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.450NE Westley Richards Boxlock - 1921
Lovely rifle and photography! Barrel length? 28" maybe? Have you shot it yet. It's a nice one!
USN (ret)
DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE
Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE
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jorge,
It has 26" bbls, yes I have shot about 20 rounds through it.
04 May 2013, 00:43
bwanamrmLovely old classic Mike! Now that you have a "new" elephant gun, how about selling me that old Wiebe 450 bolt gun?

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04 May 2013, 01:46
pagosawingnutIsn't that just gorgeous? Nice rifle
Mike
Wonderful rifle! These old doubles seem to have a soul. I have never seen a sight reflector before.
So how did it shoot the Hornadys?
Many Thanks
Brett
Congratulations

The Westley Richards doubles are my all time favorite name double, and that one is a beautiful rifle! I'm envious!
............................................................................

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"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982
Hands of Old Elmer Keith
04 May 2013, 02:33
ozhunterClassic!
MHC
Awesome.
I have a similar gun, slightly less featured and less condition than your beauty.
They are fine, solid guns that last the years.
Mine is a 500/465 Extractor boxlock.
Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
04 May 2013, 04:46
jimatcatI'd like to hear the stories that rifle could tell... Nice rifle!!!
go big or go home ........
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04 May 2013, 06:02
retreeverThe best with that rifle.
Mike
Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
04 May 2013, 06:40
JungleboyWow, what a beautiful "classic" double rifle in a great caliber.
Now you just need to go harvest a few buff & elephant for some great trophy photo's!
Congrats & good hunting, Jim
What a beauty! Congratulations! Can't wait to see that one at the range!
Rusty
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04 May 2013, 07:55
Use Enough GunOutstanding!

04 May 2013, 08:56
Todd WilliamsClassic English lines!!
04 May 2013, 09:12
cal pappasDo they get any better?
I think not!
Cal
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04 May 2013, 11:21
Rigby350Very nice indeed
They don't come much better than that my friend
Keep it safe and use it as was intended.
04 May 2013, 17:04
subsailor74What a sweet rifle! Any one of us would be proud to hunt with it.

