Author Topic: Westley Richards Restoration (Read 9550 times)

Feltwad · « **on:** March 08, 2013, 11:32:30 AM »

Enclosed are a couple of images of a Westley Richards D/B percussion shotgun and case that I have just restored .The work on the Richards was only cosmetic with nothing structural but the case which was covered in grime this was cleaned and polished there was also some structural work consisting of loose joints and parts of the interior.
Feltwad

Cased Westley Richards

Original Oak Case

GrampaJack · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2013, 05:02:03 PM »

Very nice. Now all you need are some turn screws and oil bottle. Do you plan to have the barrels reproofed? Thanks for sharing. Jack

Don Getz · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2013, 05:57:20 PM »

Wow, what a pretty gun. When it comes to shotguns, it's difficult to beat that english stuff............Don

smart dog · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2013, 06:21:52 PM »

Hi Feltwad,
Beautiful gun and case! What do you suggest is the age of the gun? Also, were brass corner guards common on cases from that time period?

Thanks,

dave

Feltwad · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2013, 06:42:51 PM »

Quote from: smart dog on March 09, 2013, 06:21:52 PM

Hi Feltwad,
Beautiful gun and case! What do you suggest is the age of the gun? Also, were brass corner guards common on cases from that time period?
The age of the gun is in the period o 1830-40 has for the brass corners yes they were common also the carrying handle in the centre , later the carrying handle was situated on the ends
dave

Quote from: GrampaJack on March 09, 2013, 05:02:03 PM

Very nice. Now all you need are some turn screws and oil bottle. Do you plan to have the barrels reproofed? Thanks for sharing. Jack

Has this gun is more of a collectors piece with little use so will not see much work ,the barrel walls have plenty of thickness and the bore are clean so it would make a shooter but to be on the safe side if it was intended to be used regular it would be better to have them reproofed .
Feltwad

smokinbuck · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2013, 04:52:04 AM »

Feltwad,
I too have a Richards DB in 16ga with 36" tubes. It does not have the qualiity wood that yours has but otherwise they could be brothers. I do shoot mine and it may go after spring turkey with me. That is a very nice piece that you have.
Mark

Feltwad · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2013, 10:42:22 AM »

Smokinbuck
Does your Richards have a London address on the top rib .The reason I have asked because there was a William Richards of Liverpool that is easily taken for Westley Richards.Here in the UK we do not have turkey has a game bird , question what size shot do you use for turkey is it number 4 or larger such has BB.
Feltwad

smokinbuck · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2013, 05:53:24 PM »

Feltwad,
My shotgun is marked "fine twist" on the barrel rib and "W. Richards" on the lock plates. Perhaps I have a William and not a Westley. It does have the same browned damascus barrels as you show and is a pretty good representation. For turkey I will be using #4 shot in either one of my 16's or my 12 ga. Sometimes, depending on the anticipated range and cover, #4 and #5's are mixed. I use +/- 80-85 grains of FFg powder over a load of shot measured with the same charger and it comes out close to 1.25 ounces of shot.
Mark

Feltwad · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2013, 06:23:03 PM »

Smokinbuck

It seems you have a William Richards,what are the proof marks? If possible lets have some images of these plus the overall gun.
Feltwad

smokinbuck · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2013, 06:28:17 PM »

Feltwad,
I owe several folks some pictures but am having a problem with my camera. I will get some to you ASAP, probably a day or two.
Mark

T*O*F · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2013, 11:37:21 PM »

Feltwad,
Sent you a PM about a WR employee.

Feltwad · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2013, 12:50:29 PM »

T O F

Have returned a PM for you
Feltwad

FlintFan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:37:24 PM »

Where do you guys find these wonderful guns?!? Even at the antique gun auctions I browse through, guns like this never seem to come up.

smokinbuck · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2013, 04:43:53 AM »

Feltwad,
I can't post them but now have some pictures of the Richards double. If you send me an email I will forward them to you. It appears to be a Belgian proofed barrel with the typical E over LG in an oval. There are also a number of other markings on the barrel; 169, 3IH, LJM, JA1 and what look like superposed 3's. I suspect some of these are inspector marks. There are a few others that are not legible.
Mark

Feltwad · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:18:17 PM »

Smokinbuck
I am afraid what you have is a Belgium gun which has never seen W Richards workshop .These guns were made in Belgium and English gunmakers names engraved on them to export to the States because they sold better.If the barrels had been imported to England from Belgium they would have been proofed by London or Birmingham Proof House.
Feltwad

smokinbuck · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2013, 02:01:10 AM »

Feltwad,
You have confirmed what I actually thought and although there is a BIG difference in quality and value, for what I have in this one and the fact that it has been a shooter, I'm not terribly disappointed. I appreciate the information and enjoyed seeing your Richards.
Mark

nosrettap1958 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:58:33 PM »

I really enjoy seeing English double barrels. There is a great account of these guns being used in Africa in the 1840’s and 50’s by R Gordon Cumming. He mentions using his double barreled, James Purdey & Son, a William Moore, a John Dickson, (his favorite) and a Westley Richards. A well written account.

Feltwad · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2013, 09:39:22 PM »

May I take this opportunity and thank members of the ALR for their replies to the Westley Richards Thread which I hope they enjoyed.
Feltwad

Wolfeknives · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2013, 09:27:07 AM »

I too have a gun, or I should say part of a gun like the one that started this thread. The stock is broken at the wrist, with the butt missing. I have often wondered if it is worth while having it restored. It will never be a shooter, but could be a pretty gun. Does anyone know a gunmaker specializing in english guns?

Wolfgang

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2013, 07:39:33 PM »

Wolfeknives,

Before investing in the repair of the gun you probably should make certain the gun is worth it. The example early in this thread is a lesson in shotguns. There were thousands of W. Richards and other imitations of quality guns built in Belgium for the American Hardware store trade and very few Westley Richards or even William Richards (another quality English builder) guns. The W. Richards sold for prices like $3 to $8 when the guns they were imitating sold for hundreds or thousands. Generally the secrets of where shotguns were manufactured in Europe are disclosed in the proof marks which appear on the barrel flats on the bottoms of the barrels and on the mating surface (action flats or erroneously "water table"). A close up examination of these stampings is always a great start. One of the first things to learn is whether the gun is proofed for smokeless powder or just black powder loads. The working pressures a black powder gun is designed for is considerably less than those required for smokeless. Shooting commercial loads in such guns is not a great idea.

If you want to learn more I suggest you go to www.Doublegunshop.com and post photos there for examination. There are highly knowledgeable shotgun folks there, just as there are muzzle loader experts here and they will probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about your gun.

Wolfeknives · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2013, 09:15:05 AM »

Thank you for the advise. It makes no economic sense to restore the gun. It will be a wall hanger in it's present condition.

Wolfgang

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Author Topic: Westley Richards Restoration (Read 9550 times)

GrampaJack

nosrettap1958