Hi I found a Westley Richards falling block in a gun shop that is on consignment.
It is a 1873 Deeley & Edge patent, maybe was a 450 #2 ?
The shop says it is chambered for 348, win. ?
It is of little collector value, the but stock has been broken off and poorly reattached, customized, reblued and over buffed about 90%. The widow that owns the rifle wants $1,500.
I don't think it will bring anything like that. 
I think I would like to restock it, and shoot it.
I would appreciate  your thoughts on the value and the quality of the action.

Thanks Jim

Collectors not likely buy a rough gun at any price. There are a few English falling block enthusiasts that shoot the guns. Most active at the annual Vintage cup were I assist in the running target event. Even shooters don’t use guns that look bad, different from Schuetzen were a rifle is judged by its performance.

That leaves two possable groups of buyers. Someone who wants to restore of rebuild. Paying for the work you have restock, 1000 dollars absolute minimum, rebarrel 600 refinish 500 and the does the action need repair.  It’s easy to put 2500 dollars into a gun as you describe. Doing the work yourself 1000 dollars would be a cheap price. Job finished to still a rebuilt wreck .

It’s possable to buy a nice English falling block, not a perfect collector, shooter grade for 2-3 thousand dollars which to me makes buying a rough gun a bad proposition at any price. I am in the market for a shootable English single shot like that WR and would not consider one as you describe.

Other class of buyer, someone who makes expensive mistakes, only one likely to pay 1500 dollars.  

If you could do the stock work yourself and had a economical way to get rid of a poor caliber choice & switch to a proper English caliber, 500 or less for the action may be a reasonable buy. Ruger # 1 at $ 1000 or a English Gun well worn no mechanical issues at 2500 or less better choice. 

Boats 

I'm sure MartiniBelgian will weigh in on the virtues of the #2 Musket eventually.

I am no expert, but since nobody else answered.

Most of us can take Winchester Stevens Ballard Ruger etc single shots apart and put them back together. Pins springs hammers triggers etc are available from several sources old or newly made.  Good advice available on this forum. 

English guns another matter. Westley Richard made rifles for a very long time many variations.  English firearms noted for hand fitting. Parts rarely interchange. Few gunsmiths in America will work on English Shotguns the one that are competent, English trained. One I know won’t touch a rifle he’s shotguns only. 

Point is buying a rough English rifle has pitfalls. That’s why I am looking for one that’s suits my needs and ready to go no issues. About the only one I would want to tinker with is a Martini.

Boats

Desmoore, all the Deeley and Edge rifles work fine. They do extract and not eject although I suppose you could hold the barrel straight up and open the lever smartly and have the case fall out. The safety on the 73 being a rotary by the trigger is not so quick to operate. I think the 78 had the same. The 81 has a tang safety as does the most desirable the 97. Here's a thread on the 73 in 450 #2: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Huvius, you are so right. The 81 safety by the trigger slides instead of turns which is much quicker than the turning one on the 73. I must have been thinking about the 1902 Webley which even has an automatic safety which I always thought weird on a dangerous game rifle.

I cant pass this up.  In 1959, I bought a Wesley Richards double 12 gauge, damascus barrels, for ten dollars, shimmed up the latch with a piece of roofing tin, tied it to an old tire and test fired it with a long string.  I then took it and a box of low velocity loads to a rabbit drive and killed a dozen jack rabbits with it.  A screw loosened up and one of the hammers fell off during the drive so I finished with a "single shot".  I then sold it "as is" a couple of months later for twelve fifty.  Fun on a tight budget.

James

The years have dimmed my memory a little, but I believe it was a W. Richards, somewhat beat up.  But I made $2.50 on it!

James