I acquired a W Richards (not Westley) shotgun with damascus barrels or what appears to be damascus barrels. Is it safe to shoot with these barrels by this maker?

I read somewhere that the W. Richards were a quality shotgun, but with Damascus barrels you should stick with Black Powder loads or just hang it on a wall. ??just my opinion.

You'd probably have to look at the condition of the barrels. Are they pitted inside or out? Does it lock up tight? ...
Maybe put a 20 ga adapter in, if it's a 12 ga, and shoot it that way? I wonder if a 20 ga wad would cause any problems going down a 12 ga bore? I know there are some guys shooting 20 ga in a 14 ga with chamber adapter.

quote:

Posted 06 February 2007 23:44
I acquired a W Richards (not Westley) shotgun with damascus barrels or what appears to be damascus barrels. Is it safe to shoot with these barrels by this maker?

No offense James but this is a VERY general question. There are a lot of these guns floating around in various configurations. Likewise the condition is paramount to answering your question and the variables to determine that are just as numerous. By all means have it checked by a CREDIBLE gunsmith before shooting anything in it.

James_B,

Might inquire on the http://doublegunshop.com board. They should be able to interpret(sp?) the markings in the water table and barrel flats.

Mark Holycross

definitely go to doublegunshop.com.

WHat exctly does it say on th erib? THere are a very few W. Richards from Liverpool in this country that are nice guns.

THe other 99.7326% of the W. Richards in this country are the lowest of the low "hardwarestore guns" from the turn of the last century. THese were the cheapest (not just least expensive, CHEAPEST) guns made for import into this country at any time in our history.

I have never seen an English W. Richards, but tons of the Belian ones. Most of the unscroupulous dealers were trying to pass them off as Westley Richards. THat is why the Belgians would make a up a name similar to the better English makers-to fool unsuspecting buyers.

Is it safe to shoot? Well, the only way to give it a pass is to let a qualified double smith, not any gunsmith, look at it. Will it blow up in your hands? Maybe, but probably not. More likely to self destruct in a very few rounds.

Do you know the proper shells to use in the gun? There are very few proper shells for old doubles in local gun stores, and quite likely NONE in your area, depending on where you live. You would have to mail-order proper ammo. You need to use low pressure ammo in it if you do shoot it. This does not mean low brass. Low brass shells are the same pressure as the high brass shells.

oupa, no offense is taken at all. I realize the question is very general, as I was looking for a general question that was answered. That "99.7326%" are a POS.

As for markings. Next to the under lug, on what would be the left barrel is a oval with E L G * stamped inside it. above that is a S with a star above it. above that their is what looks to be two 3s stamped overlapping each other. Up further in front of the lugs and towards the center edge of the left barrel, it is stamped PF. On the right barrel next to the underlug is a C stamped and the numbers 178. There is no serial number on the rifle.

Thanks for the info. I looks to be a wallhanger, if even that.

Belgian proofs. It is one of the more common JABC's (Just Another Belgian Clunker). For a wall hanger they can be cleaned up to look quite nice on a mantle or something. If you can do it yourself it won't cost too much at all.

If it's damascus it will blow right where your left hand holds it. If has fluid barrels the chambers are short, and the metal generally soft.
Good Luck!

the odds of the barrel blowing in such a manner are quite slim. Damascus barrel can be as strong or stronger than the period fluid steel barrels. God only knows how many tens of thousands of Damascus barreled guns are still shot around the world every day with no ill effect.