RARE*ONE Of ONLY 1200*MATCHING NUMBERS*POSSIBLE FACTORY SPECIAL ORDER WALNUT GRIPS*British Westley Richards & Co Ltd 2nd Variant Large Frame ‘Highest Possible’ .177 Calibre Air Pistol. Sn 23656 air pistol .177

*RARE*ONE Of ONLY 1200*MATCHING NUMBERS*POSSIBLE FACTORY SPECIAL ORDER WALNUT GRIPS*British Westley Richards & Co Ltd 2nd Variant Large Frame ‘Highest Possible’ .177 Calibre Air Pistol. Sn 23656 - 23656

This is an excellent rare to find Westley Richards & Co Ltd ‘Highest Possible’ .177 Calibre Air pistol. It is the 2nd variant (1st variants had smooth horn grips and a void heart shaped section in the grip frame, see pages 245-246 0f Air Pistols by Dennis Hiller later variants including the 2nd type are found with chequered vulcanite grips). Manufactured by Westley Richards of London, Patented in 1907 and manufactured between 1909 to late 1914, the design was patented by E. Anson, a relative of W. Anson of the well-known partnership Anson & Deeley. Westley Richards is one of the oldest surviving traditional handmade gun and rifle makers in England. Founded over 200 years ago in 1812, in Britain’s historic gun-making capital of Birmingham, this air pistol is “the key contributor of the British air pistol revolution during the early 20th century”. The quality of the pistol was such that air pistols could no longer be considered children’s toys. Prior to this, the air pistol market was dominated by importers such as Germany and the USA. This pistol is one only approximately 1200 manufactured making this a scarce collectable air pistol. The pistol is crisply stamped ‘WESTLEY RICHARDS “HIGHEST POSSIBLE” AIR PISTOL together with crisp ‘PATENT 24837 1907’ on the frame. The trigger, trigger guard frame and front of the action have matching number ‘95’. The pistol has undamaged smooth walnut grips which are undamaged (possibly a custom bespoke Westley Richards order which they are known to have produced). It has a 9 ¾ “rifled barrel and is 12 ¼” overall length. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation only and its fore sight is a blade on the fore end barrel block. The pistol’s barrel and cylinder section are released for concentric action cocking by operation of a steel sprung lever on the rear grip frame of the pistol and cocking is assisted by a small folding lever on the back of the grip frame which when folded out assists leverage during the cocking action. The pistol cocks and fires with a strong spring action. The price for this very rare sought after collectors piece includes UK delivery. Sn 23656

£1,275.00