I found this rifle with a collector here in NZ. I have been drooling over it for a couple of years. It was made by Webley & is for sale at US$24k.















It is in very tidy condition. I am in one of those lustful moods......

That gun won't be for sale long. It is a beauty.

Yes, it should sell quickly, if tight and shiny bored. Nice engraving and interesting woodwork. Is the bar extra deep or the wee fore end just an eccentricity? Webley seem to have made lots of good db rifles for other makers but I wonder what William Evans's experience at Purdey's brought to this equation.

Looks like a Leonard action to me but I am no expert on such matters.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
Looks like a Leonard action to me but I am no expert on such matters.

465H&H

Looks like a long bar Webley to me but I also am not an expert! You need to ask Rusty, about the action.

In any case that is a nice rifle, and if the is a Webley number on the front hanger under the fore end then it is a Webley.

The fore end is small, but it looks like the barrels are long making the fore end look smaller than it is. The barrels look to be 28 inches. I have a Westley Richards 500/450 that has 28 inch barrels, and a very small fore end and I love the way it handles.

................................

It is an A&WC Webley screw grip action. Best of the boxlocks by most accounts.
That is a splinter of a splinter forend isn't it?
Great looking gun and I agree, at least here in the states, it wouldn't last long on the market at that price and if everything checks out OK.
The lever looks a bit past center so it may need some tightening work.

Huvius is correct A&WC Webley.

I like the Webley PHV-1 better personally.

No "scientific" reason, I just like the looks of its Doll Head better.

that Evans is a beautiful rifle.

Butch Searcy has started building rifles on the Webley screw grip action. I have a 375 flanged magnum on order from him - should deliver on or before 15 Sept.

I have identical, but I do not hunt in Africa because on could steal it to me

I hunt with Merkel 500 NE very precise

Thanks for all the comments and the PMs. After a three year struggle with the economy I am slowly coming out of it and hope I can buy this one. I am still swaying between this & a new VC 450/400 or 450 NE at half the price. But this one gets my heart pounding.

It is a Webley screw grip. Date of manufacture has been researched but I am not sure. Does 1906 sound reasonable with that fore end lock up? The condition is awesome. It has been serviced & reblackened by Robert Dollymore (former Purdeys). One of the strikers / inside bit (?) was replaced. Yes it is a long barrelled rifle and handles very well.

If the gun is in good condition you can't go wrong, it is all upside. Good luck on your purchase.

Nakihunter,

That is a beautiful gun. Would be a good one to stand beside my 450-400 you like so well. My gun was built in 1907 and has the same type forend latch.

Sam

Sam

Yes it is a great rifle & will go well with "my" 450/400!

I am planning for our 2013 safari my friend!

Nakihunter,

Your 450-400!! You wish!! Hey you will be the first I offer it to.
Looking forward to 2013 and smacking some elephant!

Sam

24k for that quality of a rifle IF it's in top shape AND it shoots well and is an ejector gun...............JUMP ON IT!!!!!!!

Brett

Come on Naki, go for it.

If you wait someone else will buy it, and you will have to find another to talk about.

I think he wanted to be talked out of buying it not the otherway around

The price sounds good if the rifle is sound, esp. since the Kiwi$ is doing well, at least against the Aussie.

I bet the rifle is not an ejector, though, as they were reasonably rare then.

A new VC probably makes sense if you want something to hunt with, and are used to ejectors, but the Evans could make a better investment. As with houses, buying new does not help appreciation.

The rifle IS a rare ejector! All the exposed "white metal" surfaces still have the marks like file cuts or what ever. Robert Dollymore is from the original gun trade of Lonmdon & is a certified master gun maker.

The price I mentioned in US$ at current exchange rates.

Buy it!

It would be even better if the maker had got rid of the tool marks but it looks good, has the dolls head and ejectors - if I had the money and a safari coming up, I'd buy it.

If you dod not buy this gun, I might.

Unfortunately I do not have a close up photo of these "tool marks". For example the muzzle area - between the barrels has the cris-cross marks of some tool - looks very uniform / symetrical. The same with the breach end of the barrel. I remember seeing similar "tool marks" on a new VC & a newish Chapuis as well.

I wonder if these marks ware out with regular use???

