THE FIRST EVER – TWO RARE W.R. GUNS

One of the most important milestones in modern gunmaking, without doubt, was the W. Anson & J. Deeley’s patent no. 1756 of 11th May 1875, a hammerless breechloader, where the action is cocked by the fall of the barrels. The boxlock was invented by William Anson, Foreman of the Westley Richards Gun-Action Department, and John Deeley, Commercial Manager of the company.

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From the Westley Richards Book ” In Pursuit of the Best Gun”

The first Anson & Deeley Patent 12-bore boxlock non-ejector gun by Westley Richards, no. 5056 built for John Deeley was auctioned at the Bonhams auction 17947: Sporting Guns, 8 Dec 2010.

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Westley Richards, no. 5056, Courtesy of Bonhams
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Westley Richards, no. 5056, Courtesy of Bonhams
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Westley Richards, no. 5056, Courtesy of Bonhams
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John Deeley The Elder, From the Westley Richards Book ” In Pursuit of the Best Gun”

A phantastic Collectors item and a great piece of Firearms History!

Westley Richards also was a pioneer in the field of Single Trigger mechanism.

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From the Westley Richards Book ” In Pursuit of the Best Gun”

And the first 12 bore single –trigger boxlock ejector gun by Westley Richards no. 13337 was in the same Bonhams auction. The gun was completed in 1879 for John Deeley Junior (second son of John Deeley), and was the first to use the Westley Richards ‘one-trigger’ system. It was completed only three months after his father’s gun above.

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Westley Richards no. 13337, Courtesy of Bonhams

 

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Westley Richards no. 13337, Courtesy of Bonhams

 

Courtesy of Bonhams
Westley Richards no. 13337, Courtesy of Bonhams

Both inventions on a cutaway demonstration model showing the Anson Deeley Action with Single Selective Trigger:

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From the Westley Richards Book ” In Pursuit of the Best Gun”

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