May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
Per Stockel, Joseph and William Richards are recorded in Birmingham circa 1799-1817. Octagonal barrels with silver blade front sights dovetailed into top flat at muzzle, with offset view and proof marks at breech. Rear sight mounted onto tang, which is engraved florals and a drum. Hooked patent breeches, with gold touchholes. Pair ramrods, one iron and appears to be a period replacement, the other wood with iron mounts and a threaded end, possibly original. Both ramords are retained by a single ferrule and feed into a reinforced mouth. Barrels are retained by a pair of barrel keys which feed directly through stock. Locks of identical configuration with gooseneck cocks, bridled waterproof pans, roller bearing frizzens, English style sliding safeties, stepped rears, beveled edges, and light line engraving around border, with rays behind pan and stiff leaves at step. Set triggers with large trigger guards engraved with a panoply of arms, and a richly detailed pineapple finial. Pair sidenails retain lock and feed through iron reinforced escutcheons. Silver heraldric shields on wrist. Bag grips with modifed point and wave checkering. CONDITION: Metal has been cleaned in the European fashion over even, smooth salt and pepper oxidation. Stocks with numerous handling marks and impressions, (A) has a long splice on the left side of the stock, approximately 7" long, (B) has a crack at fore key and at rear sidenail. Touchhole liners replaced. Mechanically fine, including set triggers, albeit a little sticky. Bores are very good with even oxidation.
Barrel Length
(BOTH) 9 - 1/4"
Caliber/Bore
(BOTH) .65 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
(BOTH) J&W Richards