doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com W. Richards 577/500 Double Questions - Mfg Year?

Hello All,

I'm in the final stages of acquiring a W. Richards 577/500. (William Richards) I'd like some help determining the date of the rifle and possibly something about the maker.

Its a 500 No.2 Express (577/500) - It's an an Underlever with Non-Rebounding Hammers - 28" Barrels - A&T Henry's Patent Rifling - Birmingham proofs?

Its not a very robust rifle, weighing only 8 Lbs. 9 Oz.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Here are a few pics.

It's interesting that they put the proofs on the barrels and not the flats like normal. Nice looking rifle.

PM sent about the loads.

Nigel Brown�s book tells that address 51 oldhall St. was between years 1858-c.74. After that they moved to number 27 in same street.

I can't help you with the fine looking rifle any more than to be a good kind of envious. However, I can offer a bit of experience on your illness. I don't know if it can be called advice.

Yes, you are diseased. Fortunately, it is not terminal unless your wife takes exception to your purchases. That can only be determined by time and when you find out it may be too late.

There is no known cure. However, my experience has proven that the disease can be put into remission by a poorly performing economy and a business that keeps itself afloat but not very profitable. Changes have been made, to the business, and recovery is expected in approximately a year but with considerably less disposable income. The fear is that the small amount of disposable may be enough for the infection to again become active.

I do not sympathize with you. In a paradoxical way I am glad you have the resources to continue to treat your disease but am envious that, even with the Affordable Care Act, mine can not be treated at this time.

Go get 'em tiger!!! Nice rifle!!

Just from the configuration I would say a mid 1870's gun.

buckstix,

I been studying William Powell & Son numbers for some time. Powell made a number of W. Richards guns. From what I've seen W. Richards numbers are some what chaotic. Here are some Powell "lifter"guns that were made for W.Richards. The Powell serial number is in parenthesis. No.6139 (5965) 1875, No.6140 (6074) 1875, No.6141 (6075) 1875, No.6142 (6076) 1875 and No.6763 (6149) 1877. An example of the chaos is No.2269 (4995) 1884.
My overall point is that only the factory serial number records will allow you to absolutely establish the date. You should also consider the possibility that the serial number is from Henry.

Hello Steve Helsley,

Thank you for your information. I've emailed the William Richards website several times, but have not received a response. They claim to be the same company still in business, but I'm not sure of this. I think I might try writing a letter to them to see if that might trigger a response.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

buckstix,
I'd invest a couple of bucks and call them. E-mails and letters are too easy to avoid.
I'd also contact John Dickson & Son Ltd.in Scotland to see if the number is from the Henry series.
Steve

Hi Buckstix,
The Henry rifling patent number of 207x dates the barrels to circa 1872...
Nice rifle...

WC-

Oh and the wedge forend and the non-rebounding hammers coincide with that time frame as well. From 1874 on, rebounding hammers dominate. It's one of the fastest adopted technology in the gun making industry. The Jones under lever is from 1859 I believe.
WC-