The earliest records for William Richards of Liverpool are of 1877 for serial number 6788. Your rifle would be early 1870's or late 1860's, probably 1870-71.

W. Richards was a prolific maker of inexpensive guns and apparently a few rifles, with shops in Preston and Liverpool. It is a good guess that he did not make this rifle but bought it from the Birmingham trade who made it for Richards and engraved it with his name and address----this was common among regional gunmakers.

The W. Richards company survived to 1951.

Business name and records are held by Chris Caine t/a W Richards (Gunmaker), Liverpool at Sherwood House, 4 Main Street, Bishop Wilton, Yorks YO 42 iRX Tel/Fax 01759 305088. (Source: Vol 2 "British Gunmakers"--Nigel Brown)

Regards;
Steve