Nice Wesley Richards auctioned yesterday in US

[Abasmajor]

I love the evocative Victorian revolver look of the Non - Concentric Highest Possible which was the first Non-Webley air pistol I added to my collection.
A long time afterwards, I was fortunate enough to add the much rarer 'Concentric' model of which only 100 were ever made. To make sales seem better than they actually were, Westley Richards started at Ser No 1000, so 1055 was only number 55 from the production run. A few years ago, I was offered a Non-Concentric Highest Possible with the same Ser No as my Concentric which would have made a nice pair. If I didn't already own a nice Non-Concentric, I would certainly have gone for it, but decided to keep the one I already had rather than move it on.

Nice Non-Concentrics sell for £800-£1000 here in the UK with the Concentric model fetching nearer £,1500 if you can find one.





Brian

[Garvin]

Would it be fair to say you're quite proud of your concentric WR, Brian?

Quite right too, you should be! It's one of the few airguns I'd dearly love to add to my collection - although as you rightly say, the problem is finding one.

[45flint]

Attended the Ingvar Alm auction in 2019 and though I bought his Tell 3’s, I let this one go? Went for $3400 plus premium and you needed to want 3!?

[Garvin]

I know where they went! Unfortunately the new owner loves 'em.

I've asked, more than once...

[Abasmajor]

Attended the Ingvar Alm auction in 2019 and though I bought his Tell 3’s, I let this one go? Went for $3400 plus premium and you needed to want 3!?

Westley Richards and Cogswell and Harrison were acclaimed English sporting gun makers, so it's surprising that they felt the need to briefly dip their toes into the manufacture of air pistols. Although the Non-Concentric Highest Possible sold quite well, the Concentric had no chance of competing with the first Webley Mk1s introduced very soon after it first appeared on the market. Although more were made than the HP Concentric, the Cogswell and Harrison Certus also lost out to Webley, especially with the threat of patent infringement hanging over it.

Brian

[Abasmajor]

Would it be fair to say you're quite proud of your concentric WR, Brian?

Quite right too, you should be! It's one of the few airguns I'd dearly love to add to my collection - although as you rightly say, the problem is finding one.

Hi Danny,
For me, the attraction is towards items from low production runs rather than the even fewer lower number of prototype models. I normally have to like the appearance of any purchases, but I have made exceptions in the case of the Concentric and the Cogswell & Harrison Certus which wouldn't win any beauty prizes.

Brian

[Garvin]

Hi Danny,
For me, the attraction is towards items from low production runs rather than the even fewer lower number of prototype models. I normally have to like the appearance of any purchases, but I have made exceptions in the case of the Concentric and the Cogswell & Harrison Certus which wouldn't win any beauty prizes.

Brian

Your Anson Star is also extraordinarily rare, Brian.

[Binners]

I love the evocative Victorian revolver look of the Non - Concentric Highest Possible which was the first Non-Webley air pistol I added to my collection.
A long time afterwards, I was fortunate enough to add the much rarer 'Concentric' model of which only 100 were ever made. To make sales seem better than they actually were, Westley Richards started at Ser No 1000, so 1055 was only number 55 from the production run. A few years ago, I was offered a Non-Concentric Highest Possible with the same Ser No as my Concentric which would have made a nice pair. If I didn't already own a nice Non-Concentric, I would certainly have gone for it, but decided to keep the one I already had rather than move it on.

Nice Non-Concentrics sell for £800-£1000 here in the UK with the Concentric model fetching nearer £,1500 if you can find one.





Brian

A thing of beauty indeed, never seen one...

[Abasmajor]

Another example of a less than visually appealing early British spring powered air pistol which you really need to include in you collecction.



Brian

[Jerry Cornelius]

Another example of a less than visually appealing early British spring powered air pistol which you really need to include in you collecction.



Brian

I understand the historical appeal but I have never liked the look of these. They look like something I might knock up on the shed with a hacksaw and a few files.

Whereas the concentric WR I would sell a kidney for.

[Binners]

I understand the historical appeal but I have never liked the look of these. They look like something I might knock up on the shed with a hacksaw and a few files.

Whereas the concentric WR I would sell a kidney for.

Same here JC

[Abasmajor]

I understand the historical appeal but I have never liked the look of these. They look like something I might knock up on the shed with a hacksaw and a few files.

Whereas the concentric WR I would sell a kidney for.

The Walther LP53 owes much to the Lincoln for its success, so I would agree you have to own one in recognition of its part in air pistol development.

Brian

[Abasmajor]

Some more pictures of the WR Highest Possible which to my mind was a retrograde step from the Non-Concentric being smoothbore with fixed sights.









Brian

[ptdunk]

I understand the historical appeal but I have never liked the look of these. They look like something I might knock up on the shed with a hacksaw and a few files.

Whereas the concentric WR I would sell a kidney for.

Me too...
As a bit of a pistol collector I should really have one of these but I just can't bring myself to like them, and they are not cheap.

Protek have a nice one and I love their description:

'' This is a highly regarded collectable item, not sure why as it’s as ugly as sin! Certain aspects of it are not actually very nice! .....Have not got one in our own collection, particularly want one which is why we are selling this one…''

In between that they do go into why it is so important.... got to admire their honesty though,

Matt

[Jerry Cornelius]

Me too...
As a bit of a pistol collector I should really have one of these but I just can't bring myself to like them, and they are not cheap.

Protek have a nice one and I love their description:

'' This is a highly regarded collectable item, not sure why as it’s as ugly as sin! Certain aspects of it are not actually very nice! .....Have not got one in our own collection, particularly want one which is why we are selling this one…''

In between that they do go into why it is so important.... got to admire their honesty though,

Matt

I love proteks descriptions. They call a spade a spade.