Westley Richards hammer fired 16ga SxS

[AER244]

Do any of you all know anything about old Westley Richards shotguns? I just stumbled across this one and am considering buying it. The barrel looks to be heavily patinated Damascus? The gentleman selling it said he thought it was modern ammo safe, but I have my doubts. Any information is appreciated.

 

[WoodsCraft]

Its generally not considered safe to use smokeless loads , before I shot the old gun even with black powder I would take it to a knowledgeable smith who can inspect the bores for pitting and make sure there is no kind of delaminations .

 

[mtngunr]

Ditto on looking for fissures in bore, but WR used no second rate Belgian damascus and knew what they were about. Folk in the UK continue to successfully submit quality damascus for proof testing, and if mirror bores and chambers I'd shoot it without hesitation. Be aware it was chambered for brass and paper shells using a brass crimp or paper roll crimp, and likely not room for modern plastic stab crimp to unfurl without intruding into throat, partially blocking and raising pressures, and so chamber would likely (if not done already) need lengthening for plastic shells, and shoot loads truly equiv to BP pressure...and, of course, ZERO steel.
Be sure to tap upper/lower ribs listening for dead/loose spots.
Nice old guns can also be a money sucking black hole if stock head oil soaked and crumbling under locks and around tang out of sight. If you don't know what your are doing, best to pass. You might check for smokeless proof marks if considering modern shells.

 

[dennishoddy]

European 16 ga shells are 2 1/2” long so if one could find those, the chamber length may not be an issue if it is indeed safe to use modern ammunition.

 

[mtngunr]

European 16 ga shells are 2 1/2” long so if one could find those, the chamber length may not be an issue if it is indeed safe to use modern ammunition.

Yes, 12ga and 16ga, 2.5", but still would likely need roll crimped unless chamber lengthened. It likely late 1800s gun, designed around shells and loads of that time, and not today's, especially US loads of ever heavier shot loads to make up for poor shooting and poorly patterning guns. Choke didn't hold up forever in damascus, either.

 

[mtngunr]

I took the OP at his word that it was a Westley Richards, but struggling to view larger photos on phone where images zoom around on attachments, I suspect that a common knock-off, as WR started in Birmingham then opened a Bond Street office in London, ribs were engraved "Westley Richards" and not W. Richards.