Hello everyone,
Greetings from France.
I am trying to learn as much as possible about an early Westley Richards side-by-side shotgun in my family, serial number 16143.
The gun is marked:
WESTLEY RICHARDS – 178 New Bond Street, London
Serial No. 16143
DEELEY’S PATENT EJECTOR A649
PATENT 17731 / 1897 / 236
PATENT ONE TRIGGER
The barrel rib also refers to His Majesty King Edward VII.
The gun appears to have an early hand-detachable / Droplock-type action, ejectors and a single Patent One Trigger.
One detail particularly interests me: there is a gold oval escutcheon in the stock engraved with the initials:
A.C.M.
I would really like to discover who A.C.M. was and whether these initials could belong to an original or early owner.
I have already contacted Rock Island Auction Company in the USA. From photographs, they identified it as a:
“Westley Richards side-by-side Boxlock Ejector shotgun, SN#16143”
and gave a preliminary auction estimate of $3,500–$5,500, with possible placement in their Premier Auction after physical inspection.
Westley Richards can research the original factory records, but their historical service is paid. Before paying for that, I am hoping experienced collectors here may be able to help.
I would particularly like to know:
1. Can serial number 16143 be dated more precisely?
2. Can anyone confirm the exact action/model or grade?
3. What do Patent 17731/1897 – 236 and Deeley’s Patent Ejector A649 tell us?
4. Does anyone know of Westley Richards guns with nearby serial numbers and documented dates?
5. Does anyone recognise the initials A.C.M., or know how they might be researched?
6. Is this combination of early hand-detachable action, ejectors and Patent One Trigger particularly unusual or desirable?
7. What would knowledgeable collectors consider a realistic current market value?
Regarding condition, the gun is not perfect but presents well for its age. The visible pitting/corrosion appears mainly concentrated near the muzzles, over approximately the final 10 cm / 4 inches of the barrels. I have not yet had the barrel wall thickness professionally measured.
Unfortunately, the original case is no longer with the gun.
I have many detailed photographs of the complete gun, action, barrel flats, proof marks, serial numbers, patent markings, bores, engraving and the A.C.M. gold oval.
I have not added photographs yet because I am still learning how image hosting works on this forum. If photographs would help, please tell me what you would like to see and I will gladly provide them.
Any information, even a small clue, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much from France,
Thomas
