Wesley Richards

[4V50 Gary]

A visit to the Wesley Richards factory where only 30 guns are made every year. Smoke fitting parts with extra metal removed with a chisel. Padded jaws for vise. That's more precise than a file. My neck hurts from watching it.

Like the 19th Century or early 20th Century, they're wearing long sleeves (rolled up) and ties which are covered with aprons (not everyone wears ties). Apprentices start by making their own tools which they will use in their trade. In making those tools they learn to use the milling machine (or what not). Like the Germans, they get a block of steel that everybody abuses and then the apprentice has to file it flat on all six sides (develop hand filing skills)

Note: Wood floors and where there isn't wood, rubber matts the employee stands on while he works. This prevents fatigue (I used to have one at school).

Tool storage in his box sucks. We couldn't do that.

They have CNC.

Timing of the ejectors so they both work at the same time. Wow! Never even thought of that.

Engraving is done pneumatically. He flicks the gold off (but I don't see what catches the scraps). He does both classical carved lines and Italian bulino (dots) style engraving. Engraving is closer to 18th Century than 19th Century. A pantograph is used to transfer the image onto the metal.

Color case hardening is done elsewhere (one block down) as is the bluing. They use a bunson burner to fire blue some smaller parts (trigger).

Jeweling (called spotting at Wesley Richards) is used not just for decorative purposes but also to help the parts retain oil and thus prevent rust.


https://youtu.be/saEDMMmMp2o?feature=shared