The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Weatherby

Drawing of a creek and cottonwoods on the plain near Sheridan, with the Bighorn Mountains beyond.
Drawing: Sheridan beneath the Bighorn Mountains.

Origins

Roy Weatherby founded the business in 1945.2 He opened Weatherby's Sporting Goods in a shop measuring 25 by 70 feet in South Gate, California.1 He set up the company to turn his ideas about rifle design and performance into practical firearms.3 In 1958 he introduced his own Mark V design.4

Ed Weatherby took over the business in 1983.5 Roy died in 1988, and his grandson Adam took over in 2017.6, 5 Weatherby opened its Sheridan, Wyoming, facility on 13 June 2019.7 In 2023 Adam described Weatherby as a family-owned US business.8

Factories and partners

Weatherby's first shop stood in South Gate, California.1 Weatherby later moved its headquarters from Paso Robles to Sheridan, Wyoming.9 According to a report on the 2019 opening, the Sheridan building houses offices, shipping, firearm assembly and finishing, a custom shop and ammunition loading.10 The report also describes two underground proof ranges on the lower level.10

Weatherby's first partnership with Fausti, for Athena D'Italia side-by-sides, dates to 2005.11 On 1 June 2007 Fausti Stefano Arms replaced New SKB as its Athena and Orion manufacturing partner.11 Weatherby's manual index labels Athena-Orion Over Under as Japan-printed 1998, and Orion Over Under and Orion Sporting Supplemental Instructions as Turkey.12 Weatherby describes SORIX models as crafted in Italy, with many hand-painted stocks finished in Sheridan.13

Timeline

1945

Roy Weatherby opens Weatherby's Sporting Goods in South Gate.1

1958

Roy introduces the Mark V bolt-action design.4

1969–1970

Weatherby introduces a shotgun in collaboration with Angelo Zoli.14

1972

Weatherby introduces the Patrician pump and Centurion .15

1982

The Model 82 semi-automatic and Model 92 pump replace the Patrician and Centurion.16

1983

Ed Weatherby takes over the business.5

1988

Roy Weatherby dies.6

1999

Weatherby returns to semi-automatics with the SAS.17

2005

Weatherby partners with Fausti for Athena D'Italia .11

1 June 2007

Fausti replaces New SKB as the Athena and Orion manufacturing partner.11

2007

Weatherby discontinues the SAS.17

2015

Orion return to the range.18

2017

Adam Weatherby takes over the business.5

23 January 2018

Weatherby announces the relocation of its manufacturing operations and headquarters to Sheridan.19, 20

13 June 2019

Weatherby opens its Sheridan facility.7

Families and models

Weatherby's early shotgun collaboration with Angelo Zoli dates to 1969–1970.14 The Patrician pump and Centurion semi-automatic followed in 1972.15 In 1982 the Model 92 pump and Model 82 semi-automatic replaced them.16 Weatherby returned to semi-automatics in 1999 with the SAS, which stayed in the range until 2007.17

The Orion over-and-under returned in 2015.18 The Orion I is a field and clay gun with gloss metalwork, glossy Turkish walnut and automatic .21 The Orion Sporting adds a four-way adjustable , ported barrels and extended .22 The Orion SxS has a straight English , and .23

In 2019 Weatherby's shotgun line included the 18i, Orion, Element and SA-08.2 The SORIX uses an , and its Shift System lets the owner move the charging handle to the left and reverse the .24, 25

Reading the names and numbers

In 2007 Weatherby offered Athena Classic Field Grades III, IV and V and Orion Classic Field Grades I, II and III.26 American Hunter described the Athena over-and-under of the time as mechanically the same as the Orion, with better wood and decorative .27 The D'Italia side-by-side range included the Athena, Athena PG, Athena Deluxe and Orion.28 The Athena PG had a and a ; the plain Athena had a and two triggers.28

Marks

The Orion over-and-under carries its and -length marks on the side of the top barrel above the chamber.29 Weatherby's notice for the SA-08 covers serial numbers AN00001–AN02802.30 An affected gun that Weatherby or a service centre has inspected or repaired carries a stamp inside the receiver behind the bolt.31 A W there shows that the gun has been upgraded.32

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Sources

  1. Weatherby company origins statement, South Gate shop. Weatherby. maker website
  2. Weatherby Welcomes Over 5,000 Visitors at Grand Opening, Family and product line. Weatherby via The Outdoor Wire, 2019. maker website
  3. Weatherby Orion over and under manual, Origins. Weatherby. manual
  4. Roy E. Weatherby biography, Mark V. Weatherby Foundation. maker website
  5. High Speed, High Class: The History Of Weatherby, Succession. Gun Digest, 2023. magazine
  6. Roy E. Weatherby biography, Roy death. Weatherby Foundation. maker website
  7. Weatherby Welcomes Over 5,000 Visitors at Grand Opening, Opening. Weatherby via The Outdoor Wire, 2019. maker website
  8. High Speed, High Class: The History Of Weatherby, Family ownership. Gun Digest, 2023. magazine
  9. Weatherby’s Monumental Move, Old and new headquarters. American Hunter, 2019. magazine
  10. Weatherby’s Monumental Move, Factory functions. American Hunter, 2019. magazine
  11. Weatherby Offers Enhanced Athena and Orion Over/Under Shotguns, Partners and dates. Weatherby via Gun Tests, 2008. maker website
  12. Weatherby owner’s manuals index, Orion labels. Weatherby. maker website
  13. Weatherby SORIX family page, Manufacturing. Weatherby. maker website
  14. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, First shotgun. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  15. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, Early repeaters and Olympian. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  16. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, Repeater replacement. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  17. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, SAS dates. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  18. Weatherby Bringing Back Orion Over/Unders in 2015, Return. American Hunter, 2015. magazine
  19. Weatherby relocates to Wyoming, Announcement date. Wyoming Business Council, 2018. maker website
  20. Weatherby relocates to Wyoming, Manufacturing and headquarters. Wyoming Business Council, 2018. maker website
  21. Weatherby Orion I product page, Orion I. Weatherby. maker website
  22. Weatherby Orion I product page, Sporting. Weatherby. maker website
  23. Weatherby Orion SxS product page, Stock triggers and extractors. Weatherby. maker website
  24. Weatherby SORIX family page, Action. Weatherby. maker website
  25. Weatherby SORIX family page, Shift System. Weatherby. maker website
  26. Weatherby Offers Enhanced Athena and Orion Over/Under Shotguns, Grades. Weatherby via Gun Tests, 2008. maker website
  27. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, Athena distinction. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  28. Admiring Weatherby Shotguns, Side by side names. American Hunter, 2010. magazine
  29. Weatherby Orion over and under manual, Barrel markings. Weatherby. manual
  30. Weatherby SA-08 28 gauge upgrade marking notice, Affected serials. Weatherby. manual
  31. Weatherby SA-08 28 gauge upgrade marking notice, Upgraded receiver. Weatherby. manual
  32. Weatherby SA-08 28 gauge upgrade marking notice, W meaning. Weatherby. manual

Revised 2026-10-14