doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Henry Richards of London

All right. Over a year later, the gun is back from the gunsmith and I could not be more pleased. Here are some photos.

The Proof Marks on the barrel flats would prove a lot. Also one of the top rib showing the legend and a close up of one particular proof mark of a very small crossed sceptre mark (if it has one) would date it accurately. First glance leads me towards the Midland Gun Company of Birmingham early 1900's as the actual Maker; that is judging by the general style. They sold guns to the trade so they turn up with all sorts of names. Otherwise it is a good solid looking hammer gun. Certainly doesn't have a Belgian look. Lagopus.....

I was going to post pictures of my sidelever Henry Richards. I was recalling from memory when I posted to this thread a year ago when I said the proofs were Birmingham. They were actually Liege proofs, but the rib carried the London address. The engraving was very classy, perhaps a notch or two above the posted picture. And the gun was light with quality Damascus barrels. With Birmingham proofs it would have brought twice the price it did.
I talk about it in past tense because I sold it. Sorry I didn't post pictures.

Gil, I was hoping Mills would publish photos which could be interesting. Odd English gundealers would source barrelled actions from Belgium and often would source the barrel tubes. Don't forget that the new Purdey O/U is Italian in origin. My Japanese 4x4 made in England has a French engine. Guns are almost as quirky. Lagopus.....

Vorisek shows Henry Richards as a trade name used by WC Scott, WH Davenport, Pieper, Janssen, Dumoulin or Neumann Brothers at various times. With London on the barrels, I would discount the Belgians names in this list, as they were major players. Only a small time Belgian maker would put London on a gun.

There was also a Henry Richards that operated out of Cincinnati, circa 1880.


Pete

Here are some photos which should help

I do not understand the obsession with attributing British guns to being made of Belgian parts . Yes there were some barreled actions brought in from Belgium . Yes Belgian barrel tubes were imported in large quantity due to cost and the fact that the Belgians were still producing damascus up until 1939 .
As to the rest, men in Birmingham were as capable of producing crap as any continental and indeed did so . Other than the tubes which could or could not be Belgian I see no hint of any component of this gun that is not English .
Wild fowl guns of the period were not as rule other than basic quality and functional ,this seems better than a lot I have seen the fact that it has survived this long is its own testament .

The Modern Sportsman's Gun and Rifle: Including Game and Wildfowl Guns, Sporting and Match Rifles, and Revolvers
John Henry Walsh (Editor of The Field) 1882
http://books.google.com/books?id=OLwUAAAAYAAJ

I am indebted to Mr. Thos. Webley, who visited Belgium after the 1879 Trials, with a view to discover the reasons why the barrels forged there are more free from flaws than those made at Birmingham.
"We were, in common with our competitors, excepting for first and second quality, using a large proportion of these tubes; in fact, we think that quite three-fourths of the tubes used in Birmingham are Belgian make, and nearly all the London trade use them, with this difference, that they use the best quality, which are no doubt harder than the cheaper kinds, but are still softer and less durable than those of English make, and cost as much."

It appears what remain of a crown is on the left barrel just aft of the hanger, and was likely the Belgian tube maker's mark. The 'Laminated Steel' barrels are Twist BTW.

A bit earlier than I thought at first glance. Birmingham pre 1875 black powder proof marks. Quite low hammers for a gun of that age. A decent mid quality hammer gun and one to take out with some suitably loaded black powder cartridges and use to bag some game. Lagopus.....

Thanks for all the insight into this gun.

I have shot it with RST loads and it did just fine. I don't plan on shooting it very much, as my Parkers get most of the use. One of the hammers is a replacement