Westley Richards Double

Nyles

Nyles

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My uncle has this Westley Richards 12 gauge takedown double - I'm a milsurp collector and don't really know much about shotguns, and I was hoping someone here could tell me more about it. Its a very nice gun, with about 31" barrels, supposed to have been originally purchased in the 20s. Unfortunately, the butt has been cut down and re-extended, and fitted with a recoil pad in the ensuing 80 years. That's about all I know about it, can anyone tell me more?

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I would judge it to be a water fowl gun by the bl length. It is most certainly not a "walk up gun" and may be for driven birds.
Is it chambered for 2 3/4 or 2 1/2" shells & is it extractor or ejector. Westly produced excellent quality pieces even in their "working guns". As to value -- determined on condition and chamber length, the extractor/ejector question, condition of bl interior, chokes. Most if not all of the case color has gone and its a shame about the stock alteration. Extractor with good bls with stock problem $1500 area -- ejextor a couple of hundred more. Just one opinion from a side by side nut.
Cheers!
 
Thanks for the help! I honestly don't really know how to answer those questions. As you can see in the pictures, its marked "Deeley's Patent Ejectors", but I can't see anything inside the action that looks to me like an ejector. The barrels look fine to me but I honestly don't know how to judge on a shotgun.

This thing works pretty different from other doubles I've seen before - the single trigger fires both barrels. 1st squeeze fires first barrel, second resets, 3rd fires second barrel. Also the safety comes on automatically when you open the gun.
 
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Nyles, what is the serial number of the gun? If it is 7266, it was made in 1892. The picture of the barrel flats is a little fuzzy and I can't make out the proof marks. Nice gun. Depending on the condition of the bores and assuming the barrels are fluid steel $800-1200 is a pretty low estimate.
 
I will venture that the gun will bring more than $1,200. An Anson & Deeley boxlock from the turn of the century by Westley Richards is a very desirable shotgun. Anson & Deeley assigned their patent to W.R. The history is too long for posting here, but googling will give you sufficient reading. It is a real pity about the stock, but it can be fixed. I know of a "gold name" model which recently sold in Canada for over $5K.

Sharptail
 
Its 1266, it was made in 1920 according to the sight, which makes more sense according to the story I was told. I'll try and snap a better picture of the proofs over the weekend.
 
From where I sit the barrel flats look like they are stamped 1 1/8 oz. this would indicate 2 1/2" chambers.

In the current condition, again I am going by the photos it needs a new stock and no case colouring remains on the action. I would expect to sell this for $2000 - $2500. More if you could get it across to our southern neighbours.

If the stock hadn't been buggered easily add $1500 more but restocking isn't cheap.

Still a beauty and well worth bringing back to original glory.
 
Of course it's only worth what the market will allow if your selling but I would put the value at $3K and much more if the stock hadn't been butchered. A Westley Richards is an English Best gun and very valuable and 10 years ago, I know that their lowest price model was worth $4k US in VG condition, that was when I was more concerned with such things.
 
Know of a very, very similar gun, in excellent condition without the stock problem , that sold recently for slightly under $ 3,000, probably was worth 4-500 more but that would have been a stretch.

Restocking , with a fair piece of wood will cost 2500 minimum with . So , to someone that wants to 'restore' it (to were it should be ) 800-1000 max. Someone that can live with it this way and appreciates a fine action MAYBE couple hundred more. Thats assuming that the action/barrels are in very good to excellent shape, which is impossible to tell.

My opinion, worth what you paid for it

Regards
 
Again, thanks for all the replies.

In hopes of reducing my PM traffic, I'm not really looking to sell it.
 
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