W. Richards Liverpool 10

TxHuntermn · 02-02-2018, 04:22 PM

I was having a private conversation with member David Boyles about our recent foray into 10 bore guns, and I mentioned the english hammer 10 I acquired this summer. W. Richards, hammer 10, 32” “london fine twist” barrels! The gun weighs almost 11 lbs., and is outstanding original condition, with mirror bores, lots of barrel color, and 60% case color remaining. The unusual thing is the chambers, I am almost certain they have not been altered, but they measure
3 1/4”.

TxHuntermn · 02-02-2018, 04:29 PM

Couple more

Ken Hill · 02-02-2018, 04:58 PM

Mark,

A nice looking 10 bore! The barrel flats proof markings should tell you the original chamber length.

Ken

Roundsworth · 02-02-2018, 07:09 PM

Proof markings did not include chamber lengths until 1925.

Ken Hill · 02-02-2018, 07:24 PM

Agree but, on 12 gauges you can determine the chamber length by the proof (e.g., 1 1/8 oz is 2 1/2" chamber).

Ken

davidboyles · 02-02-2018, 10:31 PM

Mark that's a real beauty have you fired it yet? Given the weight not much push I bet. I assume very tight chokes. I intend to take my parker 10 out and pattern the barrels both 28" and 32" tubes before I go after the turkeys. Did I tell you I dropped 7 doves with it on the last week of season. used 28' barrels and 1 1/8 oz loads. Hammers are a bear to cock but triggers are light so minute I saw doves I cocked both barrels to be ready. Hope we get to chase turkeys together like last year. So glad you got to use the little Ambassador reel on a big red a real rush to catch big fish with only your thumb!!!

TxHuntermn · 02-04-2018, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidboyles

Mark that's a real beauty have you fired it yet? Given the weight not much push I bet. I assume very tight chokes. I intend to take my parker 10 out and pattern the barrels both 28" and 32" tubes before I go after the turkeys. Did I tell you I dropped 7 doves with it on the last week of season. used 28' barrels and 1 1/8 oz loads. Hammers are a bear to cock but triggers are light so minute I saw doves I cocked both barrels to be ready. Hope we get to chase turkeys together like last year. So glad you got to use the little Ambassador reel on a big red a real rush to catch big fish with only your thumb!!!

Thanks David,

The gun has one round out of it by my hand. I ALWAYS have a gun on the TV tray next to my big chair in the family room. Usually it is the newest pup in the litter, or one I’m polling my pals about currently. Robin’s recent comment is that the gun d’jour is my redneck fidget spinner.

When I decided to photograph and more closely examine this gun subsequent to our conversation the other day, it took its place on my table (and is still there for now until I run this chamber length deal down). I had an RST short 10 there that I had used to make certain the gun was a 10, and yesterday morning my dogs started raising hell out back, I looked out and there was a possum walking down the fence line oblivious to the two vizslas barking and growling a foot away, obviously he was rabid or sick. SO, 1 1/8th oz of 7 1/2’s later, he was off to possum heaven. The guy I bought the gun from said that he ahot a few cases of hot 12 gauge trap loads from this gun using chamber mates. And also shot several boxes of RST pigeon loads. 12 gauge 1 1/4 , 3 3/4 dram nickel loads, and had no issues.

OH Osthaus · 02-04-2018, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Ray

Thanks David,

The gun has one round out of it by my hand. I ALWAYS have a gun on the TV tray next to my big chair in the family room. Usually it is the newest pup in the litter, or one I’m polling my pals about currently. Robin’s recent comment is that the gun d’jour is my redneck fidget spinner.

When I decided to photograph and more closely examine this gun subsequent to our conversation the other day, it took its place on my table (and is still there for now until I run this chamber length deal down). I had an RST short 10 there that I had used to make certain the gun was a 10, and yesterday morning my dogs started raising hell out back, I looked out and there was a possum walking down the fence line oblivious to the two vizslas barking and growling a foot away, obviously he was rabid or sick. SO, 1 1/8th oz of 7 1/2’s later, he was off to possum heaven. The guy I bought the gun from said that he ahot a few cases of hot 12 gauge trap loads from this gun using chamber mates. And also shit several boxes of RST pigeon loads. 12 gauge 1 1/4 , 3 3/4 dram nickel loads, and had no issues.

that must be one big sturdy TV tray

Researcher · 02-02-2018, 10:58 PM

In the 1880s and 90s UMC offered 10-gauge paper and all brass NPEs up to 3 1/4 inch.

TxHuntermn · 02-03-2018, 12:42 AM

Thanks Researcher!

I measured the chambers several times. This gun is obviously older than the era where chamber length ang coke etc. were listed. I think it is from the “bore diameter era” as one barrel is marked 11 and one marked 12, with 10g chambers. Thia gun is so heavy, and stout, that I could surmise that it was intended for quite a stout load.

What were those 3” and 3 1/4” inch loads like???