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
It would be even better if the maker had got rid of the tool marks but it looks good, has the dolls head and ejectors - if I had the money and a safari coming up, I'd buy it.

What is the general consensus on 28" barrels? I know Taylor said he would not a used a rifle with long barrels after using rifles with 24 to 26" barrels.

My 1905 Gibbs in 450NE, 28" barrels well balanced and handles like a shotgun. If I were to get another gun I would be hard pressed to go shorter than 26".

My VC has 25" barrels and I originally wanted 26", but the VC tech rep at DSC wanted me to get 24" given my height (I'm 5'10") so I settled on 25. On reflection, I really don't see an issue with 26 or longer in a double and in fact, I think 24" is too short. jorge

Zephyr I just had to take some inderal...your Gibbs is stunning, I mean stunning. If you tell me that is the original stock and finish, this just might be my last post...Elizabeth...I'm comin'!

Im beggin' for more pics if you got 'em...

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Unfortunately I do not have a close up photo of these "tool marks". For example the muzzle area - between the barrels has the cris-cross marks of some tool - looks very uniform / symetrical. The same with the breach end of the barrel. I remember seeing similar "tool marks" on a new VC & a newish Chapuis as well.

I wonder if these marks ware out with regular use???

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
It would be even better if the maker had got rid of the tool marks but it looks good, has the dolls head and ejectors - if I had the money and a safari coming up, I'd buy it.

Those marks at the breech end and muzzle are decorative, they are not tool marks left by the maker.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
What is the general consensus on 28" barrels? I know Taylor said he would not a used a rifle with long barrels after using rifles with 24 to 26" barrels.

My 470 Evans is from 1919 and has 28" barrels. It balances beautifully and the 28" barrels did not get it the way on both my elephants hunts with it in the Zambezi valley. Lot's of trecking through thick jesse with no issues.

BTW, it's a twin to Zephyr's 450 Gibbs. They're both Webley built A&W C actions and very nice rifles as is the Evans in question.

Fortunately of unfortunately the stock is not original... The grip cap might be the give away. Sorry the only other pic that i have is of the same angle.
The gun is going to Zim this fall for Eles and Buff.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Zephyr I just had to take some inderal...your Gibbs is stunning, I mean stunning. If you tell me that is the original stock and finish, this just might be my last post...Elizabeth...I'm comin'!

Im beggin' for more pics if you got 'em...

Zephyr,

Still a stunner...good luck and have fun on your safari; look forward to the report!

Do you know who/when did the restock?

Again, lovely rifle!

Found one more thanks for your interest

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Zephyr I just had to take some inderal...your Gibbs is stunning, I mean stunning. If you tell me that is the original stock and finish, this just might be my last post...Elizabeth...I'm comin'!

Im beggin' for more pics if you got 'em...

IMHO those marks on the breech end is from the gun being put back on face, the marks on the end of the barrel is probably the squaring off the barrel ends to be re-crowned

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
The rifle IS a rare ejector! All the exposed "white metal" surfaces still have the marks like file cuts or what ever. Robert Dollymore is from the original gun trade of Lonmdon & is a certified master gun maker.

The price I mentioned in US$ at current exchange rates.

Thanks Z! Congrats on a really fine rifle.

As the owner of the William Evans I can confirm it is built on a Webley screw lock barrels and action and stocked and finished by Evans.Evans served his time at Purdey as did Robert Dollimore here in New Zealand. The file marks? on breech face and muzzel are decorative duplicating the pile change similar to a lawn cut alternatly in opposite directions.

quote:

The file marks? on breech face and muzzel are decorative duplicating the pile change similar to a lawn cut alternatly in opposite directions.

Is this also called 'florentine"?

Wecome to AR! at last the lurker has been lured out by his own rifle!

How is the Greener pair doing?

quote:

Originally posted by kiwigunner:
As the owner of the William Evans I can confirm it is built on a Webley screw lock barrels and action and stocked and finished by Evans.Evans served his time at Purdey as did Robert Dollimore here in New Zealand. The file marks? on breech face and muzzel are decorative duplicating the pile change similar to a lawn cut alternatly in opposite directions.

Zephyr,
Nice Rifle, nice Randall!

Fine rifle BM.