Single brass bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib with doll's head extension. The rib is marked "WESTLEY RICHARDS 23 CONDUIT ST LONDON GUNMAKERS BY APPOINTMENT TO HM THE KING". Two inches of the breech end of the rib is engraved with a floral scroll design, and there is a 1 1/4 inch wedge of the same engraving on the breech end sides of the barrels. 2 1/2 inch chambers, improved cylinder/improved modified chokes, and ejectors. The underside of the barrels are marked with the matching serial number, are nitro proofed, have various British proof marks and marked "WESTLEY RICHARDS/SPECIAL STEEL". The action is engraved with floral scroll designs with "WESTLEY RICHARDS" in a banner on each side. Directly ahead of the break lever is marked "WESTLEY RICHARDS/EJECTOR". The break lever has a woodcock in flight in a wooded scene, and the underside of the frame and the trigger guard also have a woodcock in flight in a wooded scene. Blue barrels, break lever, trigger guard/lower tang, casehardened remaining metal surfaces, double triggers, tang mounted automatic safety with gold "SAFE", and mounted with a nicely figured fancy bordered checkered walnut splinter forearm with contrasting forend and straight grip stock with 1 5/8 inch contrasting piece at the butt, checkered horn buttplate and a crown over an intertwined "SBM" inscribed gold initial shield. Comes with a leather and oak takedown case with brass corner protectors and leather straps and handle. There is a "PATIALA GUN CLUB" sticker on the outside of the lid and a Westley Richards label affixed to the inside of the lid. In the case are two nickel snap caps, a nickel Westley Richards marked oiler, two piece wooden cleaning rod, wooden handled screwdriver, a leather pouch containing four bore brushes, an empty glass container, box of flannelette patches, leather sleeves for the barrels and stock and cleaning rod attachments. Westley Richards factory records indicate that this shotgun was one of six .410s ordered and delivered to the Maharajah of Patiala in the 1920s as part of a total order valued at 4,079.00 pounds. These six .410s were “very highly finished” and originally “constructed specially for ladies use and length of stocks to suit the respective heights given,” 28 inch barrels choked cylinder/full, scroll and game scene engraving, and “ornamental checkered stocks” fitted with rubber pads of “perforated pattern.” Each gun was provided an oak and leather case, case cover, cleaning fittings, and cartridges. Sir Bhupinder Singh was the ruling Maharaja of Patiala beginning at age 9 in 1900 until his death in 1938 and lived an extravagant and flamboyant lifestyle few could emulate. He embraced modernity, especially aviation, motoring and Art Deco design. He was the first in India to own an aircraft. Within his palace garages were 44 Rolls Royce cars. A passionate cricket player, he played 27 first class cricket matches from 1915 to 1937. He owned a breastplate covered in 1,001 blue and white diamonds, which he wore naked once a year before his court to demonstrate his potency, and this man was potent. He sired 88 children (55 lived to adulthood) between his five wives and 350 concubines. He allegedly hired plastic surgeons to transform those he seduced into the European models he lusted after. His sensational sexual exploits earned him the nickname “His Exhausted Highness.”

Very fine as professionally refinished with 98% blue finish remaining on the barrels and 70% blue finish remaining on the break lever, underside plate and trigger guard, showing areas fading to a smooth gray patina. The action retains 95% bright case colors and the forearm hardware has a smooth gray patina. The stock shows 50% of the varnish remaining, and overall the wood shows only light handling marks and crisp checkering. The markings and engraving are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. The case is good with some scuffs and wear on the exterior and some of the interior material coming loose. Accessories are all very good.