You don’t often you see a 100+-year-old double rifle in this kind of condition. Not only is it all original, but it also retains a ton of that original finish.
This gun was made by Webley & Scott for Army & Navy, a co-op that started in the 19th-century for military members. Army & Navy offered all kinds of firearms for its members, and Webley & Scott was one of the co-op’s biggest suppliers.
This rifle is chambered for .450 Black Powder Express (.450 31⁄4-inch BPE), one of the most popular rounds of the late 19th century. Many different types of rifles were chambered for .450 BPE and these guns were used for everything from deer stalking in Scotland to elephant hunting in Africa. The round was replaced by the more potent .450 Nitro Express in 1898 (BTW: go here to see how the .450NE compares to a .470NE).
Along with the gun’s original finish and overall finish, a few things about it caught my eye, from the engraving and the ribbon fences to the wide top strap, the long top lever, and the toe-and-heel plates. While this wasn’t a best-quality gun in its day, it was a very nice one.
Army & Navy – Webley & Scott – Deluxe 450 BPE – High Condition – All Original 1896 Rifle: 26″ Steel Barrels with a Dolls Head Rib Extension Third Bite, Full-Length Rib with 1 Standing & 1 Folding Platinum Lined Rear Sights, Bushed Strikers, Lever Release Forend, Steel Engraved Grip Cap, Shadowline Cheek Piece, Sling Eyes, Double Triggers, 14 1/2″ LOP to an Engraved Steel Butt Plate, Weight 8 lbs. 7 oz. All Original Rifle – Built on the Great Webley action. Sold in 1896 for 40 Pounds Sterling! Bores look day one new. Tight and Sound in Every Regard. Lots of handling marks from being around for 123 years. Price: $9995
