W Richards, 27 Old Hall Street, Liverpool
12 bore Box Lock Ejector
No Visible Number

Approximate date of manufacture: 1875-1889

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns Comment

This gun represents an excellent opportunity to buy a gun signed by this well known Liverpool gunmaker. The gun has been re-barrelled, probably in the first decade of the 20th century, and this combined with our sensitive, selective restoration and sensible weight, makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of Anson & Deeley boxlock design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Bolting by a 'Purdey Bolt', operated by a 'Westley Richards' style top lever;
Passive 'Doll's Head' top extension;
A rare, and refreshingly simple, Dallaway & Cox sear and tumbler ejector tripped by integral extensions to the mainsprings.
Gun weight 7lb 1oz Engraving style Bouquet & Scroll.
As is our custom, Trigger Pulls have been adjusted for 'feel' rather that to any particular pull weight but for the record they measure approximately: Front trigger 6lb Rear trigger 4lb

The replacement steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof
for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2007.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.736"
0.023" Minimum
0.002" (Cyl)
Left Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.733"
0.027" Minimum
0.010" (1/4)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut with a horn butt plate, well defined drop points, chequered side panels and a blank oval. The stock is slightly cast off for a right-handed shot.

Highly figured walnut stock.

The 18 lines per inch chequering is to normal boxlock design . The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many coats of hand rubbed linseed oil preparation. Note: the stock has been pinned at the head and our investigations during restoration have indicated a thorough and professional job

Approximate stock measurements (including pad) at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/8"
14 1/2"
14 7/16"
14 13/16"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 5/8"
2"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
1/8" (approximate)

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:

Anson & Deeley's boxlock patent no. 1756 of 1875,
Dallaway & Cox's ejector patent no. 13857 of 1888,
Westley Richards's bolting patent no. 1572 of 1871,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873,
Anson & Deeley's safety catch no. 907 of 1879.