
Rib Quarter
Triggers Two
Safe Bolted
Ejectors Yes
Sights 1 + 2
Telescope Alaskan Lyman 2.5x Power
Stock Pistol Grip
Stock length 14 5/16"
Weight 9 lbs w/scope
Case No


$21,500 - Click here to convert the price to a different currency.

This is a deer rifle made for the Scottish highlands, and the addtion of a scope in that use is not uncommon. I have a Westley Richards box lock 500/450#1 Express that has a QD scope mount affixed to the quarter rib, and offset over the left barrel so that the irons can be used with the scope mounted, and the scope used for the left barrel as a single shot, for long shots! The rifle was made in 1892, and the scope added at some time before the second world war! Up untill the first 10 yrs of the 20th century, the .450 cal were intended for deer and elk hunting, not big game!

The rifle here was most likely origenally scope mounted, but with a claw mount, and the top half lost over time. The Kimber/Warne mounts were a cost saver way to mount the scope, by milling the old bases down, and drilling&tapping them for the Warne, and a period scope to match the rifle!

Personally I would love to have this rifle! I wauld simply order a set of 1" Warne rings, and mount a Leupold fixed power 4X scope, and go deer hunting! I see absolutely no problem with this rifle other than it may not shoot well, because most 303 double rifles are shot out, with corrosive milatary ammo!