A few years back I did a search on the name W Richards on the net. I found a web site for William Richards of Liverpool. They stated emphatically that any gun not marked as being of Liverpool was not built by them.
I think that Drew's posting concerning these guns being built by Clabrough is far more likely.
I will add I also have a hammerless 12ga SLNE double marked as J P Clabrough & Bros which carries post 1887 Birmingham proofs. From the above link this gun would seemingly have been built between 1887-1893.
While not a "Best" by any means it is a well built gun, has 28" barrels bored Ľ choke in both barrels. It fits me to a T & I shoot it better than probably any shotgun I have ever owned.
