Shell of variable size and outline (65 to 120 mm), elongate-fusiform or stout-ovate, of solid structure. Surface shiny, almost smooth, sculptured solely by axial growth wrinkles. Spire of moderate height with slightly angled whorls. Protoconch with mean diameter of 9-12 mm, dome-shaped, 3.5 convex whorls, faintly cancellate, bearing sharp calcarella. Protoconch-teleoconch transition very gradual. Suture impressed. Teleoconch of 3 to 4 convex whorls, with gently curved shoulder and subsutural zone slightly depressed. Aperture long, narrow. Outer lip smooth and simple, solid and thick. Columella straight with 4 strong plaits, the 2 abapical plaits very oblique. Siphonal notch deep. Fasciole present. Background colour cream, overlaid by orange-red or rusty pattern of zigzag axial stripes, forming more or less open tentlike markings, crossed by 4 spiral rows of indistinct marks, often fusing into continuous bands. First 2 nuclear whorls and calcarella rusty orange, subsequent whorl white.

Some squat-sized specimens of V. hargeavesi present the same stout outline as V. coniformis, but the latter has a dull reticulated surface with spiral lirae, a protoconch with radiate lirae, and a less defined tent-like pattern. Elongate specimens recall V. grossi but that species differs by its arch-shaped reddish protoconch with prominent calcarella of the same colouration, red body whorls with a smooth glossy surface and very oblique columellar plaits. Some rare dwarf specimens are confused with Notovoluta capricorneus (Wilson, 1972), which differs by a larger, smooth dome-shaped protoconch without calcarella.
Volutoconus hargreavesi is very polymorphic in outline, varying continuously from squat to fusiform. No consistent relationship between location and shape can be pointed out, and this also holds with the depth. The population from Broome and north from there however tend to be more squat than the southern population, though long narrow specimens from that region have been trawled in deep water.

Subsequently designated by Weaver (1960) Bezout Island, Dampier Archipelago, North Western Australia.
RANGE
From off Lacepede Island south to Exmouth Cape. Some dead shells are reported from further south off the Alho-bros Islands and north of the Bonaparte Gulf.
HABITAT
Between 100 - 250 m deep on sandy substrates.