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Wesley-Richards .450 No. 2 Express rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Wesley-Richards .450 No. 2 Express rifle
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. All shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. If additional shipping and handling costs are required, the buyer will be reinvoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size of the package(s). NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require sp...
This Wesley-Richards express rifle Model 1869 is a specially made large caliber target rifle pre-dating the Martini action. (The Martini design was a hammerless modification of the original Peabody action design. However, the Westley Richards design is similar only in the respect of a hinged breechblock that tips down for loading. None of the rest of the internals share any commonality. Whereas the Peabody has an external hammer and the Martini a striker, the Westley Richards has an internal hammer with an integral firing pin. More to the point, the Westley Richards design predates the Martini, so its clearly not an improvement on that design. In fact, the Westley Richards design was a competitor with the Martini for British military contracts. After losing out to the Martini for the British Army, the Westley Richards design was marketed heavily to the pioneers and settlers of the Dutch Boer colony of South Africa in both musket and sporting rifle forms.)(rathcoombe.net)This factory made large bore rifle has the unique Hollis sighting system. This fascinating sight has an eight-leaf flip-up sight ranging from 100-700 (meters?) with a fully adjustable calibrated front sight. There is also a calibration of 1-12 pattern on the barrel rib rail for more precise sighting. There is a noticeable off-cast in the high-grade stock for right hand shooting and a factory installed brass side-plate re-enforcement at the wrist. The wrist has suffered a crack with a very old repair. The fore stock is secured with a wedge and plate. The wiper rod channel is missing the wipe and rod but the two ferrules are present. The bore is excellent with a unique patented Henry Rifling; somewhere between 15-18 lands and grooves in a convex curvature. This rifle would have made a favorite sporterized target gun for an avid shooter. The action re-cocks and extracts by dropping a lever below the trigger-guard in a Sharps fashion. There are no other identifying marks on the rifle as to manufacture, serial number, or proof marks.
This gun is an antique and no attempt has been made to fire this gun to confirm its mechanical integrity. Nor should this gun be fired without the examination by a qualified gunsmith. Any attempt to fire an antique gun is at the risk of the owner and not consistent with the value of the firearm.
No sales to California, New Jersey, New York City, or Hawaii. Check local ordinances before bidding. Date: City: State: HWAC# 33474