Well, here goes. I've just acquired a Westley Richards 10-gauge double hammer black powder shotgun. Upon much closer look, it turns out to be a pinfire/centerfire cartridge gun. Yes - PINFIRE and BP centerfire. According to WR, it was built around 1872. I've never seen anything like it before and am not really sure exactly what I have in hand. I checked the barrels out quite closely, but to my poor eyes they don't seen to be Damascus. The holes in the action for the pinfire pins have been soldered up, however, a bit of cleaning and solder removal and the pinfire would be back in operation. Serial number is 4208.

It's fully engraved, right down to the hammers being engraved as fish with their heads on the hammer ends. Even the screw heads are engraved (and alligned). At one time it was case hardened, but only 20-25% remains. The wood is beautiful. (Flame Walnut???). Everything works 100%. There's some rust in the bores, but nothing serious. Action is very tight.

I've got 11 photos I can show you all, but I suffer from lackacomputeritus and am not comfortable trying to get a url and do the rest. I'm more than happy to send the photos (72 dpi) to anyone who could help me out with identifying what I've stumbled across. I've got very clear photos of the barrel proof marks and other such marks, manufacturer's names on the metal - that sort of thing.

Idea as to value??? I haven't got the faintest. I imagine it would have eaten up a blue collar workman's salary for a year,
+ or -, back in 1872. (Probably the same today - dunno.)

In advance, thanks much.

Tom Murphy
Las Vegas, NV

BTW: My buddy says I should hacksaw the barrels down to 18", put a Overmold buttstock on it, add a red dot and shoot heavy loads of triple-aught through it. Maybe do a DuraCoat job on the metal.
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We were friends for almost 20 years ...