Westley Richards hammer guns of the 1860s bridged the development in ammunition from pin-fire to centre-fire. After Daw introduced the centre-fire to the British market in 1861, it began to gain traction. I believe it stands for Wesley Richards. There is also a serial number of 57500 stamped into the underside of the barrel. There are no other markings that I can see. I believe it is from the early 1800's. The gun maker is based out of Birmingham, England, and still manufacturers guns to this day. Was it used in the. Double barrel Shotguns American Gun Company 12 ga. A Westley Richards Droplock.470 Nitro Express Double Rifle - Duration: 5:59. W&C Scott & Son Hammer sxs Shotgun - Duration. High-end Westley Richards shotguns for sale. Best Sidelock, SXS, Side by Side, Pair, Droplock, Small Action, Deluxe, 2 Barrel Set, Pigeon Gun, Fauneta, Custom, Pinfire, 10 Gauge Shotguns, 12 Gauge Shotguns, 16 Gauge Shotguns, 20 Gauge Shotguns, 24 Gauge Shotguns, 28 Gauge Shotguns.
Westley Richards Shotgun Values
W. Richards Double Barrel Breech-Loading Shotgun
..:: Thanks to the following Forums (and Google) for their help with my 'Wall Hanger' Research ::..
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..:: I have learned the following about my 'Wall Hanger' ::..
W. Richards was a trade name used on shotguns manufactured by Henri Pieper of Liège, Belgium and imported by large sporting goods distributors such as H. & D. Folsom Arms Company in the period 1860-1898. His company and its successors operated until the mid-1950. [REFERENCE: ONE]
H. & D. Folsom Arms Company was established in 1849 and distributed Birmingham and Belgian (citizens of Belgium) made firearms (including some marked W. Richards and T. Barker) under many trade names from 1880 until about 1932. [REFERENCE: TWO]
The Sept. 26 1889 issue of Forest and Stream Magazine (A Weekly Journal of the Rod and Gun) reported a test of H. & D. Folsom Arms Company's cheapest doubles and observed... 'W. Richards' that nonentity in the gun trade, was stamped on the plate, but they were really only those cheap bits of ordnance which come through our custom houses, pay a duty of 40 per cent., and yet may be placed on the counters of the gun shop at $5 a piece. Forest and Stream Magazine has already in past times expressed its opinion about these pestiferous products of the penurious population clustered on Belgium soil. [REFERENCE: THREE and REFERENCE: FOUR]
Synopsis of decisions of the Treasury Department and Board of U.S - Volume 2 - Markings of Guns - Treasury Department - September 25, 1891. '...you add that it has been the custom of manufactures to stamp fictitious names of individuals and other trade words, such as 'Richards,' 'Western,' 'U. S. Armes Co.,' etc., upon the lock plates or on the ribs connecting double-barrel guns imported at your port from Belgium; that a number of recent importations of guns from Belgium there is a conspicuous absence of any words to indicate the country of origin...' Page 1207-1208. [REFERENCE: FIVE]
If you have any thing to add (i.e., additional information, corrections, etc.) please don't hestiate to contact me via e-mail at W. Richards Research E-Mail
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Findings!
If you have any thing to add (i.e., additional information, corrections, etc.) please don't hestiate to contact me via e-mail at W. Richards Research E-Mail
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PROOF MARK: *Belgian CIRCA: 1810-1892 PROOF HOUSE: Liège, Belgium TYPE: Black powder proof for rifles REFERENCE: SIX and SEVEN
PROOF MARK: *Belgian CIRCA: 1853 PROOF HOUSE: Liège, Belgium TYPE: View stamp and inspectors mark for firearms 'Perron' REFERENCE: EIGHT and NINE
PROOF MARK: *Belgian CIRCA: 1852 PROOF HOUSE: Liège, Belgium TYPE: Provisional black powder proof for breech loading guns and rifled barrels REFERENCE: TEN and ELEVEN
PROOF MARK: AL ARMS MANUFACTURER: Could be the mark ofArnold Lochet (Liège, Belgium) REFERENCE: TWELVE, THIRTEEN and FOURTEEN
MARK: D LOCATION: Bottom of Barrel under Forend. According to my records - (D) could stand for Jean Delcour-Dupont de Nessonvaux (province of Liège, Belgium) or Jean Demarteau. [REFERENCE: E-Mail - 01MAY2014]
PROOF MARK: NM ARMS MANUFACTURER: Could be the mark ofMax Neumann (Liège, Belgium) REFERENCE: FIFTEEN, SIXTEEN and SEVENTEEN
INSPECTOR MARK: Star Over M
..:: Due to a fire all data on Belgium Inspector's marks before 1922 are lost. ::..
ONLY EXISTING RECORDS REFLECT: Couchant Louis (1923-1952), Scorpion Maurice (1959-1968) and Scorpion Maurice (1974-1990). REFERENCE: EIGHTEEN, NINETEEN and TWENTY
INSPECTOR MARK: Star Over N
..:: Due to a fire all data on Belgium Inspector's marks before 1922 are lost. ::..
ONLY EXISTING RECORDS REFLECT: Couchant Louis (1923-1952), Scorpion Maurice (1959-1968) and Scorpion Maurice (1974-1990). REFERENCE: TWENTY-ONE, TWENTY-TWO and TWENTY-THREE
Bore diameter in millimeters REFERENCE: TWENTY-FOUR
PROOF MARK: Coconut Palm Tree MANUFACTURER OF WEAPONS: Paul Scholber and Jouela & Silva Scholberg of Liège, Belgium REFERENCE: TWENTY-SIX 'Tree' on Lock Plate - According to Side by Sides of the World for Y2K, the W. Richards was an export from Belgium in the late 1800's. The gun has Belgium proof marks and a 'tree' stamped by the name on the side-plates. The significance of the tree is unknown. Guns of this type were listed in numerous dealer catalogs, including the 1887 Lamberson, Furman & Co. (out of Broadway New York) catalog. The price range at the time was $13 to $27.50. REFERENCE: TWENTY-FIVE
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Laminated Steel (Damascus Barrel) REFERENCE: TWENTY-SEVEN and TWENTY-EIGHT
* Belgian (citizen's of Belgium)
Need Help Identifying!
If you have any thing to add (i.e., additional information, corrections, etc.) please don't hestiate to contact me via e-mail at W. Richards Research E-Mail
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MARK: AT LOCATION: Bottom of Barrel under Forend.
BUTTPLATE: Deer Emblem Deer appears to be a Fallow Deer Buck. I noticed other similar rifles having different variations of deer - wonder why?