If it only has a W, it's not a Westley Richards. They always spelled it out. There is an English maker named W. Romeo Juliet Ost Rar File here. Richards, but their site says: 'Please Note. There are many W Richards reproduction guns throughout the world. A genuine gun will have W Richards (Gunmakers) Liverpool Ltd (or Preston/London etc) stamped on the rib between/above the barrel(s).'
Browse all new and used Shotguns - English Double Antique for sale and. Hammer side-by-side Serial Number. Richards English Hammer Double Barrel Shotgun 12. Where can you find the serial number on a W. On the W Richards 12 gauge double barrel shotgun. Richards was used on inexpensive shotguns.
Next, and probably the most likely, the American firm Crescent made hardware store guns marked with W. Richards (along with hundreds, if not a thousand other names.) About halfway down the page there is a partial list: ww.gundealersonline.com/firearmID.asp If there is an ELG proofmark on the gun it was a copy made in Belgium. Look under the barrels.
Hope this helps some. If you're going to shoot it, use low pressure loads only. And I don't mean cheap promo loads from wally world. A laminated-steel, back-action hammergun was almost certainly proofed for black powder only. There are a couple of companies making low-pressure loads for older guns, that use smokeless powders but stay within the black powder pressure envelope. If you reload, seek out the nitro-for-black loads that have been developed, or load with actual black powder.
Loading with black would seem the safest of all courses, although you must accept the additional cleaning that goes with it. Black powder is pretty forgiving stuff. Modern fast shotshell powders. Older guns in good working order can be safe to shoot. If, and only if, you stay within the pressure realms that they were built for. That's not possible with most modern shotshells. Richards shotguns are Belgium made, Inexpensive Belgium made at that.
They are not fine English shotguns and not Fine American made shotguns. They were not not used as stage coach guns nor were they used by Doc Holiday at the OK Corral. Laminated Steel barrels is another word for Damascus or welded steel.
If you shoot these guns with modern loads please don't let anyone you care about stand close to you, sooner or later they will blow. Even the best Damascus made shotguns are reproofed before they are used with light loads. These shotguns were sold by H&D Folsome, who by the way owned Crescent Firearms Co. Because of this fact some people will say they were made by Crescent. No, you will never find a W. Richards shotgun with out the Belgium proof mark on both the barrel and receiver.
I have the name of the import agent who imported them for H&D but I don't want to dig through my records. Who made them in Belgium?? While Belgium did have some premier gun makers, these shotguns were made under contract. Meaning?, one cottage maker would made the barrels, another the receivers and yet another would make the stocks and put the parts together. On the shotgun ( not shottie, a shottie is a snot rag ) marked Parkhurst, pull the forearm, if you find the letters ELG in a circle or oval it falls in the same class as the W.
If you find just a crown and perhaps a pair of crossed spears ( Haliberts) then more reseach is in order. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Although The High Road has attempted to provide accurate information on the forum, The High Road assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. All information is provided 'as is' with all faults without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Neither The High Road nor any of its directors, members, managers, employees, agents, vendors, or suppliers will be liable for any direct, indirect, general, bodily injury, compensatory, special, punitive, consequential, or incidental damages including, without limitation, lost profits or revenues, costs of replacement goods, loss or damage to data arising out of the use or inability to use this forum or any services associated with this forum, or damages from the use of or reliance on the information present on this forum, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.