2204

GOOD 577 BPE BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE BY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
GOOD 577 BPE BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE BY

WESLEY RICHARDS WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES ONCE THE PROPERTY OF CAPT. ROBERT ARTHUR WARD OBE, 2ND SON OF THE 1ST EARL OF DUDLEY.
Cal. 577 2 3/4" BPE. S# 14696 (1893). The 28 1/8" fine three stripe Damascus barrels are engraved "Wesley Richards 170 New Bond St London" "For 577 Express Cartridge" on deeply swamped rib. Barrels are fitted with island rear boss with dolls head extension, small island base for one standing two nested folding leaf "V" notch rear sight and another island base at muzzle for silver bead front sight. Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham black powder proofs for 577 Express. A sling eye is fitted to square base. Case hardened boxlock Anson and Deeley patent action (use number 10100 on watertable) is fitted with bolted non automatic safety ("SAFE" and "BOLTED" in gold), patent third fastener, rectangular striker bushings and double triggers. Action is engraved with near full coverage well cut shaded scroll. "Wesley Richards" is on scrolled ribbon on each side. Top lever pivot is engraved "PATENT EJECTOR". Blued top lever and floorplate are engraved with matching scroll. A prowling lion is on trigger guard bow; S# is on tang which extends to engraved steel grip cap. Well marbled and stump figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14 1/2" over basket weave solid red Pachmyr pad. Stock features checkered side panels with drop points, point pattern grip checkering, double shadow line small right hand cheekpiece, vacant silver oval and sling eye. Matching splinter Deeley ejector forend with horn tip has Deeley release. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2 1/2". DAC: 1 3/4". CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 14 1/2". WEIGHT: 10 lb. 4 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rifle is housed in its original Wesley Richards type oak and leather case with brass corners embossed "HON. R. A. WARD." on top. Interior is lined in green cloth and has three paper Wesley Richards labels in lid, one central, with Prince of Wales plume, two flanking labels give instructions; one for loading the other for cleaning. Bottom compartment has space for rifle and accessories. They include cleaning equipment, a brass bullet mould marked "577" with base plug and hollow pointing pin, a powder measure for 160 grs. and a set of reloading tools housed in a covered compartment. Tools include brass capper/decapper by Hawksley, along with sizing and bullet seating dies, punches, etc. Also included are handwritten notes outlining loading data and a brief history of R. A. Ward. CONDITION: very fine. Barrels retaining over 90% good quality old rebrown over some scattered light pitting. Action retains traces of original case hardening color where protected. A considerable amount of original blue remains on top lever, floorplate and trigger guard. Stock retains nearly all of a light oil refinish, checkering recut. Metford rifled bores are truly fine, bright sharp and shiny throughout. Action is tight, barrels are on face, ejectors are in time. Case leather is quite dark and has a vast number of marks, scrapes and rubs (handle is missing). Interior cloth is good to very good, labels are considerably foxed and lightly soiled. Accessories are fine to very fine. Short handle of cleaning rod missing. R. A. Ward was born in 1871 the 2nd son of William Ward the 1st Earl of Dudley. The second son traditionally joined the armed services. Robert served in Africa during the Matabeleland Campaign (Rhodesia) and the Boer War between 1901-02. He also fought in the 1st World War where he was awarded the Legion of Honor. He was invested as an officer, O.B.E. in 1919. (01-22300/MGM). ANTIQUE. $8,000-12,000.