doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William Rochester Pape Double question??

Did William Rochester Pape utilize barrels from William Ford?
Would William Ford marked barrels be on a Pape manufactured double?

I’m betting replacement barrels.

Pape was infamous for self-promotion and I doubt he would allow any other maker's name on his guns when they left his shop. That said, most of his guns were sourced from Birmingham, often from Charles Osborne.

Pape records exist in a couple of places. Ask "Papeman" from this site who knows where they are.

There is a list of Pape’s serial numbers and dates in volume two of Nigel Brown’s British gunmakers.

If you can give the serial number of the gun and post a picture of the proof marks on the barrels it should be possible to give an approximate date to the gun and to the William Ford barrels and that will show if as seems likely William Ford rebarreled the gun rather than making the barrels for Pape.

William Ford had an excellent reputation as a barrel maker and barrel borer, but even if he made the original barrels they would be inscribed with Pape’s name on the rib

I’ve owned four Papes, still have one and must have looked at 10-15 more over the years. All have been well made guns. If it says Wm. Ford on the barrels I agree it most likely rebarreled. We cherish originality, while in the trade it’s all about being in proof for resale, so nobody worries about replacing a set of barrels by a well known source like Ford unless it is a top three London makers gun. Evaluate the gun not the name or names on it.

The above contributors who suggest Replacement barrels by Ford as the most probable scenario are, I'm sure correct. If you go to Bagnall and Kirkwood ( Google Our History- Bagnall & Kirkwood ) There is a complete list showing the first serial No of each year Pape's guns were made. From this establish date of manufacture. Then post a photo of The Ford barrel Proof marks, if not practical then a full description of them should be sufficient to establish the era of proof. Birmingham Proof marks were date coded after @1925. This is indicated in an Inverted Y within a circle approx 5/16" dia. Let us know and I'll give you some background on Ford after Coffee and Breakfast!
Good Luck

I would much rather have a Pape rebarreled by Ford than one sleeved by WRichards a few decades ago. Some of those were rough jobs. Corn cob on hemorrhoids rough. The two Ford barrels I’ve seen were quality, well fit barrels. I know work is often done to a price point but both did not detract from the gun.

Here is a picture!

Very nice

10 gauge?

Mike