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.
Simon Clode on July 6, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Thank you for your enquiry. The website gun dating is done by the book and as we have many books it is not possible to put a totally accurate database online, well it is possible but we don’t have the resources, labour wise, to create such a database. As such we are able to give an indication which I think is better than any other maker does and we offer a service to send a copy of the entry in the gun books etc. I am sure you are familiar with this, it involves a fee!
If you just want to get a date then it is best to call the office and see if they will look the number up whilst you are on the phone and give you a date, under normal circumstances they will. It will be a matter if they are serving customers and are near the record books.
With regard your second question, it would have meant our “Highest Quality” gun at that time, higher than 1st!
Thank You.
Gordon Kinder on July 6, 2014 at 2:45 am
5 July 2014
Dear Sir:
What is the completion date for your Westley Richards 12-bore gun bearing serial number “B6327”? Your on-line site “Gun Histories” page still provides just a broad range of estimated manufacture dates for a gun or rifles, and not a single “year” it previously provided the inquirer, before the site was completely updated. However, the inquiry system can provide no information for the aforementioned serial number. Once again, the aforementioned gun is currently on offer the last day of the current month with an auction house, and I am hopeful that serial number B6327, which is in excellent condition, is of pre-1899 manufacture. I collect solely pre-1899 completed guns.
Also, let me take this opportunity to ask a second question: Were your late nineteenth century guns rib-engraved “Highest Quality” meant to be a special quality range, or but similar to or describes a gun we would generally term “First Quality”? I have a fine, circa 1882, 10-bore gun (Apparently built for a “J.J. Gore, Chicago, Ill.,” which provenance is engraved on its escutcheon, who was an early and successful Chicago area capitalist and recognized sportsman.) so marked, serial number 13818, of exceptional quality overall, which is 100% engraved with fine English scroll and game scene vignettes.
Thank you for your response.
Best regards,
Gordon Kinder
USA
djama on April 25, 2014 at 2:54 pm
I have another request, would you allow me to use some photos for my article. I will be grateful.
Djamel
djama on April 25, 2014 at 2:51 pm
thank you for your reply, do you have pictures of these tools, it will help me perhaps be understood, because I’m not sure I understood everything
cordially
Simon Clode on April 22, 2014 at 8:14 pm
We do sell a tool to cock the locks, we have a version which we put in the cases with horn handle and brass blade. We can also supply a basic version with wooden handle and copper cocking blade. Alternatively you can use a piece of wood or softer metal, copper or brass. I have been meaning to do a video of “how to cock the locks” but have not got round to it yet. Let me know if you need help.
Simon