The .22 Savage Hi-Power cartridge was a popular chambering for hunting rifles in the 1920s and 1930s and found advocates around the world including the Reverend H.R. Caldwell who shot tigers in China and the famed elephant hunter W.D.M. (Karamojo) Bell who hunted Cape Buffalo in West Africa with this round. Whilst mostly associated with Savage-made lever rifles, some British gunmakers made light weight double rifles chambered for this high velocity cartridge. These are seldom encountered making this rifle a rarity amongst classic British double rifles. Manufactured in circa 1930, this rifle features blued chopper lump barrels with concave rib signed “WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO. LONDON”, the left tube engraved “FOR .22 HI-POWER CARTRIDGE” towards the breech, and each tube is engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end. Sighting comprising a ramp mounted bead front sight and matted quarter rib with express sight of one standing notch sight and four folding leaves each with platinum inlaid center line and graduated to 500 yards. Casehardened scallop-back treble grip action signed “WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO.” on each side, with blued removable firing pin bushings, blued toplever, cross pin, automatic safety, blued floorplate and trigger guard. The whole lightly engraved with classic English border and scrollwork. The underside of the barrels and water table struck with Birmingham nitro proof marks. Figured 14 3/8 inch walnut pistol grip stock with panels of multipoint checkering to the grip and forearm, the latter with Deeley and Edge fastener and dark horn tip. The butt with grooved horn buttplate and dark horn pistol grip cap engraved with scrollwork. The underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon and blued sling eye, the corresponding sling eye fitted beneath the barrel. Weight 7 lbs. 7 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

This small caliber double rifle is in very good condition with clear engraving throughout. The barrels retain 98% of their reblued finish with some storage blemishes. The action retains 20% faded original casehardened finish. Action floorplate with 95% original blued finish, trigger guard with 40% original blued finish. The stock has an older reoiled finish with well-defined checkering and some scattered storage and handling marks throughout, especially noticeable to the underside of the butt. Horn butt plate almost certainly later with some minor damage to surface. Mechanically excellent.