The new over & under project was long in the development stage and longer in the prototype testing stage. Not until we were 100% sure that every aspect of this new model was perfect and entirely reliable did we begin taking orders for new bespoke builds from customers.
Other gunmakers have taught us that introducing a new model can be a recipe for a huge amount of financial and reputational pain. Customers spending tens of thousands of pounds on a new gun do not enjoy bringing it back for design faults to be rectified and gunmakers soon see profits disappearing into this kind of post-sale repair.
Westley Richards decided to perfect and refine the best of Britain’s classic, tried and tested over & under designs and based the new gun on the 1913 Woodward & Hill patent. With a dedicated team of our best gunmakers assigned to the project, two solid seasons of hard testing in real driven shooting conditions using prototypes, and clear-eyed reflection and focus on ironing out every tiny flaw, we were ready to begin production proper.
These guns were always about quality and design integrity. Nothing would be left to chance, no corner cut and no compromise allowed to reduce the price. The aim was to make the best over & under gun in the world and the price would be what it had to be.
Westley Richards customers are a discerning and astute collection of successful and interesting individuals. It was no surprise that, when they were told of the over & under project, many signed up immediately. In fact, many had been asking for years when we would build them an over & under.
The 12-bore proved a mighty success and set new standards of quality, elegance and reliability for bespoke British over & under side-locks. However, our American customers are well known for their love of smaller bores and a 20-bore over & under makes, in the opinion of many, the most elegant and practical game gun of them all.
Here, we have photographs the first 20-bore over & under to leave Pritchett Street since the new line of over & unders replaced the ‘Ovundo’ model of the previous era. The quality grade is what we call ‘Modele de Grande Luxe’, a term which has long been used here to describe our best gun with a special grade of engraving, finish and wood, elevating it beyond the requirements of the finest game gun that can be made and adding higher levels of artistry and embellishment. These guns are embodiments of the highest grade of presentation or exhibition gun.
The specifications, however are entirely practical. The gun weighs a perfect 6lbs 9oz, with 29” barrels, fitted with Teague multi-chokes proofed in Birmingham to ‘70mm Superior’ proof. It has a flat-top rib and non-selective single-trigger. The action and locks are engraved by Florian Gullert with deep foliate scrolls, woodcock, partridges and water fowl.
Those with a keen artistic eye will notice the subtle shoulders to the bar, the elegant and discreet WESTLEY RICHARDS name in a scrolling banner along the radius, the balanced, fluid growth of the lock-plate into the stock wood and the graceful framing panel and drop points. All of these subtle details conspire to create supremely beautiful lines running through the gun with a level of elegance rarely seen.
The exhibition grade stock with its natural horn grip cap, heel and toe plates, and modified Prince of Wales grip is complemented by an equally svelte forend, each section of walnut featuring perfectly bordered fine chequer panels and our best hand-rubbed, high-gloss, oil finish.
The gun benefits from the shallow action, which 20-bore barrels allow. This promotes a long-looking, racy, perfectly proportioned game gun with handling characteristics most sportsmen can but dream of. There may be a better-looking, sweeter handling, more reliable, best quality, hand built, 20-bore sidelock ejector somewhere in the world.
The challenge now is to find it; because we have yet to see one. This, we sincerely believe, is the new standard by which all modern over & under game guns will have to be judged.
Whether for the discerning collector or the avid sportsman, Westley Richards firearms represent the epitome of excellence in the world of bespoke gunmaking. Known for the droplock shotgun, over and under shotgun, double barrel rifle and bolt action rifle, the company has achieved an illustrious 200 year history of innovation, craftmanship and artistry. As part of our best gun build, clients can choose from three levels of gun engraving: the house scroll; signature game scenes; and exhibition grade masterpieces. All Westley Richards sporting arms are built at their factory in Birmingham, England. Discover more about the gunmaking journey at our custom rifles and bespoke guns pages.
