So my grandpa dropped an old shot gun over today. It's a 12 gauge double barrel with the above tite marked on the web between the barrels. Ill have to take pictures tomorrow when the sun is up my phone won't catch any detail. This by far the oldest gun I own now and it's is very cool indeed. I can see that is mechanically sound (I'm a welder I know metal) but I'm wondering what can I shoot out of it? Will it handle modern day sleet loads? Please help a new guy with his old gun!
W. Richards London Laminated Steel HELP!!!!
- Thread starter TheArmyMan204
- Start date
I have one of these as well, I think I paid $125 for it at Ellwood Epps a few years ago. The Belgians were good at making these knock-offs with a similar sounding name.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
There was a William Richards in England, and the company is still in business, but there are MANY copies out there as well.
If it says "not English made" it's not a genuine W. Richards.
Cat
If it says "not English made" it's not a genuine W. Richards.
Cat
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
My W.Richards barrel is marked "W.Richards.London Laminated Steel"
Did some research and found a web page 2 years ago that will take your serial number and check it for you, unfortunately can'nt find the site anymore? I thought mine was a 12ga , but turned out to be a 10ga!!
A lot of Belgian copies out there,waiting to see pics of the guns markings.
Cheers Dale Z!
Did some research and found a web page 2 years ago that will take your serial number and check it for you, unfortunately can'nt find the site anymore? I thought mine was a 12ga , but turned out to be a 10ga!!
A lot of Belgian copies out there,waiting to see pics of the guns markings.
Cheers Dale Z!
I wouldn't shoot any AMERICAN MADE factory ammo through a damascus gun... even their target loads are loaded to quite high chamber pressures to operate semi-autos. I don't even like firing American ammo out of my fluid steel doubles. English loaded ammo ( Kent or Eley) seems to be loaded to a lower pressure.
There are a lot of factors that go into whether it's safe to shoot a damascus gun or not, the primary ones being condition and quality. I wouldn't fire any gun that wasn't made by a reputable maker. There were too many cheap junkers made that weren't safe to shoot when they were new. Any pitting in the barrels, outside or in, or any looseness in the action means it's a no-go.
I would have the most faith in an English built gun, simply because their proof laws ensured they had to be built up to a certain standard to survive the trip to the proof house.
There are a lot of factors that go into whether it's safe to shoot a damascus gun or not, the primary ones being condition and quality. I wouldn't fire any gun that wasn't made by a reputable maker. There were too many cheap junkers made that weren't safe to shoot when they were new. Any pitting in the barrels, outside or in, or any looseness in the action means it's a no-go.
I would have the most faith in an English built gun, simply because their proof laws ensured they had to be built up to a certain standard to survive the trip to the proof house.
My Belgian made gun has the exact same markings on the barrel, along with Belgian proofs on the underside
