THE WESTLEY RICHARDS HAND DETACHABLE LOCK or 'DROPLOCK'
If anything typifies Westley Richards' gunmaking design, then it must surely be the Hand Detachable Lock or 'Droplock' action. Discovered as much by accident as intention the removable (hence detachable) seven part lock mechanism was, and still is, gunmaking in its very simplest form. Patented in 1897, only the look of the lock has really evolved to distinguish that of the shotgun from that of the double rifle. The shotgun lock has an integral hammer with striker (illustrated above) whereas the rifle lock uses a separate striker.
djama on April 22, 2014 at 8:03 pm
hello
I wanted to know if you sell the cap which helps to cocks the locks . if not, what do you advise me to use instead
thank you
cordially
Simon Clode on May 14, 2014 at 11:12 am
I will be doing a full post on this shortly. I have been travelling in USA and now back in UK will photograph and explain this process soon.
Thank You.
djama on May 14, 2014 at 10:18 am
hello
I wanted to know if you have pictures of the tools that helps to arm locks and explain how it works
thank you
Gordon Kinder on December 2, 2013 at 5:47 pm
2 December 2013
Mr. Clode:
Thank for your response. I have not revisited this site since my inquiry, which is the reason for my belated thank you. I look forward to the more exact date of completion for the gun bearing serial number 15744, but just knowing that it was completed pre-1899 is a great relief, and that information will allow me to bid on this gun on the Friday, 6 December.
The website is not yet responding as before, in that it is but providing a range of years and in so doing is not informing the inquirer of the actual year of completion for a given serial number associated with a particular gun, but anticipate that it will be functioning correctly soon.
Best regards,
Gordon Kinder
USA
Gordon Kinder on November 9, 2013 at 6:46 am
8 November 2013
Dear Sir:
This is to request the completion date for a 12-bore Westley Richards hand-detachable boxlock gun, serial number 15744, which currently is on offer with Bonhams Auctioneers, in their December sale. Your website used to very conveniently provide the specific year of manufacture, but it now provides but a broad range of years, which does not answer this very basic question. I collect Westley Richards guns though only those classified in the United States as “antique firearms,” which is any gun manufactured before 1 January 1899. Thus, the year of completion is especially important when I take a decision to purchase.
I know you have a research service that provides extended details of a gun’s build but I do not require anything more than the year of completion, so the rest would be superfluous, and most particularly since I do not own the gun. Nor will bid on it if not pre-1899.
I would very much appreciate knowing the completion date for serial number 15744, in order to take an informed purchase decision. Thank you for whatever information you can provide.
Sincerely,
Gordon Kinder