doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William Richards English SxS

Geechums,

Does your father's gun have the "AH&Co" mark on the underside of the barrel, almost up against the bottom rib, just in front of the barrel flats? The letters are very small, but in good light you do not need a magnifying glass to read them. I would be suprised if it does not...

And Heritage Guns had one filed up and engraved just like yours, it is still featured in their 'back catalog'. It is stock # 068, retailed by Alfred Sanders. But it is an ejector gun.

Bushveld,

I have seen several guns with that AH&CO mark, some with Arthur Howell & Co engraved on the rib and action, and some with other maker's names (W. Hodgson and C & A Weston). So I always presumed that Howell was the maker of those, as well.

But what does that mark actually signify, do you think? That Howell sourced the actions from Wright or Phillipson (or someone in the trade), perhaps made to his pattern, and then finished the guns? Or maybe that he barreled and finished them?

Thanks

RedOak;

The AH&Co was one of his trademarks and it was just to signify that he was the maker. Arthur Howell originally was a action filer, so he would have only sourced raw action forgings for filing up in his shop. He had another trade mark (running Ostrich), but I have not seen it on any guns only his catalogs.

A decade or more ago, I encountered some people in the Brum area that knew him. Died in late 50's, his brother William died in 60's or 70's. William had a son, I believe his name was William Kenneth who continued on the business for a few years along with his wife; and I seem to recall her name was Joy.

I have not ever seen a high quality gun from either of them, but his trade guns were considered good guns by the trade.

You must have some of his guns--any high quality ones in the lot?

Bv

Bv,

Thanks for the info. on A. Howell.

Yes, I have several of his guns, two of them have much finer rose & scroll engraving than the others, not sure if they would be considered truly high quality, though...


I sent you a PM, I've had no luck posting photos here.