All,

I have just acquired a Westley Richards Model 1897 in .450 No. 2.

The metal has been refinished at some time in the past, as has the wood, and not too well.

Would it be inappropriate to have the action and lever color case hardened (by Doug Turnbull)? I'm new at these Farquharson actioned rifles. I've seen Westley Richards double rifles and shotguns case hardened, so I'm wondering about the single shot rifles. Don't want to commit any sacrilege on an old Brit rifle. Thanks.

Do you have any pictures?

I would contact Doug and see what he thinks. They are a top shelf operation and am sure he wouldn't steer you wrong.

Go slow.....Many Westleys and most likely yours if you bought the one from Cabela's, were charcoal blued on the action, but not all of them. I own one that was case colored, but have one in the shop now that is similar to yours and it was charcoal blued. Do you have Winfers book? Start there and the buy the Kirkton book. Read a bunch.....then restore. That is a neat gun by the way.
Steve

Good advice Steve.

Thanks guys.

I'm pretty excited about getting this rifle. Makes reading my F.C. Selous books all the more fun.

I wouldn't even think about refinishing if it had not already been done.

I am for sure going to take the old rifle to Zimbabwe next year and let it shoot something.

I noticed that the newest Winfer book mentions a '97 WR which is one number away from the one which Cabelas had on offer.
Chambered and marked the same as well for Eley's case.
I assume we are talking of the same gun (?)
This is a great rifle - I was considering it myself.

Huvius,

Yes I bought the rifle from Cabela's although I don't have it yet.

I have ordered the Winfer volume 4 (Westley Richards). Is that the book you mentioned or is it another volume?

Thanks.

It is in No.6 - the new Webley one.
In the front of the book they have a few updates on newly discovered rifles and it is mentioned there.
I had Cabelas send better pictures and the gun looks much better than it did on their site - I am sure you will like it.
I think some may assume that this rifle had been rechambered since all of the WR marks are stamped and the Eley markings are engraved but I am sure it is original in that respect and all of the proofs do add up.

Thanks very much, that is good to know. I'm going to order the book right now. I talked to the guys at Cabela's and the conclusion was that no one could really say if the rifle had been rechambered or not.

Just wanted to say thanks to y'all for the information on the Winfer and Kirton books.

I managed to find Winfer's volumes 3, 4, 5 and 6 and these are some interesting books.