WESLEY RICHARDS DROP LOCK ACTION. Cal. 500 Nitro Express. S# 500 P1. Trained in Birmingham, Nicholas Makinson moved to Canada in 1982 and established his gunsmithing business. Known for his excellent barrel work and mechinist skills, he died in 2021. This rifle appears to have been built on a salvaged Wesley Richards detachable lock action. The 24" barrels appear to have utilized the Wesley Richards breech section as a monoblock. Joints are almost invisible, and breech ends have been welded, so no line is visible. Barrels are fitted with a file-cut quarter rib holding one standing and one folding leaf express rear sight. The front sight ramp holds a bronze bead with a flip-up night bead. The tops of the barrels are engraved with caliber and "Nicholas J. Makinson & Son" on the right barrel and "Howell Michigan" on the left. No proofs or other marks are present on barrel flats. The coin-finished boxlock type action has Wesley Richards detachable locks (patent use #3539) under the removable floorplate. Action features: pivoting third fastener, non-automatic safety, and Wesley Richards single selective trigger. Action has had side bolsters added for increased strength. Bolsters and fences are well-filed in ribbon form. Action is engraved with near-full coverage and a varying-size shaded scroll surrounding the maker's name in ribbon on the sides. The floorplate has a scroll at the bottom as a counterpoint to the face of the charging rhino with silver inlaid horns (no engraver's signature is found). The trigger guard with a scroll on the bow has an S# on the tang that extends to the scroll-engraved steel grip cap. The classically styled pistol grip buttstock of very nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut measures 15-1/8" over a red decelerator pad. Stock features a shadow line right-hand cheekpiece and traditionally done point pattern checkering at the grip. Matching broad-splinter Deeley ejector forend has Deeley release. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: approx. 2-1/2". DAC: approx. 1-3/4". CAST: about 5/8" off. LOP: 15-1/8". WEIGHT: 11 lb., 8 oz. CONDITION: very fine, "near new" as custom built with only some scattered handling and assembly marks in all finishes. Action is tight. Bores are bright and shiny. Mechanically fine. Ejectors in time. The trigger appears to work well. A good-handling rifle, ready for Africa. (23-5415/MGM). CURIO. $7,000-10,000.