The Company grew to be a very successful business originally formed in London in 1801, then after a brief spell in Birmingham finally settled in Liverpool which at the time was a thriving shipping port. They continued to prosper opening a branch in Melbourne, Australia, in 1853 and then a further branch in England in Preston, Lancashire in 1872. Their success continued resulting in the setting up of a shooting ground at Walton in 1893, followed by a shooting range in 1897.

The original Coat of Arms

Striving forward and building their empire, Richards were producing quality sporting guns and rifles, with patents registered in their name. In 1910, Richards purchased William and Powell Gun Makers, which incorporated Patrick, the famous pistol makers. A further acquisition followed in 1924 of James H Hooton, Gunsmiths.

Richards, still very much a family business, passed from one family member to another and survived the depression of the turbulent "20's", supplying quality guns and also supplying their own brand of cartridges, "Markdown" at a competitive price.

Sadly the gun business went into decline over the next few decades and the Company decided to move towards rifles and pistols. Adverse publicity, resulting from the Dunblane shootings, proved to be the death-knell for W.Richards and they decided to cease trading in 1996.

The Company name, records, manufacturing rights and intellectual property were bought by Chris Caine in 1999. An engineer by trade, Chris has achieved a lifelong ambition, after resurrecting the company, and is now manufacturing high quality guns once again under the W. Richards' name.

Along with W. Richards, Chris also acquired the rights to the name Williams & Powell of Liverpool, a company which had been acquired by W. Richards in 1910 for the sum of £12. He is now supplying a second range of guns under this name - primarily made in Italy but finished here in the UK.