I should start off by noting that I've always wanted a Westley Richards boxlock. While arguably not as elegant as a sidelock, I love that they worked this action until perfected, filing numerous patents along the way. As a further note, I have no absolutely no experience with vintage guns other than admiring them and subscribing to the DGJ a few years ago.
So yesterday I found this gun and bought it without considering it very long as it was (relatively!) inexpensive. It's an 1890 vintage Westley Richards - it has two sets of barrels, the original 12 gauge set numbered to the gun, and a second set of 16 gauge barrels whose serial number date them to 1900.
It has several warts - the most obvious is a horrible stock extension of black rubber with a second addition of a pachmeyer recoil pad. I have short arms and think this can be solved with a leather covered pad. The wood is quite striking and I'm guessing that it was replaced, but years ago as it has a nice patina - the seller felt it was original, but it seems a bit too fancy to me.
Moving on, the original barrel 12 gauge set is 28" and marked "W.R. C.M Steel", I'm unable to make out choke or proofing, and they are VERY open, my choke gauge can be fully inserted into both barrels! It is my belief that the gun came with a beavertail as there are markings extending on the underside of the barrels. The gun now has a splinter, the story is that the beavertail cracked and the splinter was made from the original. Should the forend be serialized to the gun, this forend has no serial number? The 12 gauge barrels will fit the gun, but not the forend, so I couldn't check for ejector function.
The 28" 16 gauge barrels (from 1900) are nitro proofed for 1 oz; are marked "special steel". The forend fits them perfectly and the ejectors and well-timed and strong. They are choked extra full and extra full - can't even insert my choke gauge!
I don't have a bore gauge, but was told that both sets are now 3". I don't have a gauge to measure wall thickness, so that is also an unknown.
I plan to use the gun with both sets of barrels, if they are usable, so I'm looking to get several jobs done.
1. Determine if both sets of barrels can be used and with what shotshells.
2. Get the forend/barrel fit corrected so that both barrels will mount properly.
3. A thorough cleaning by an expert.
4. Remove the extensions and add a proper leather covered recoil pad. Any other options to consider? I don't want to restock the gun entirely...
Anything else I should consider? Any recommendations for the jobs? Thanks for looking!
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I've not yet figured out how to load pictures individually, but believe the link will take you to a photobook album.
