Further to the legend of Frederick Williams shotguns: Frederick Williams started making premium quality hand built shotguns in Birmingham, circa 1881. In 1886 he moved his business into an imposing three story building at 32/33 Weaman Street in the Saint Mary's District, the heart of the Birmingham gunmakers quarter, not far from the noted gunsmiths' public house known as the Green Man. Mr. Williams advertised himself as a "specialist in English hand made shotguns." He appears to have produced a large number of top quality doubles, both boxlocks and side locks. Frederick Williams sold shotguns to the public from his Birmingham works and at one point also maintained a retail gun shop in London. However, most of the shotguns produced by Frederick Williams were marketed by London gunmakers under their own names, or by provincial retailers, once again, under their own names. Such was the quality of the Williams products that many of the most prestigious English makers were proud to sell them alongside their own best guns. Thus today classic side-by-sides bearing the inscription, "Fred'k Williams*" are a rarity. (*note the apostrophe used in abbreviating the name Frederick). The Great Depression and the Second World War devastated the British gunmaking industry and ultimately destroyed the British Empire. The last known Frederick Williams shotgun was proofed at Birmingham in 1950.
On Saturday March 21, 2009 at 10:30AM the Society for the Preservation of Frederick Williams Shotguns will meet informally at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in Coplay, Pennsylvania. Interested enthusiasts are welcome to gather, chat and/or shoot.
J.K.B.
You expecting a big turn out ?
Are you kidding me Joe there's warning all over the area that traffic will be nothing but gridlock for those few days, 'stay home don't come out" and the bars are already being warned to close early in case all those collectors do what they did last year and rip up the place!!
Just having a little fun but on the serious side can we investigate who built these shotguns without someone getting all pissed off about it???
Fred Williams made a lot of mid-quality guns but he certainly made some very nice ones too. I occasionally encounter a Fred Williams hammer gun with a great deal of quality in it dating back to his early days. There are one or two I remember and regret not buying.
Good luck with your society. You have picked an interesting subject and it may bring a lot of enjoyment and hopefully enlightenment.
Just stumbled upon this thread and thought I'd share, a 10 bore Williams that wound up being someone's bar/messenger/stage gun. It has bucketloads of character and weighs in at a hefty 9 lbs, even with 20 1/2" barrels (that are real nicely trimmed down, even has a brass bead sight).
Remember, don't bring a knife to a gunfight..
This is my Frederick Williams 12 ga hammergun. It is unfired and a nice quality gun. Cyl/cyl and I think is is probably an early Williams in the early 1880's.The buttplate is really nice and unusual.I WOULD SELL IT TO ONE OF THE FW COLLECTORS(AND PAY THE BOARD FEE)
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Interesting butt plate and not one I have seen before. I hope that you don't mind but I would like to print it off and show someone who is a Gunsmith. Lagopus.....
PLEASE DO. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMMENTS ON THE BUTTPLATE ALSO. THIS LOOKS LIKE AN EARLY WILLIAMS GUN TO ME.SERIAL NMBER 28350 IF THAT IS A REFERENCE.
ENGRAVED ON THE TOP OF THE BBL IS IXL 9 AND LAMINATED STEEL
Man you could become a club member...
Joe, I will come by and pick you up and I will try to get you in.
I don't own the English best....
You got a Benelli, though....
Best,
Ted
You got a Benelli, though....
Best,
Ted
Say it ain't so jOe, you own a Benelli !
It's true....along with a few W&C Scotts
Joe, how could you sell us out like that?
Damn jOe, you better change your ways, you are on the road to Mossy Land !
Joe, I saw a real nice Mossy at Gander Mountain the other day, it would be perfect for ya!!!
He feeds his Scotts normal factory ammo, what does he need a Mossberg for?
Best,
Ted
The long action on that stupid black eagle would be better for that....
Best,
Ted
STOP!!!
Let me DEFEND Homelessj0e.
I have a registered Lousiana State Tree Farm. And when I go out to the land around the first week in December, you must have a TREE gun!!
Pick out a young Ponderosa pine and using THE tree gun shoot it off at about 3 inch above the ground. The shards created will really suck up water and keep your newly shot Christmas tree really fresh!!
Rave on Homelessj0e
Mike
On Saturday March 21, 2009 at 10:30AM the Society for the Preservation of Frederick Williams Shotguns will meet informally at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in Coplay, Pennsylvania. Interested enthusiasts are welcome to gather, chat and/or shoot.
So... how many people showed up?
Steve
Here are a couple of photos of my Fred Williams hammer gun. I inherited from my Dad. While it is not of any great note it was given to him by his Father in Law, who was an enthusiastic shooter and refused to take him along with the old single barrel he had at the time. As you can see it is a twist barrel rather than damascus - so it is a 'farmers' gun rather than a 'gentlemans'gun. My Father was a farmer and proud of it!!
Any chance of letting me have details of the Society for the Preservation of Frederick Williams Shotguns? do you get a free oily rag with membership?
