Frederick Williams was an English maker of premium quality side-by-side shotguns with premises in Birmingham and London from 1884 to 1950. A cadre of Frederick Williams aficionados has formed in the interest of studying and preserving these outstanding sporting arms. Some of the uninitiated have referred to this maker as Fred K. Williams. This is a misunderstanding based on the fact that some Williams shotguns are marked Fred'k Williams (note the apostrophe). "Fred'k" was, and is, an accepted abbreviation for Frederick. Mr. William's actual middle initial is reported to have been "W." Friends and members of The Society for the Preservation of Frederick Williams Shotguns will have an informal shoot on March 21, 2009 at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in Coplay, Pennsylvania, 10:30am. We are also inviting owners of shotguns made by Frederick Williams which may have been marketed under the names of other gunmakers such as William Evans, Army & Navy, Purdey and Boss. This is not a formal event or competition, just an opportunity to meet, chat and examine each other's classic doubles. For further information contact either:
BLEIMAIER@aol.com or dmessics@nrahq.org

Now this is very cool.

F.Y.I. The F.Williams factory is pictured in the booklet,"The Gun Trade of Birmingham", page21, The plaque on the front,roof arch of the bulding reads,"American Gun and Cycle Works," Over the front door the another plaque reads,"F.Williams." The factory was on Weaman Street near the site of the old W.C.Scott/ Webley and Scott factory.The booklet was available from the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.