In Need of stock

[whitecloud]

I'm in need of a replacement stock for a shotgun that's been handed down threw the family. The gun is a Crescent made W.Richards circa 1899. Its a side hammered gun, mechanically very sound, little bit of pitting in the laminated barrels but the stock has definitely seen better days. I've epoxyd the stock but it really needs to be replaced. So many cracks, it needs bedding but I really don't have any experience doing so......so this stock needs to go. I've contacted Numrich out of New York and they have the mechanical parts but no replacement stock…as of yet. They claim there is some what of a demand but they still don’t have a supply of these stocks. Any help with this replacement stock would be appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[rcmodel]

a Crescent made W.Richards circa 1899.

That seems very unlikely.

Westley Richards never made mass-produced arms, let alone for import to an American gun company.

Crescent: Trade name used by the Crescent Arms Company on inexpensive pocket revolvers and shotguns. Later bought by Savage Arms Co.

Crescent International 1XL: Trade name used by Herman Boker and Company of New York on shotguns.

I suppose it is possible the Boker company imported some individual Wesley Richards shotguns, as they were a major player in high-end arms importing prior to WWI.

As for finding a stock?
A Crescent Arms Co. stock would be very difficult to find.

But a Boker Westley Richards stock would be impossible.

BTW: You do know that shooting those old Damascus steel barrels with any of todays smokeless powder ammo is very dangerous don't you?
They would even be very suspect with black-powder loads if pitted.

rc

 

[krs]

You may have to have one custom made for the gun. It's possible that a stockmaker might have the pattern you need or can suggest ways to proceed.

Google "gun stock makers" in a web search. The Great American Stockmaker comes to mind but likely there are others.

Brownell's "Accraglass" is an epoxy product fesigned for your need. It's not particularly hard to work with and they have tutorials or phone help available.

Repeating rcmodel's warning about shooting modern shotshell loads in old damascus barrels. Remember the cartoons with the blown open gun barrel? That's what it looks like when a damascus barrel delaminates under extreme duress.

 

[nitetrane98]

That was part of the wonder of Crescent Shotguns. For 100 bucks you could get a roll stamp and call your shotguns anything you wanted.
The W.Richards shotgun that Crescent made could just as easily stand for Wally, Winifred or Whoopy. Copyrights and trademarks weren't quite that big a deal as they are nowdays. Of course it didn't hurt that there actually was a fine, well made shotgun by the same name.
"Prime among the shotguns readers and members inquire about are those made by two long- defunct, companies: Crescent Fire Arms Company once located in Norwalk, Conn., and H.∓D. Folsom in New York City. From 1888 to 1899, Crescent made shotguns on its own. Sometime around 1900, the company merged with N.R. Davis and H.∓D. Folsom, becoming Crescent- Davis. Crescent made shotguns for many, many companies under many names. Once amalgamated with H.∓D. Folsom, the list exploded. [The following is an excerpt from my recently published The Shotgun Encyclopedia[d] (2000, Safari Press) that may help identify an heirloom.] H.∓D Folsom was located at 312-14 Broadway, New York, N.Y., and imported and distributed firearms from about 1890 to 1930. At some point they merged with Crescent-Davis, and were finally sold in 1954 to Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co. Far from complete, the following list includes brand and trade names of Crescent-made and Folsom-imported shotguns: American Gun Co., Bacon Arms, Baker Gun Co., T. Barker (for Sears), Carolina Arms Co., Central Arms Co., Cherokee Arms Co., Chesapeake Gun Co., Compeer, Cruso, Cumberland Arms Co., Elgin Arms Co., Elmira Arms Co., Empire Arms Co., Enders Oak Leaf, Enders Royal Service, Essex, Faultless, The Field, F.F. Forbes, C.W. Franklin, Harrison Arms Co., Hartford Arms Co., Harvard, Henry Gun Co., Hermitage Arms Co., Hermitage Gun Co., Howard Arms Co., Hummer, Interstate Arms Co., Jackson Arms Co., Kingsland Special, Kingsland 10 Star, Knickerbocker, Knox-All, Lakeside, J. H. Lau ∓ Co., Leader Gun Co., Lee Special, Lee's Munner Special, Leige Arms Co., J. Manton ∓ Co., Marshwood, Massachusetts Arms Co., Metropolitan, Minnesota Arms Co., Mississippi Valley Arms Co., Mohawk, Monitor, Wm. Moore and Co., Mt. Vernon Arms Co., National Arms Co., New Rival, New York Arms Co., Nitro Bird, Nitro Hunter, Norwich Arms Co., Not-Nac Manufacturing Co., Oxford Arms Co., C. Parker ∓ Co., Peerless, Perfection, Piedmont, Pioneer Arms Co., Quail, Queen City, Rev-O-Noc, W. Richards (not related to the British gunmaker Westley Richards), Richter, Rickard Arms Co., Royal Service, Rummel, Shue's Special, Sickel's Arms Co., Southern Arms Co., Special Service, Spencer Gun Co. Sportsmen, Springfield Arms Co., Square Deal, Stanley, State Arms, H. J. Sterling, St. Louis Arms Co., Sullivan Arms Co., Ten Star, Ten Star Heavy Duty, Tiger, Triumph, U.S. Arms Co., Victor, Victor Special, Virginia Arms Co., Volunteer, Vulcan Arms Co., Warren Arms Co., Wilkinson Arms Co., Wilmont Arms Co., Wilshire Arms Co., Wiltshire Arms Co., Winfield Arms Co., Winoca Arms Co., Wolverine, and Worthington Arms Co. Most of these were store-brand shotguns, all of the same style, and no repair parts exist for these guns. Certainly a skilled gunsmith can make parts, but given that none of these guns can be considered valuable, the cost is hardly worth it. This is not to say that Grandpa s Nitro Hunter doesn't have great sentimental value, but in dollars and cents to a collector or even someone manning a table at a gun show, of little value. Certainly, it might be fun to try to collect some of these shotgun, say those from one particular hardware company, but they just don't rank with the big names in value."
http://www.briley.com/articles/grampas_shotgun.html
On the other hand, it means you don't necessarily have to find a W.Richards branded shotgun, any of the other names will do just fine.

 

[whitecloud]

needed stock

RCMODEL--The gun in question is not to be confused with a Westley Richards. It is a Crescent Firearm SxS hammer gun stamped "W.Richards" with serial #s indicating 1899 production date.

NITETRAN98--Thank you for the history, very informative.

KRS--Thanks for addressing my question. Friends have suggested that "accraglas bedding"as well. I could probably try it on this stock, learning tips and tricks of glass bedding but I would still like to get a replacement stock. As stated, the stock at present is fairly cracked and will certainly fail again. Thanks for the warning on these laminated barrels. I have reloading buddies that shoot older laminated barreled guns so they are well aware of those issues of delamination and seperation. They too have see the failures of laminated barrels.The internals of this gun are extremely solid and clean. Once completed this will be bench fired first for safety then used as a clay shooter. KRS, thanks again for helping with my question.