doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintage English shotgun cases

Hello, everyone�
My first post here.
I recently acquired these two English leather cases for SXS shotguns.
First case is for 2 guns, both with 30 inch barrels. Marked "Wm. Richards" inside
The second one is for a single SXS shotgun with a 28 inch barrel length but it can converted accommodate a 30 inch barrel length as well. This one appears to have some history behind it. Apparently, the gun and case were on HMS Barham, a Queen Elizabeth class flagship and were damaged in the battle of Jutland in 1916, with the case restored soon after. The case originally held a Pape shotgun, which was sold by Bass pro-shop in 2009, but the case was apparently left behind and was bought by me 2 weeks ago.
I would like to post pictures but not sure how to do it, so I am including the link to my photo album.
I was wondering whether these cases can be used with any period SxS with an appropriate barrel length.

Thank you!

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipP62SH079Z6bawNrIP0EL9rO89Li9qcTjLvlhXz

Welcome to this board. Congrats on your first post.

My computer won't display your photos. There are instructions on the board home page for posting photos.

Gun cases were not made by the gunmakers. They were "bought in." Therefore, the only way to know if a gun and case go together is if there are original labels and "charge cards" pasted onto the lid inside. In most situations if it fits it is OK. William Richards is a well known maker's name - usually from Preston; not to be confused with the highly respected Westley Richards. It is not greatly unusual to find a pair of W. Richards guns. BTW, W. Richards' name was used on Belgain "klunkers" with intent of buyers confusing it with Westley Richards. Whether William profited from this or not is an on-going debate.

Pape was also a highly respected name and the buyer of the gun should most certainly wish to recover the case.

So, your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to find appropriate guns to fill those cases!! ;-}

DDA

Hey, hey, hey...I own a W Richards (no period after the W) Belgian 16 ga hammer gun, and it's not a bad piece at all. Calling it a klunker does it a disservice.

W Richards of Liverpool did not make clunkers... I have an early hammer underlever that I suspect started as a pinfire double rifle and was converted as it too soon became obsolete. It's quite lovely, with relief acanthus scroll engraving all over it.

Note that I said the Belgian made W Richards were Klunkers. William Richards (the Brit firm) made mostly modest grade guns, but were fully capable of getting out a best work gun (I've seen a few) when they got a commission for such. They were rather typical provencial makers and makers in fact as opposed to vendors only.

No offense was meant to anyone by my first post. There was a very viable market in the USA for klunker Original Quality grade guns. They served well as the farm tools they were meant to be.

DDA

can anyone open any of the pictures in my link?

Not opening for me.

I fixed the link!
You should be able to open it now.
Thanks!

Nope...Geo

How much is the single Pape case? I also cant open yr px. If u let me know the price - will u send px to my email address? Bob Watzke