Air pistols at the turn of the last century were mostly seen as toys for boys rather than capable weapons. The ‘Highest Possible’ showed the market that air pistols could be made well enough to be taken seriously and is credited by some as kick-starting the fashion for spring-powered air pistols that took place at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The design for the ‘Highest Possible’ came from the mind of a name well-known to Westley Richards aficionados. William Anson was the foreman of the factory when he and John Deeley devised what became known as the boxlock in 1875.
William Anson left Westley Richards in 1877 to start his own firm at 77, Slaney Street but maintained good relations with his former employer. We know this because he and John Deeley continued to register patents for several years after his departure, the last coming in 1883. William had nine children, of which his eldest son was Edwin Anson, born in 1863. He became apprenticed to Westley Richards while William was foreman and left at the same time as his father, at the age of fifteen.
Edwin eventually went to work for Cogswell & Harrisson and only returned to the family business after William’s death in 1889. Edwin took control in 1891 and changed the name to E. Anson & Co. around 1896 or ‘97. Like his father, Edwin clearly had an inventive mind and in 1907 this turned towards developing a new air pistol. He lodged a patent for it (No.24,837) on November 9th of that year and that marked the beginning of the short era of the Westley Richards ‘Highest Possible’, which lasted for only five years.
His new pistol design featured a pivoting pistol-grip, which acted as the cocking lever. In Anson’s design, the grip is pushed forwards to activate a long compression stroke, priming a powerful charge of compressed air. Westley Richards introduced the ‘Highest Possible’ to the catalogue in 1910 and discontinued it in 1914, with sales continuing through 1915. In total around 1,200 examples were sold. It remains a rare and sought-after collector’s item.
The 1912 catalogue shows the ‘Highest Possible’ priced at 35 shillings and available with a blacked finish or (like this one) nickel-plated.
These pistols have an overall length of 12 inches, with a 9 ½ inch barrel. The trigger has a spring-loaded sear and is adjustable for weight of pull. They weigh 2lbs 11oz and feel quite heavy and ill-balanced. Westley Richards claimed that the ‘Highest Possible’ handled like a Webley service revolver and was ideal for live-fire practice.
To operate the pistol, first deploy the spring-loaded lower grip extension. Next, release the breech-seal catch. This allows the grip to be pushed forward, cocking the pistol, which can then be loaded and closed.
In terms of power, the Highest Possible delivers 2ft/lbs of energy, pushing the pellet out at 330 fps, according to some modern testing data from vintage pistols.
That compares un-favourably with modern air pistols, for which 6ft/lbs is the legal maximum but is similar to many modern air-soft models designed, like the ‘Highest Possible’ for target practice rather than for engaging live quarry.
Edwin Anson died in 1936 aged seventy-three, having designed several more air pistols, including the ‘Anson Star’, which the Birmingham firm of A. A. Brown & Sons continued to make after Edwin’s death.
Edwin did make shotguns and they appear from time to time on the used market but he never achieved the status of his father in that regard.
However, among collectors of vintage air pistols his name is very well regarded and the Westley Richards ‘Highest Possible’ remains a ‘bucket list’ purchase for every serious aficionado of early air weapons.
Westley Richards has an outstanding reputation for supplying a comprehensive selection of pre-owned guns and rifles. We pride ourselves on our in depth knowledge of the many sporting arms built over the last 200 years, placing particular emphasis on big game rifles, like the 577 Nitro Express, 505 Gibbs and 425 Westley Richards. Whether looking to grow or sell your collection of firearms, or simply require a trusted evaluation, our team from the sales department would be delighted to hear from you. To view the latest available, head to the used shotguns and used rifles pages, and for those interested in new firearms, explore our custom rifles and bespoke guns pages.
