W Richards percussion double

[thongg64]

have a percussion double W Richards looks to be an 8 ga and barrels are 40 inches long has a crown stamp with letters VMP maybe on underside and # 8 stamped on both barrels had a charge in 1 side blew it out looks for info and value will try posting some pictures later thanks

 

[Shine]

W. Richards is a Belgian knock off of Wesley Richards. NEED PICS

 

[robinghewitt]

W. Richards is a Belgian knock off of Wesley Richards.

Wesley Richards is the American spelling for Westley Richards. Probably and Ellis Island thing :idunno:

 

[satx78247]

Fwiw, "W. Richards" shotguns were PROBABLY made by Crescent Hardware Company's Belgian subsidiary.

yours, satx

 

[Shine]

Or an "I type worse than I spell thing". :grin:

 

[robinghewitt]

You take no notice, I get these smart ass attacks occasionally, it means nothing.

 

[Shine]

None taken. I'm a smart ass of the first order.

 

[George]

Squire, why don't you straighten us colonials up once and for all about the W. Richards thing? Whenever a gun with that label shows up the automatic response is always that it is a knock-off Belgian piece of junk, but I've seen info indicating that's not necessarily the case. There was an English company from 1780, W. Richards, making quality guns, which is still in business in Liverpool, wasn't there? William Richards, maybe? Cans't thou shed light?

Spence

 

[robinghewitt]

Whenever a gun with that label shows up the automatic response is always that it is a knock-off Belgian piece of junk

Hi Spence

Just because something is made in Belgium does not make it junk. I do believe that a lot of Belgian pieces have become junk by not being looked after, left to rust, repaired by idiots etc., but that is not the fault of the maker.

How many W Richards guns have I seen with English proof marks? None. With Belgian? Maybe 3 or 4.
I own Westley Richards sn:3503 which cost me all of £290 and is ff

I also own a gun marked W MOORE which is another guaranteed Belgian clunker name, only it isn't. It is undeniably English. Don't write things off too soon (unless you want to remove another bidder before he bumps your price up).

best

Robin

 

[Wes/Tex]

There's a W Richards located in Pocklington, York, North Yorkshire and noting "since 1780". Looks like we all need to rethink "W Richards" marked guns!! :thumbsup: :wink:

 

[Lorne Johnson]

W. Richards can mean a number of things (may of which tossed about above). Pictures of the Proof Marks would be the most helpful evidence for what is really going on with your interesting sounding gun. Squire Robin and Spence 10's posts are the most knowledgeable.

 

[DickS]

Pictures, particularly of the proof marks, would do a lot to establish origin.
Westley Richards is a famous maker; the spurious name guns likely were trying to capitalize on the name.
There were other W Richards, though. I have a British percussion stalking rifle which I suspect was William Richards. It is a very nice quality piece, not a knock-off.

 

[thongg64]

 

[thongg64]

 

[thongg64]

 

[thongg64]

 

[thongg64]

 

[thongg64]

 

[DickS]

While I cannot read the letters below the crowns in the proof marks, they, and the gun, look British. Not Belgian.

 

[George]

Checking the proof mark in "The Gun and its Development" by W. W. Greener, that seems to be the Guardians, Birmingham, "special Definitive proof of barrels proved once only, according to rule 6", and is "The Letters "VBP" interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Crown."

Spence