doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Westley Richards Proofmark Puzzle

Here's a good one - any information I can gather about this gun would be great.

I have the gun here, so I can answer any questions.

Westley Richards Boxlock Serial No. 7911

Barrel Flats:





Water table:



Other Photos:

well I don't have my books handy but it was originally proofed as a tight 12 indicated by the 13/1 then at some later date the bore was opened to .729 a standard bore for 12. 2 1/2 " chambers, 3 tons per sq and 1 1/8 are pretty normal for a 2 1/2" chambered gun. Obviously Nitro proof and is has some choke not cylinder bore.

Busy under those tubes.

Has the mark for reproof, and, as noted, was standard bore for 12 gauge at that time, prior, it was 13 bore.

If it were mine, I’d spend a good amount of time measuring wall thickness. Maybe it passed proof with .019 wall thickness, but, I’m a klutz, and would want a bit more than that.

I wouldn’t buy a gun at less than .025 wall. Anyone else can do whatever they want.

Best,
Ted

Geoff:

Barrels are marked as "Sleeved" which explains the latest proof marks. So I would hope they have plenty of barrel wall thickness, but please check to make sure. Russ

The Proof House, when they begrudgingly agreed to Prove sleeved guns, initially insisted that the SLEEVED mark be stamped (as on this gun) on the visible part of the barrels.

When Westley Richards started to sleeve guns they decided to name a virtue out if a necessity by emblazoning Westley Richards above that SLEEVED mark.

I have an Edwinson Green BLE which was sleeved by WR and so marked.

Geoff, the original proof of your gun was the 13/1 marks , it was re-proofed at 12 and the .729 marks relate to the proof of the sleeved barrels. I can’t quite read the date codes.

I anticipate that the sleeved tubes will have ample wall thickness.

It carries 3 proofs.
Initially 1887 - 1896 and as noted 13/1 = bore of .719" - .728"

2nd proof was 1925-1954 when the chamber length and 1 1/8 oz. were 1st marked.
The Birmingham Proof date code at the top was used 1921-1942 and if you could chalk the mark maybe the capital letter at the top could be deciphered

3rd proof was 1954 - 1989 at 3 TONS, for a service pressure of about 9000 psi.
Bore now .729", chamber length 2 1/2" and Crowned BNP
The date code is bottom used 1950 - 1974. If you can read the capital letter on the left that would be the year. That is likely when it was sleeved.

Thanks folks, I appreciate all the comments

Drew, I love it when you weigh in on these - you've helped me learn a bunch.

The proof date code is QB (1965), does that make sense with "SLEEVED" marked as it is on the outside of the barrels.

Dr Drew said to Geoff Holmes upon cracking the case, "By Jove, I think he's got it."

This is the best I'm going to get, I'm going to call that the bottom of a "C" and go with 1923- 1924:

Looking at that photo again...I might be reading it upside down; the crossguards on the swords are on the bottom.

...in that case might that horizontal line be the top of "T", which would put the 2nd proof in 1938 - 1939?