doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com some help with an English Hammer gun please

George do you know if this can be read on line?

According to an 1886 job Sheet from John P.Moore's Sons of New York, "W. Richards" was one of the names applied to guns made by J. P. Clabrough & Bros guns.

The Makers still exsist and so does their records: http://www.wrichardsguns.co.uk/index.shtml They may be able to help with your query. If it is the original case then that will show the correct barrel length. Whilst 26" 20 bore hammer guns are not common they do exsist. I have a Jackson of Nottingham with damascus barrels proofed for black powder that has original choked 26 inch tubes. 30 is by far the commonest length. Lagopus.....

W Richards ,Gunmakers.
10a The Pavement,Pocklington.
Yorkshire YO42 2AX
01759 305088
chris@wrichardsguns.co.uk

Thanks to everyone for their information. This seems to be a quality built gun and I have sent W.Richards an e-mail as to the date of mfg and the specific configuration of the gun. My big question is the barrel length.

I will keep you posted as to what develops.

Thank you for sending me the pics of the W Richards, Liverpool, Rich, it is the real thing and has been nicely restored. The barrel length is a bit suspect and if that in the original leather motor case, the barrels do not fill the compartment. However, you say they have some choke, but I'd like to see the muzzles.
Perhaps when you get the gun you can post a pic of the muzzles.
Regardless, I'd love to own that little W Richards and 20 bore hammer guns are uncommon, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Mike

Now, just thinking on this a bit more. I also have a W.Richards 20 bore hammer gun with short barrels, but that started life as a double rifle in 450 calibre. I think they will be around the 26 inch mark. Any chance it was previously a rifle that has been re-bored out? My Jackson 20 bore however was built as a shotgun and has original 26 inch barrels; rare in this length, but not unique. Lagopus.....

I would imagine that the manufacturer's response would indicate if it was shipped as a rifle.
It will be interesting to see what the records show
Mike

A couple of points. Lots of 20s were made with 26" barrels . Lets face it a 20 is only realy for Lads and Ladies.So was the thinking of many shooters in the UK in past times. If a rifle had been bored up to make a 20 then ther would proobly be some sign of the original proof marks as well as the current set.

Not so many hammer guns though as most were for black powder and the fashion then was for longer barrels. Lagopus.....