I am in the process of purchasing a Thomas Wild hammergun - a wildfowler. I am told that Wild is still in business but I have not found any contact information - I'd like to date my gun through the serial number.

If anyone on the board has contact information it would be greatly appreciated, also if anyone has a Wild shotgun I would like your comments/observations. This gun is proofed for 3" shells and while somewhat plain, seems to be of good build quality.

I have had two and they are very well made .

My Wild gun is marked T.Wild,Whittall Street,Birmingham.It is a .12 bore w/28" barrels and weighs 6 lbs 9 oz.It is proofed at 3 tons,2 1/2" chambers opened to 2 3/4" and re proofed in Birmingham.I shoot low pressure (6500 psi) loads in it in 50 bird events several times a year and it handles very well.I probably put 700 +/- minus rounds through it a year as I have 1/2 dozen English sxs's and shoot them all.

Sling the serial up or PM me and I'll take a look at the books for a date.

THe name is still owned . Weather you cvould say the company was in buisness in any real sense I dont know .I'll ask.

THe name is still owned . Weather you cvould say the company was in buisness in any real sense I dont know .I'll ask.

I think a Barry King (from memory) owned the name and records I think he has now retired I have a nice plain BLNE which only has T Wild written on the barrels no marking on the action mine was built in the 1930's ( I did get a letter for it but will have to look it up)

There are two Birmingham makers by the name of Wild.
Bejamin Wild is still in business on Price Street,Birmingham. I believe their business is presently limited to barrel blacking and repairs.Thomas Wild,s name may have been aquired by others. Boothroyd give a Price Street address for Thomas circa 1989. My understanding is there is no direct connection between Benjamin and Thomas Wild.The Thomas Wild records may exist,location unknown. There is however a strong possibility that the records were destroyed in the blitz of Birmingham in W.W.2

Definatly no connection between T wild and B Wild. Thomas Wild however was however tied to Rowland Watson. Barry King was at one time the owner of the name, but I was under the imperssion that he had since sold it.

The records for Thomas Wild are pretty well intact. Barry King did own them but since his retirement I don't know who has them now. Benjamin Wild is still in business and was in the same block of buildings as Barry. I would guess that they will know who has them. As all the workers in New Buildings are contantly in and out of one another's places someone there will have the answer. Lagopus.....