Any thought to the pins (screws) on the top of the fences? perhaps for the strikers....
05 May 2013, 02:44
Maximus BrutusJust wonderful. Congratulations.
05 May 2013, 06:36
NakihunterBeautiful classic rifle. Wish you all the best with a great rifle.
Is it a WR box lock action or is it a Webley action finished and sold by WR?
I know of a Evans 450 NE like that built on a Webley action.
Thanks for sharing.
"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
Classic WR - beautiful rifle!
quote:
Originally posted by Zephyr:
Any thought to the pins (screws) on the top of the fences? perhaps for the strikers....
Yes. Pretty sure mine has disc in the face of the gun.
Quite a few english guns have these screws.
Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
05 May 2013, 10:36
jens poulsenDoes it get any better?. Nope!!.
That´s the kind of double I wish to end up with on day.
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MHC
I have had a number of people who have held or shot mine say that if they had to take one gun / DR for use around the world, mine would be it.
Everyone who sees it loves it and I think yours
would be exactly the same except more so as it is a better gun.
.
Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
quote:
505G
I notice in this picture there doesn't appear to be any cast off on the stock. Is this the same on yours?
Maybe it's because there is no cheek piece so no cast off is needed? Nice clean lines on this stock.
Would love to see pic's of yours added to the thread if they are available.
Rhodes
DRSS
05 May 2013, 17:16
Rockdocquote:
Originally posted by Rhodes:
quote:
MHC that is a beautiful rifle. Great condition too.
Rhodes cast off is to order normally. I have an old H&H bolt gun (100yrs old this month!) that has a small cheek piece and was ordered without cast off. It is to suit the original owner. Fortunately it fits me pretty well too.
Cheers, Chris
505G
I notice in this picture there doesn't appear to be any cast off on the stock. Is this the same on yours?
Maybe it's because there is no cheek piece so no cast off is needed? Nice clean lines on this stock.
Would love to see pic's of yours added to the thread if they are available.
Rhodes
DRSS
DRSS
Rhodes
I have no close up pictures of it, only one's
I have would be of it on a Buffalo or in my hands
with a Buff and the gun is a long way from me.
Re cast, can't remember.
I'll see if i can find a photo.
Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
quote:
Originally posted by 505G:
quote:
Originally posted by Zephyr:
Any thought to the pins (screws) on the top of the fences? perhaps for the strikers....
Yes. Pretty sure mine has disc in the face of the gun.
I agree but most of the time you see them on the side of ball
Quite a few english guns have these screws.
quote:
I agree but most of the time you see them on the side of ball
Zephyr
You mean on the side of the fences ?
Not sure on that, most of the one's I see
are on the top.
Be interested in other people's opinions.
Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
On my Purdy Shotgun I have screws (pins) on the side of the fence that Purdy refers to as Disc Stop Pins.
My Gibbs 450 NE which is a WS action has two screws (pins) located on the back of the fence that I assumed were the same, they are instead associated with the secondary sears. My initial remark was based on the fact that I have never seen pins located on the top of the fences. But Am always ready to see something new.
It is interesting that WR used at least two different box lock action types for their doubles both shotguns and rifles. Both action types could be had with drop locks at an added cost. The picture of this rifle shows the Webley type action. The more common and most sought after are the C-bolt variations. It had a bolt with a very wide base on top lever. It also had a much deeper action body then the Webley type. I call it a Webley type as that is what it appears like to me but may actually be a different action type. I have owned both types and always thought that the Webley type was much sleeker but I don't know if there was a strength difference between them or if the Webley type was actually a second grade rifle. Can anyone shed any light on this?
465H&H
505G, no problem, it was just a thought if you had the gun handy to snap some off. There are plenty of pic's in this thread to feast our eye's.
RockDoc, Re cast off, I guess you are right, all the old guns were bespoke after all.
Rhodes
DRSS
The rifle does have cast off for a right had shooter.
I will try and post the specs on the rifle later today,
Another thing noticed that is fun about this rifle is that the folding leafs are in front of the standing sight where as we mostly see them behind.
It will be interesting to see with modern ammo or reloads how their perspective trajectories compare with the holdovers neatly given on the initial shield. It looks from the pictures that the elevation numbers were carefully scratched in by an owner of this rifle who was very attuned to it's performance....
quote:
Originally posted by Zephyr:
Another thing noticed that is fun about this rifle is that the folding leafs are in front of the standing sight where as we mostly see them behind.
It will be interesting to see with modern ammo or reloads how their perspective trajectories compare with the holdovers neatly given on the initial shield. It looks from the pictures that the elevation numbers were carefully scratched in by an owner of this rifle who was very attuned to it's performance....
My first thought on the sights is the builder put them on backwards, but they are marked correctly - the standing is 100yds and the four flip up sights are 200-300-400-500yds. The holdovers scribed on the initial shield are a neat touch.
Here are the specs on the gun:
#T7172, Westley Richards & Co. London, A 450 3 1/4" Nitro Express Boxlock Ejector Made in 1921 with 26" Shoe Lump Barrels with Rib Extension "C-Bolting" dolls head with a third bite, A full length rib with 1 standing & 4 folding rear sights, Front sight with an angled inset reflector to brighten the front bead, Nitro proved at 70 Cordite & 480 grain bullet, Bushed strikers, Double triggers, Splinter forend with a horn tip, Pistol grip stock at 14 1/2" LOP over a horn buttplate with the maker's logo, Add a 1" pad and save the horn butt and it will go to 15 5/16" LOP, Cast-off for the right hand, 11 lbs. 3 oz., Horn grip cap, No cheekpiece, Fairly decent wood that is stout in every respect, This piece is smack on the face with all the bite left one could hope for, The bores remain excellent, The whole is cased in a later trunk added to the gun.
The gun came from Champlin Firearms.
MHC
The original makers butt plate is a nice touch but I imagine the felt recoil would be quite brisk without a pad?
Rhodes
DRSS
07 May 2013, 11:41
sambarman338Looking at this rifle almost brought a tear to my eye. No bolsters or chopper-lump barrels; it just has beautiful lines and the real reassurance of the dolls head.
I love the sighting instructions, too, esp. for 150 yards.