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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,856 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,856 Likes: 15 |
DH is right. William Richards was around at least a decade, and maybe as much as 30 years, before Westley Richards opened his first factory: http://www.wrichardsguns.co.uk/history.htmlThe company claims to have been established in 1780, and they say they had a shop in London in 1801. So maybe Westley's use of his last name was his attempt to capitalize on the good will W. Richards had established. OWD
Last edited by obsessed-with-doubles; 10/25/15 06:47 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,859
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,859 |
Since this is still going...the lightest doublegun of shootable dimensions I've ever encountered. You guessed it, W. Richards. Circa 1930s.  Yep! That 4lbs5.3 & it's a .410 (I think it was 2 3/4-inch). I used to have a little back action British .410 hammer gun that was in that weight range. It also had 2-3/4 chambers, being me I extended the forcing cones on it and shot 3" shells through it. I believe it was originally a .44. When I'd shoot it the shells would expand to the point where they wouldn't fit in the chamber of a .410 NS I also owned. Steve
Approach life like you do a yellow light - RUN IT! (Gail T.)
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819 |
Stan, the Internet Gun Club lists 13 gunmaking firms with the last name of Richards in Britain and with the first name starting with W. Only one is listed as W. Richards. I think your thought that W. Richards tried to trade on the Westley Richards name is faulty, especially since the beginning of the William Richards firm predates Westley Richards.
Do you think there was possibly some intent by Williams and Powell to try to associate with the name of William Powell ? Or visa versa ? Thank you, Daryl, for sticking it out until I comprehended the facts you and OWD presented. It would have been quite impossible for W. Richards to have been capitalizing on the Westley Richards name when the latter firm was not even in business when the former was already well established. I really appreciate a presentation of facts, and thank you both for your patience. It's a great day when I learn something useful, and have misconceptions corrected. All my best, SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,720 Likes: 1357
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,720 Likes: 1357 |
Lloyd,
I never get tired of looking at pictures of your W. Richards gun, or, handling it when we make the somewhat annual pilgrimage to Lake of the Woods, at Grousemas. I think you need to compose a photo of the gun, with the little housewarming gift I brought you this year, just for that memory. If ever there was a gun that called out for that small token of my appreciation for your time in the woods on that trip, it is your gun.
I don't have any more of those, especially the ones in the dark green box.
Do see what you can do.
Best,
Ted
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,620 Likes: 1034
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,620 Likes: 1034 |
Ted: Your housewarming gift went into my stockpile of appropriate shells up there so, sadly, everything is in different time-zones. Let me see what I can find here. Best I could do for now.  Perhaps next year a composition can be arranged? The birds will have to cooperate, of course.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 10/25/15 09:46 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
The real value in a well-made used gun is a British boxlock. Not a knock on Remington doubles, but the British versions are better made, better balanced, and usually better finished. Lloyd definitely did it right, the used British boxlock.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
One can sometimes say that Value is Where you Find IT.
I found Great Value in a British Side Lock. As A J P Clabrough, admittedly not a British Best, but it is well made, sound & solid. Its 28" Damascus barrels are both Ľ choked. At 6lb 14oz it is not not an extreme lightweight but handles well & fits me perfect. Most importantly it just seems to hit where I look.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 336
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 336 |
Stan, this website lets us all dig into the history about the guns we enjoy and learn from our mutual experiences. Is it you that has had the great dove posts ?
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