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[paulus 26]

after any info anyone has on this maker. i think he also worked in london, i have a s/s with his mame on it

[Guest Macnas]

I've nothing on any Fred K. Williams.

 

Theres Fred W. Williams, and a plain old Fred Williams.

Fred W. was the biggest maker, he owned the Birmingham Gun Works at 32/33 Weaman street and traded from there until 1947.

 

The other Fred Williams traded out of the Whittal street and Bath street area from 1873 to 1886.

[paulus 26]

I've nothing on any Fred K. Williams.

 

Theres Fred W. Williams, and a plain old Fred Williams.

Fred W. was the biggest maker, he owned the Birmingham Gun Works at 32/33 Weaman street and traded from there until 1947.

 

The other Fred Williams traded out of the Whittal street and Bath street area from 1873 to 1886.

 

 

 

had another look it looks like a k with a line on the top and bottom of it like this but the lines are touching.

 

_

 

K

 

_

 

its a b/l/n/e but the rib is 1/2inch across. trying to find out if its worth restoring or not.

[Guest Macnas]

An extra wide rib is usually the sign of a special purpose gun, often found on skeet or sporting models. Such guns were produced by many english makers well before and after WW2 when clay shooting was a fast growing sport. People often used side-by-side guns, as over and unders were not as available or popular as they are today.

 

While a good maker is often an incentive to restore a gun, what is more important is the quality of the gun itself.

If it's in reasonable nick, is still in proof and has good features like nice engraving and figured wood, then it's worth some effort.

 

If it's in rag order then there is very little point in spending too much time or money on it, no matter who the maker is.

 

A gun that needs rejointing can cost you up to £200, add another £100 to refurbish the barrels (polishing bores and re-blacking).

The wood work you can do yourself, unless it needs serious repair.

Edited May 2, 2007 by Macnas

[paulus 26]

its in proof and in working order. to put it right would need the barrels re blueing, their fine internally and some screws replacing, ive already cleaned most of it up. its had the stock repaired at some point but looks like its been done by a pro.

[Guest Macnas]

Sounds like you've a project on your hands then.

 

Any english boxlock from a regional maker can be worth £700 if it's in good order. If I could see the gun, I'd think it might have been a live pigeon gun. This carries a bit of a premium, not a whole pile, but it makes the gun a bit more desirable.

 

Things like 30" barrels, wide flat ribs, side-clips on the chamber end of the barrels and greener-type crossbolts will indicate a live pigeon gun.

 

Best of luck and put up a few pics if you can.

[wife 1]

after any info anyone has on this maker. i think he also worked in london, i have a s/s with his mame on it

http://www.antiqueguns.co.nz/english.html#pm232