W. Richards Liverpool 10

[Kensal Rise]

If the barrels of this gun are marked as you say: 11 & 12 bore, then I would suggest you measure the bores to see if they mic out to an actual 10-bore.

It is my admittedly remote suspicion that this gun may have been a 12 bore, rechambered to 10 bore -- with undersize 10 bores being the result of honing out 11 and 12 bore barrels to clean them up.

Just to be safe, the barrel wall thickness should also be checked. Especially if a 10-bore rechamber job cut cones out too far.

This is all speculation from a distance. If the gun shoots well, it's probably fine.

[OH Osthaus]

always safety first John

but i'm curious - i have a light unaltered 12 with the bores proofed at 13 - i have seen one marked 14-

if 12's can have tight bores- why not a 10- and would a 12 have originally had an oversized tube marked 11 in that day?

i think the weight also speaks to an original 10

but - having said that - i'd be measuring the walls ahead of the chambers very carefully -

long chambers were made as shown here

look about 1/2 way down in the second column from the left to the specs for Dr Willimson's new Lefever - a 12 ga with 3 1/4 chambers for a heavy load

http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrar.../SL2604014.pdf

[Kensal Rise]

A bore mic should tell all. There's a good bit of difference between .775 and .729.

And... HOW he is measuring the chambers makes a difference. It should NOT be with a stick gauge like the Galazan. Professional tools are called for here. For chamber and cone!

[TxHuntermn]

Will need to send the barrels out for a thorough check they are Birmingham proofed, BP prior to 1875, and possibly prior to 1868. Hard to overstate how massive they are, also, as shown below, there is large numeral 2 on the rib. Wonder if these are barrels for gun #2 or barrel set # 2 for this gun.

[TxHuntermn]

I just looked at my light 12 bore Hemenway’s New Model hammer gun of the same vintage, and both barrels are marked as 14 bore. Also a pre ‘75 gun. That gun has 2 1/2” chambers.

[Richard Flanders]

What a pretty gun! That is nice.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Kirk Merrington in Kerrville Texas is the man for the job. British trained and a barrel specialist. A complete gentleman to deal with and knows British guns inside and out.

[B. Dudley]

These are the type of guns that usually when encountered are in sad overall condition. It is great to see an example that has survived to remain as nice at it is.