doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Williams and Powell Double

I have a double 12 bore with 5 digit serial number in the very early 10000's. Williams and Powell , Liverpool. Does any have access to any paperwork that might indicate the year of manufacture?

A picture of the proof marks could quickly narrow it down to when the gun was proofed. Records tend to be harder or non existent for many makers. Another clue could be any address on the rib as many makers/retailers moved around or more often street names got changed. So a rib marked Bridge street might denote an address that maker was known to have been located at from1890-1896. So even if no factory books, ledgers or records it still might be possible to narrow things down.

W.Richards Ltd of Pocklington may have the records as they advertise as makers of Williams & Powell continental O/U guns. Hth.

Rib is just marked Liverpool vs any specific street, Checked the proof marks against the pictures available on the interwebs and it appears to have been Birmingham proofed between 1896 and 1925. Further interwebbing informed me that Williams and Powell moved from Liverpool and ceased to be W and P in 1905, selling to W, Richards. So I'm guessing Year of manufacture was between 1892 and 1905. have alos emailed W Richards to see if they have information. Thank you for your assistance.

The www.internetgunclub.com might help. A UK based group that has a lot of background information about makers, retailer and assorted help for those looking for stuff like you are looking. It does seem like you have narrowed the window down to 1896-1905.

My W & P has a serial number of 6341 and appears to have been built in the early 1870’s. Generally they built very nice guns and had an excellent reputation. W Richards has no records, all were lost in the Blitz of WW2.