Gun makers history

[williamr]

Hi Guys,

does anyone have a A & B Williams, Birmingham gun and can shed any light on this maker, I recently aquire a 12 bore SBS,1/4&1/4 choke,28 inch barrels,

any info please,

williamr.

[Gunman]

There have been a few Williams in the Birmingham trade ,I do not have a listing for A & B . As there were many families in the trade often working as family's , Father ,sons and cousins , it is very likely as with the Kelly Brothers or the Harrison brothers that although they never listed themselves as "gunmaker's" as a business they were out workers and jobbers , that is worked mostly for another but did work for themselves , but guns bearing their name were produced in small numbers for specific outlets . They may have been related to Fredrick Williams probably the best known .

Any idea of the build date ? The proof marks will give between dates a possibly a year if after 1921and the date stamp is legible.

[Hector Vector]

British gunmakers Volume 2 by Nigel Brown has an entry for A & B Williams. Not much info though.

[williamr]

There have been a few Williams in the Birmingham trade ,I do not have a listing for A & B . As there were many families in the trade often working as family's , Father ,sons and cousins , it is very likely as with the Kelly Brothers or the Harrison brothers that although they never listed themselves as "gunmaker's" as a business they were out workers and jobbers , that is worked mostly for another but did work for themselves , but guns bearing their name were produced in small numbers for specific outlets . They may have been related to Fredrick Williams probably the best known .

Any idea of the build date ? The proof marks will give between dates a possibly a year if after 1921and the date stamp is legible.

Thanks for that I will look for the proof marks/ dates And will post later.