Westley Richards
Encyclopedia
Westley Richards is one of the oldest surviving traditional English
gunmakers. It was founded in 1812 by William Westley Richards
. Their inventions included the Anson & Deeley boxlock action
and the Droplock, which equals in status James Purdey's self opening and Holland & Holland
's removable locks.
They were the producers of the Enfield rifles, the British Army standard for many generations.
It still thrives as a family-run business, occupying the purpose-built gunmaking factory built around the turn of last century.
The firm's original factory in Bournbrook
, Birmingham
was recently demolished to make way for the Selly Oak Relief Road. The firm now has a new factory at 130 Pritchett Street, just outside the city centre of Birmingham
. Its double rifle
s are popular in the United States
among safari
hunters.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
gunmakers. It was founded in 1812 by William Westley Richards
William Westley Richards
William Westley Richards was a British firearms manufacturer.Richards was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England to Theophilus Richards and Mary Bingham....
. Their inventions included the Anson & Deeley boxlock action
Boxlock action
The boxlock action is a hammerless action of a type commonly used in double barreled shotguns, dating back to 1875. The boxlock action was developed by Anson and Deeley, based on the earlier Westly-Richards action. The boxlock action uses concealed, self cocking hammers in a break-open action...
and the Droplock, which equals in status James Purdey's self opening and Holland & Holland
Holland & Holland
Holland & Holland is a British gun-maker based in London, England. They offer hand-made sporting rifles and shotguns. H&H holds two Royal Warrants.-History:Holland & Holland was founded by Harris Holland in the year 1835....
's removable locks.
They were the producers of the Enfield rifles, the British Army standard for many generations.
It still thrives as a family-run business, occupying the purpose-built gunmaking factory built around the turn of last century.
The firm's original factory in Bournbrook
Bournbrook
Bournbrook is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Bournbrook is bordered by Selly Oak to the west and south, Selly Park to the east, and Edgbaston to the north. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line run along the...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
was recently demolished to make way for the Selly Oak Relief Road. The firm now has a new factory at 130 Pritchett Street, just outside the city centre of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Its double rifle
Double rifle
A double-barreled rifle or double rifle is a type of sporting rifle with two barrels instead of one, available in eitherside-by-side or over-and-under barrel configurations. Double rifles are one of the family of combination guns...
s are popular in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
among safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
hunters.