doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Trying to identify this shotgun...

Hi all. I have read countless threads on the site, but this is my first post. I bought this old 12 gauge years and years ago, and despite all my searching (online and books), I have found it hard to identify it. It says Henry Richards on the lock plates, but when I look that up, I don't find one that looks quite like it. I really don't have much knowledge when it comes to European doubles. I would love to hear your thoughts. Not sure what the best way to share pictures is but I don't think this is it haha!

Thanks -Johnny

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/7c5...?width=590&height=590&fit=bounds[/img]

Lots of folks were involved with that one!
Here's an old thread regarding the importer Henry Richards
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=265056

Your gun is Belgian, made prior to 1893 but after 1877 (the single inspector's mark appears to be spangled rather than crowned)
Francotte likely supplied the barrels and possibly the action
'JD' was probably the barrel maker
?'LRH' the 2 iron crolle tube maker
Interesting crowned MGB? + another letter on the action flats. I tried to find that but couldn't. One would think Manufacture something?
https://www.hlebooks.com/daubres/li04.htm
Maybe you could chalk the mark and bring out the last letter? That may have been whoever finished the gun.

Hause, where was it you viewed a spangled Inspector's Mark? V surmounted by a Crown here?

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

And that water-table stamp looks like >>MG - Bte<<.


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Another Henry, unfortunately without an image of the proof marks
https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...rds-hammer-12-gauge.cfm?gun_id=101877098

From the IGC - 5 Henry Richards
39 Fish Street Hill & 125 Strand, London c. 1808-9
Newbury c. 1850
11 Aston St, B'ham c. 1851
Liverpool 1858-70
Cincinnati c. 1880

I think Raimey is correct that the 'V' has a crown so the gun is pre-1877

Can't find a MGBte either
https://www.hlebooks.com/daubres/li01.htm

bte stands for "boîte," (box)," indicating a mailbox or parcel locker

Hause, just how much >>London Laminated Steel<< did London maker? He sure must have been busy during this period?

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

https://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20g/a%20guerette%20mathieu%20gb.htm

Mathieu Guerette / Guerette Mathieu looks to be our culprit or it was his brainchild as he had 2 patents????



Some dates to bound it would be 1853-1877.



Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

London Laminated Steel. Marketing brother. The tubes never saw the British Isles.

Probably made between 1870 - 1877....

So was it destined for the U.S. of A from the get go?


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Can you tell us what the stamp of >>R??<< might read?



Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse