[Justaquestion]

Hi,

I have no knowledge of guns, and I am wondering if I may have stumbled on to something (or no?). My father's grandfather left him a double barrel shotgun, in which, he just received. I'm not really sure if I'm interested in selling it, but I am curious as to how much it would be worth, if I spent the money to have it refurbished for him(as a decoration only).

Allow me to explain what it looks like,

It is a double barrel shotgun, with double hammers. Double triggers, and a wooden butt. There is NOTHING written anywhere on the gun, except above the triggers, on each side it has 'Richards' fancy engraved. It has some type of 'swirl' pattern on each side of the word. There is no serial number, no other patters or prints.... I've spent three or four hours just looking. The butt of the gun also what appears to be a buck of some sort engraved into the wood...?

I'm just not sure. I know it is a VERY old gun, but that's the only real information I have.

I have attached a few pictures. Any information would be helpful! I do know it would need to be cleaned up a lot... THANK YOU!!

[GCBurner]

Looks like another Belgian-made knockoff of an English Wesley Richards muzzle loading shotgun, circa mid-19th Century. Not a huge collector's value, but they do look very decorative hanging over the fireplace mantel. Definitely not a shooter, it's just for looking at.

[Justaquestion]

Thank you. I am taking it to the local gun show this week, just to see for sure.

I found out it was indeed a black powder musket. A friend of mine who knows guns well told me that he'd never seen (or heard) of just a 'Richards'. When he took it apart though, I did find a '17' along with the initials 'JT'. Any ideas? There is also a small inscribed symbol, looks like tiny letters and a shape of some sort, but I can NOT make it out. :/

Any ideas!?