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LOT 1411
Westley Richards Bolt Action Magazine Dangerous Game Rifle in .425 Magnum
Express - Serial no. LT41818, 425 Magnum Express cal., 28 inch round bbl., black finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1927.
Built with a blued barrel which features a beaded blade fore sight with flip-up moon bead and hood, five-leaf (one standing, four folding) island
style rear sight graduated to 500 yards, front sling eye, and the engraved “WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co. LONDON.” signature on the top. The barrel is fitted
to the Mauser type controlled round feed action which is marked “WESTLEY RICHARDS/.425 MAGNUM/EXPRESS” on the left of the matted front bridge, and features a blacked bolt with
hard rubber knob. The serial number prefix “LT” is a nod to Leslie Brown Taylor, inventor of the Westley Richards .425 Magnum Express cartridge and its rebated rim feeding system which is
present on this rifle. The rifle has an extended magazine box with rotary release and a horn front section. The rifle is fitted with a nicely
figured and multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with horn tip, horn grip cap, blank inscription oval, rear sling eye, and a Silver’s
type recoil pad.
CONDITION: Very good overall as period refurbished, retaining 85% black finish turning brown on the barrel, mild handling evidence,
a few small areas of spotting and rubs, some loss of the recoil pad at the toe, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1410
Very Fine Engraved British Hussey Ltd.
Retailed Birmingham Small Arms Co. Lee-Speed Bolt Action
Sporting Rifle in .303 with Harris Patent Magazine - Serial no. J.983,
303 British cal., 24 5/8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut stock. Manufactured
c. 1892-1930s. Offered here is an attractive example of a BSA Co. Lee-Speed sporting rifle, featuring Enfield
pattern 5-groove rifling, a tang mounted manual safety, fixed floorplate and internal Harris patent magazine
with a lever on the left of the forend that lowers the magazine follower to allow cartridges to be loosely dumped into the
magazine, and once the lever is released the follower raises under spring pressure to bring the cartridges into battery, with a
manual magazine cutoff on the right of the receiver. This magazine system was invented by Henry Harris of Congleton, in the county of
Chester, England. “LEE-SPEED/PATENTS/B.S.A.Co/J.983” marked receiver socket, “HUSSEY Ltd. 88. JERMYN STREET LONDON. S.W.” retailer
address on top of the barrel along with “FOR CORDITE” on top of the breech area, and “HARRIS MAGAZINE/PATENT No 10239/No 30” on
the floorplate. Beaded blade front sight and one standing/two folding leaf and adjustable ladder notch rear sights. Floral pattern border
engravings across the receiver, floorplate, and buttplate. Fitted with a horn tipped multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap, steel trap buttplate, and blank silver initial oval.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus faded original blue finish, with areas of smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, and absolutely crisp engraving and markings. Stock is also very fine, with defined edges, some light
handling marks, a few small cracks at the toe, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An attractive example of a Lee-Speed sporting rifle!
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1409
Scarce John Rigby & Co. Big Game Bolt Action Dangerous Game Rifle in .416 Rigby with Case - Serial no. 6051,
416 Rigby cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1956 according to Nigel Brown’s “British Gunmakers Volume One: London”
and is one of reportedly less that 200 .416 bore rifles made by Rigby between 1939 and 1984. This rifle is the same era rifle that Harry Selby purchased after his double
rifle was smashed by a lorry on a hunt. Robert Ruark would go on to write about Selby in his books and Selby’s rifle, forever cementing the .416 bore, and Selby, in African safari lore.
Built with a blued barrel featuring a sleeved on ramped fore sight with period Rigby forward folding sight protector, three-leaf (one standing, two folding) express rear sight with platinum
centerlines on Rigby’s distinctive quarter rib, “John Rigby & Co. 32 King St. London SW” (address from 1956-1963) signed on the top, and period London nitro proof marks on the left of the
chamber area. The barrel is fitted to the standard length Mauser action with Rigby’s straddle floorplate with brop belly magazine, and inside-the-bow release. The action is marked “RIGBY/.416/
BIG GAME” on the front bridge and matching serial numbers on the left of the front bridge, the bolt handle, and trigger guard along with partial number “51” on various components. The rifle is
fitted in a nicely figured and multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with Rigby’s unmistakable shape, a single recoil bolt, blued steel trapdoor grip cap containing a spare front sight blade, “BD”
in the gold inscription oval, and a Silver’s type recoil pad. Included is a period full length
green canvas flat case with maker’s interior label. Length of pull 14 1/2 inches. Weight
9 lbs. 4 oz.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% blue finish with light handling evidence, some
wear to the recoil pad toe, and sharp checkering on the stock. Mechanically excellent.
The case is good. This is a great opportunity to own a classic Rigby to take on your next
dangerous game safari!
Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000