doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William & Powell

I'm looking for information and insight on this gunmaker from Liverpool.

I'm considering buying a 16ga damascuss boxlock hammerless gun from a friend. The gun is marked William & Powell 25 S. Castle St Liverpool on the rib. What I have learned is that this address was used from approximately 1860-1876 at different periods. I would think that even the latest date of 1876 would be early for a hammerless gun. The other features of this gun are an auto safety, doll head rid extension, full coverage rose and scroll engraveing, extractors. The gun weighs between 5 1/2-6 lbs. The watertable is marked Anson & Deely Patent 7173 and the serial number is 10151. It's nitro proffed for 1oz loads but I'm sure this is in most likely hood a reproof for more modern ammo.

This is a nice gun in good condition but as I have very little knowledge on English guns I'm seeking knowledge, thought and opinions from those that are more familiar with these guns.

Thank you for your help

Rich A

I think it is Williams [s] and Powell. All of their guns I have seen have been top drawer. I think they did make guns in several levels of finish.

Follow this link:http://www.wrichardsguns.co.uk/
They own the William & Powell name, perhaps they have the record books or at least could provide information.

Thank you for the link Hammergun. I have E-Mailed them so now I'll wait and see.

Rich, follow this link to a recent bit about Williams & Powell:

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=175905&Searchpage=1&Main=15924&Words=williams+%26+Powell&Search=true#Post175905

My contributions to it are fairly fragmented but sooner or later we'll be able to dig up more information. Google Books has been my main resource but it takes a lot of sniffing.

You're out of luck finding records--they don't exist, according to the W. Richards firm. The bombing of Liverpool during WW2 took care of them!

What are your opinions as to the value of a W&P boxlock 16ga damascuss with full coverage Rose and Scroll engraveing in very good condition? I can't find one on the web for comparison at all. if the records are gone I have no idea as to the grade of this gun.

I tried that website Joe but internet explorer couldn't locate it. Is there a way to search the old posts here?

Rich, just use the "search" function at the top of this page. Type in "Williams & Powell" and you'll get a lot of responses. You'll find it there. Can't understand why IE isn't doing it for you if you've entered the entire address. Works for me.

Have no opinion of the value of the gun you're looking at. However, unlike American guns, the maker of English guns has little influence on its value unless the gun is from one of the top makers--London best, for instance. If you have photos, it would help us if you'd post them here. Overall, generic British boxlocks seem to be suffering from the economy and prices have been slumping, IMO.