Westley Richards Five Shot Percussion Revolver, Fine & Rare. Ref 9241

A Fine & Rare 80 Bore Westley Richards 1852 Patent Five Shot Self-Cocking Side Hammer Percussion Revolver. 10 ½” overall, 4” octagonal sighted rifled 80 bore barrel, top strap engraved ‘WESTLEY RICHARDS 170, NEW BOND ST., LONDON (PATENTEE)’, engraved with a band of foliage at the muzzle, London proof marks, blued top strap secured by a blued pivot catch. Plain cylinder with angled nipples, hinged arbor pin catch, border engraved case hardened action decorated with foliate scrollwork on the left side, foliate scroll engraved side hammer with lead filled gravity safety stop. Blued trigger guard en suite with the action numbered ‘43’. Case hardened ovoidal butt cap with hinged circular butt trap cover engraved with scrolling foliage, broadly chequered figured rounded butt with spur.

Serial number 43 for 1852.                                                                                              

Very rare revolver in good condition, retaining much of its original finish, bore very good. action works as it should.

This revolver incorporates Westley Richards British Patent No. 14027 of 20 March 1852 & is thought to be the earliest of only about 300 that were produced.

See ‘The Revolver 1818-1865’ by Taylerson, page 297, pl.34;   ‘Pistols of the World’ by Claude Blair, page 139, plate 652. ‘Westley Richards Percussion Revolvers’ by Doug Nie ‘London Arms Fair Guide, Spring 1978’.