Many thanks Drew!
Although not the finest grade Damascus, since the gun was made in 1897 the barrels have survived recent Nitro re-proof and I am told the minimum wall thicknesses are .030 and .032.
It is indeed W. Richards of 27 Old Hall Street, Liverpool.
When I was a young man, and knew even less than I do now, I assumed that W. Richards and Williams and Powell (who they later absorbed) both of Liverpool had been set up to trade off the names of the famous Birmingham makers, Westley Richards and William Powell.
In fact I now appreciate that both the Liverpool firms trace their roots to the end of the 18th Century and slightly antedate their Birmingham near namesakes.
| 