Dogs and Doubles

What’s this 20 gauge Westley Richard’s little secret?

by Gregg
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun

Droplock Westley Richards shotguns are nice doubles, and they’re very collectible, especially in the smaller gauges. Most of the time, a 20 gauge will cost you at least $15,000 if it has any kind of condition.

20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun

So when I saw this little 20 gauge Westley Richards double barrel droplock shotgun on Gunbroker.com, I thought WOW – a deal! But after I took a longer look at the pics, I figured out why it’s priced so low.

Take a look at all the images. Then let me know if you can figure out what’s up with it:

20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock with a single trigger, straight-gripped stock, and 15″ LOP.

20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun
20 gauge Westley Richards Droplock Shotgun

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20 thoughts on “What’s this 20 gauge Westley Richard’s little secret?”

  6. Ding, ding, ding – that’s it. The gun was around 1902. Those barrels were made in Belgium after 1924.

    It’s still a nice gun, though.

    Nice job.

    Gregg

  8. 1. The proof marks are not of Birmingham or London, but of Liege in Belgium.
    2.Hard to tell in the side-on photograph accurately but the drop lock looks suspiciously as if a spring has slackened ( or even an incorrect spring fitted) as the fit to the action isn’t finely flushed. Just a thought.

  9. Correct on the bbls. They were added at a later date.

    Not sure about the spring, but I’ll take a closer look. Good eye.

    Thanks for the comment.

    Gregg

  10. You would need to blow up the top photograph in order to see what I mean, but then again the photograph could be deceiving by shadows cast. An interesting gun nonetheless though not original.

  11. So did they lift the rib from the original barrel set or just forge WR’s name on the new rib? Westley Richards & Co. London – or Birmingham?

  13. I bet they used the used the original ribs again.

    The bbls were done a while ago, and they look well done.

    I bet they were done to replace and match rather than to replace and deceive…

    Gregg

  14. I saw this gun the day it was posted & like you got pretty interested…UNTIL I saw the Belgian proof marks. My guess is that this gun was sent to Belgium in the 50s to have its original Damascus barrels (turn of the century serial # range gun) replaced with steel barrels…We all know that damascus barrels are un safe..RIGHT! L-O-L! Man, just think if it had it’s original Damascus (if that was the case) barrels…I would have been all over that!

    Now, let me state this. The gun is still a great value to a collector that wants a little “rainy day” shooter. Apparently somebody felt the same as it has been sold.

    Nice gun, good deal, hope the new owner enjoys it!

    JW

  15. I was the one who picked this one up exactly as someone mentioned, a rainy/snowy day gun for woodcock here in Duluth, MN
    Who ever did the rebarrel did a great job and the rib is WR.
    Gun it tight and should last many years, I hope.

    DJA

  16. Excellent – congratulations. It looks like a nice double – and it certainly was a good deal.

    Does it have a hinged floorplate, or does the floor plate came away from the action when opened?

    Gregg

  17. Glad somebody grabbed that gun up..Like I said…excellent “rainy day” gun (or any day for that matter).

    Had it double triggers there might have been a bid war…LOL…

    Congrats!

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