New Westley Richards 470NE on order, who wants to hear about it?

[Altitude sickness]

Several years ago a friend of mine needed support from a business he had bought 10s of millions in equipment from. He had a piece of equipment down and needed immediate support. They were less than supportive and complacent in ensuring his continued business.

He immediately went to the competitor and started the switch over to a different brand. And has since switched brands entirely.
Several million dollars lost in sales in one year.

To some people customer service is as important as quality. Or service during the sale.

 

[towserthemouser]

Yes, that's a pretty accurate description. And I hold no resentment or ill will at all; I think their guns are lovely.

 

[Rare Breed]

Wow, reason I went with Rigby was the WR delivery times. Congratulations.

Completely agree! To get a WR within a year means you should buy a lottery card given that kind of luck! Very excited for you and can’t wait to see both pictures of finished gun and you after taking your elephant with it!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

There was a post about the ultimate rifle recently.I didn’t reply to it . I will now, “any rifle made with Westley Richards wood”. Just look at the inside cover ad of any Safari Club Magazine if you need clarification!!!!! Like your wood - it’s simply amazing. Congratulations.

WR uses the gorgeous Tiger Eye on many of their guns

 

[VertigoBE]

Congratulations on this new double, I’m sure it will be a piece of art to treasure for a long time!

Now off to shopping for an elephant hunt! Such rifles deserve to be used well!

 

[7mmFan]

awesome story that you can treasure to go along with the rifle. thanks for sharing and enjoy the anticipation of having it in your hands.

 

[Creigh]

This is my dream rifle. I am not envious.

 

[towserthemouser]

Completely agree! To get a WR within a year means you should buy a lottery card given that kind of luck! Very excited for you and can’t wait to see both pictures of finished gun and you after taking your elephant with it!!!

LOL it wouldn't do at all for me to win the lottery; I'd be straight back over there to order one in every caliber, haha.

 

[towserthemouser]

WR uses the gorgeous Tiger Eye on many of their guns

Does Tiger Eye refer to the burl wood? Is that the same as Birdseye, with the little tight swirls?

I think a lot of the highly figured wood comes from the root portion of the tree instead of the part above ground that we see, although I am no expert.

 

[towserthemouser]

Congratulations on this new double, I’m sure it will be a piece of art to treasure for a long time!

Now off to shopping for an elephant hunt! Such rifles deserve to be used well!

Thank you! I'm hoping to meet some great PH's and outfitters at the upcoming SCI who can help me plan a great elephant hunt. I think many of us dream of big ivory...... I am hoping to walk and follow tracks and earn my trophy the old school way. I would love to be able to just stroke a check for access to an area with giant bulls, but I will need to consider budget and also how much time I can take off. And I hope to do it more than once......

 

[towserthemouser]

awesome story that you can treasure to go along with the rifle. thanks for sharing and enjoy the anticipation of having it in your hands.

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words

 

[towserthemouser]

This is my dream rifle. I am not envious.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rifle" It's right there in the Old Testament

 

[KIH]

Can the barrel handle solid bullets?

 

[towserthemouser]

Can the barrel handle solid bullets?

WR has agreed to regulate with North Fork SS softs and FPS solids, which is an all copper solid bullet. They will do pressure testing in the Proof House there in Birmingham.

I believe they are sourcing their barrels from somewhere in Germany, I'm not sure exactly which barrel maker. They said it's just too difficult as a small gunmaker to make a better barrel than the larger manufacturers who make a much higher volume of barrels. The barrels are the only part on the gun that is not made in house at WR.

I believe this is the case for Rigby as well, if not almost all the British makers.

 

[towserthemouser]

The rifle will have the WR "Scroll Back" action, which is scalloped and they say it permits a more rounded action that sits well in the hand. After we got home I had been perusing their website and had seen the scroll back on one of the Drop Lock guns; I was wistfully looking at it, but when I checked my quotation, I was delighted to see that my rifle has this feature.

Here is a link to an article with some photos showing the Scroll Back Action, in this case on a 470 Drop Lock. The pictures show the work required to fit wood to metal along a constantly curving surface. I think they're exceptional.


WR Scroll Back Action

And here is the scroll back on a vintage WR 476NE....

 

[UpNorthMI]

You only live once enjoy it! Looks like you will get an amazing gun, enjoy spending your hunting time with it.

 

[KIH]

It is not the individual barrel that is the problem, it is the soldering connecting the barrels that is the problem.

 

[KJE81]

Here is a link to an article with some photos showing the Scroll Back Action, in this case on a 470 Drop Lock. The pictures show the work required to fit wood to metal along a constantly curving surface. I think they're exceptional.


WR Scroll Back Action

View attachment 641190

And here is the scroll back on a vintage WR 476NE....

View attachment 641191

Are you going to have checkered side panels aswell?

 

[Nyati]

A great story, thanks for sharing !

 

[uplander01]

Well Done Sir. You can't take your money with you when you die, so don't leave a penny on the table.

If I had the jack to buy anything new and British, it would be from WR without a doubt.

Can't wait to here about when you get it and the hunt you take it on. Dream stuff brother.