On Wednesday, I put up this post and asked Can you guess this 20 gauge Westley Richards’ secrets?
Right away, few folks spotted this pretty little side-by-side’s special features right: sideclips, a Greener-style top bolt, and, most impressively, droplocks (AKA hand-detachable locks).
Westley Richards patented the Anson & Deeley boxlock action in 1875. Twenty-one year later, they updated it with their iconic hand detachable locks. Hand-detachable locks were to clean up the action’s appearance. After their introduction, a couple major benefits became apparent: If a lock breaks in the field, it can be replaced in a few minutes, and at the end of damp mornings or wet days, you pull the locks out for oiling and give the inside of the gun a good opportunity to dry.
Here a few things I love the 20 gauge droplock you see here:
-The beautiful cut scroll engraving
-The original Westley Richards single selective trigger
-The blushes of genuine color-case hardening
-The untouched, fancy checkering on the stock
-It’s tiny action. I hard to tell in the pictures, but its perfectly scaled to the gauge.
-It’s condition. Other than the extension on the stock (and maybe a bit of oil on the wood), this gun has not been messed with. Sure it has some dings and wear, but every one was put there
BTW: Remember, this gun is for sale. If you would like to know more about it, drop me an email: gregg@dogsanddoubles.com
