IGC - Forum

Hi David, We were told 20 years ago some of the records survive and can be had by writing to Stensby at 1 Shudehill, Manchester MS 2AF, Tel/Fax 0618346589. This may not still be true. No records of guns prior to 1890 exist, and from 1890 all serial numbers had a prefix such as B, C, H, K, M, N and O...

We cannot be 100% sure but think this dates to 1908.

Hi Karl, The first thing is that the name of the manufacturer of your gun is Westley Richards not Westly Richards. The second thing is that the name of the company who sold the gun was Vavasseur Levetus Export Limited not Levetus Limited. The wrong name is the first reason why you have not been able...

Hi John, This is an email I received from Steve at Westley Richards. Dear Karl, Thank you, I have had a look & the only thing I can find is their dissolution in 1975: APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATORS Name of Company: VAVASSEUR LEVETUS EXPORT LIMITED. Nature of Business: IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS AND GEN...

Hi Karl, I am mystified by CO Westley Richards (whatever that means) comments about October 1923 and Levetus Ltd. The T prefix was used from 1902 to 1961 and generally referred to less than best quality guns, which may mean yours is not best quality. The numbers T 8400 to T 8500 were used on guns ma...

I have a Westly Richards DBBL gun which has serial no T8452, I am interested in enquiring to whom was this DBBL gun sold to and when. The CO Westley Richards states it was manufactured in October 1923 for Levetus Ltd London. My Dad purchased it in September 1961 from a Parsi gentleman Mr Phirozsah J...

He is listed in "Der Neue Stockel" as Stephen Sandwellof London 1766-1781. This book is in German, which I don't speak. It goes on to say Wird 1766 Meister. 1771-81 in adressbuchern der Stadt aufgefuhrt. 1775-1778, BM der Hudsdon's Bay Company. Q1;Q206;Q254. I think this means he became a ...

Your gun was made in 1953. I don't know if you have read the history of the firm but all records were stored in the bank for the duration of the war. The bank was destroyd, the works were untouched.

Hi Sam,

I don't think you will get any answers to this. No records exist. The firm may have bought in one or two guns from one or two London makers but most will have come from Birmingham. I think the firm mostly traded in military accoutrements rather than guns and pistols.

Hi Rick,

Agnew serial number records no longer exist so estimates are from proof marks. Your gun dates to within a couple of years of 1910-1912.