A Stunning Cased Pair of Westley Richards Officers Pistols. With octagonal sighted barrels, signed ‘Westley Richards’ in script song the top flats, engraved case-hardened breech blocks with single platinum line and platinum plugs, profusely engraved tangs incorporating rear-sights, border engraved locks, signed in script decorated with scrolling foliage, sliding safety catches, cocks decorated en suite, full-stocked in walnut cut with chequering at the grips, engraved steel mounts, all retaining original blue, butt caps with traps, fgolaite engraved trigger guards and ramrod pipes with captive ramrods. In original line and fitted mahogany case with all accessories including flask, mallet, bullet mould, the lid with trade label for ‘WILLIAM BISHOP AGENT TO WESTLEY RICHARDS, Gun Manufacturer by Special Appointment to HIS R. H. Prince Albert 170 New Bond Street, London.’ The exterior of the box with circular escutcheon engraved with an unidentified crest. A superb pair of cased pistols. 

Richards, William Westley & Westley (son) [1812-1872]

William Westley Richards was born in Birmingham, England in 1788 of a family of merchants and silversmiths. In 1812 he established a gunsmiths shop at 82 High Street, Birmingham, selecting his gunsmiths from the already thriving gun trade in Birmingham. His first production was high-grade flintlock fowling pieces. In 1813 he was an active petitioner in establishing the Birmingham Proof House through an act of Parliament. 

He had the foresight to realise that he had to have a London outlet for his firearms, as the London market was by far the largest, and also for possible export trade to the Continent.

He chose the most fashionable quarter of London, a street made famous as the resort of the luxury class to which his guns appealed. The establishment was opened in 1815 at the then numbered 170 Bond Street. 

A. Merwyn Carey (1954) English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers, Acro Publishing Company, New York. 

RICHARDS

William Westley Gunmaker, Birmingham from 1812. Retail shop (with William Bishop as agent) 170 New Bond Street.,1826-72; 25 Lawrence Pountney Street., 1853-5. Gunmaker to Prince Albert. Died 1865. Firm then run by son, Westley Richards. 

Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA. 

Dimensions:

Bore: 16 Bore

Barrel Length: 9.25 Inches (23.45 cm)

Overall Length: 14.5 Inches (36.83 cm)