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Forums10
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Mar 29th, 2024
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Here's a Westley Richards droplock that seems odd to me. I thought they usually have the dollshead rib extension and Westley top lever that pulls the locking bolt back from the rib extension. This is a droplock but the top lever appears to be a standard Scott lever. How common was this? Do you think Westley made it? 
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Member
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 433 |
This is a droplock but the top lever appears to be a standard Scott lever. How common was this? Common, at least I've seen quite a few. This one has a straight extension. Most of these that I've seen have been club head. Do you think Westley made it? I've always wondered. My guess would be no, but I've never bothered to check the records on one. Don't know if Westley is forthcoming about whether or not a gun was bought in. Some British makers aren't.
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
[quote=Joe Wood] Do you think Westley made it? I've always wondered. My guess would be no, but I've never bothered to check the records on one. Don't know if Westley is forthcoming about whether or not a gun was bought in. Some British makers aren't. WR didn't mine the iron, smelt the steel, forge the action blank or the barrel blanks,---. At the point of machining the action and drilling the barrel blanks, we get less sure. WR has a reputation for machining and parts supply. However, at any given time, they may have or may not have. They were right smack dab in the middle of the trade and could have done any or all of the work or bought-in any or all of the work. The real point is that they would have done the quality control before putting their name on it. So, it was up to WR standards for the original quality grade when new.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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The real point is that they would have done the quality control before putting their name on it. So, it was up to WR standards for the original quality grade when new. That statement is undoubtedly true, but one must keep in mind that the Westley Richards imprimatur can mean many different levels of quality. Westley Richards' production was not monolithic. It spanned the gamut from plain to ornate. Different standards applied at each level. The gun pictured above appears to be toward the plain end of the W-R spectrum, whether made by them or bought in. Of course, it can probably be said with confidence that they didn't make any "BAD", particularly in a detachable lock configuration. Curl
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Joined: Dec 2001
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 201 |
It is my memory that the Gold Name and below droplocks were made by Scott {Webley}. Higher grades by Westley.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Daryl, I've read that the Gold Name standard boxlocks were made by Scott but have never read that the droplocks were. However, Westley Richards was very much a part of the Birmingham trade and I would assume they frequently utilized outworkers. Bottom line would be the products met the standards of WR.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 201
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 201 |
Joe, that could have been what I saw, but I took it to mean the lower end droplocks. Just read it and remembered it that way. I cannot remember where I read it, but probably in one of the "big" books.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 433
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 119
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 119 |
Micheal Mac & David T wrote an article on the hand detachable boxlock and arrived to the conclusion that they were all made by Westley until fairly recently, in gun years, that A&S made some for William Powell (Heritage Series) and a few under their own name. They rated very highly maybe even better than current WR manufacture. Enclosed are photos of WR BLE With pull bar lever and doll's head extension.  
Last edited by Older Doc; 06/20/09 04:36 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
WR didn't mine the iron, smelt the steel, forge the action blank or the barrel blanks,---. At the point of machining the action and drilling the barrel blanks, we get less sure. WR has a reputation for machining and parts supply. However, at any given time, they may have or may not have. They were right smack dab in the middle of the trade and could have done any or all of the work or bought-in any or all of the work. The real point is that they would have done the quality control before putting their name on it. So, it was up to WR standards for the original quality grade when new. Don, That is an excellent point that many forget. It is also true of other makers in other countries. Because a name or trade mark is on the gun, does mean that is who made it. I have always assumed that if a maker put their name on it, then they assumed responsibility for the final product, no matter who made it. There are some very early Beretta catalogs where they were selling Scott guns. A few pages over and you see a similar gun only with the Beretta name on it..... Pete
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