Sunday 31 January 2016

Wm & Jno Rigby Rifle.




Wm & Jn Rigby
Gun & Pistol Manufacturers
24 Suffolk Street
Dublin


                                      Wm & Jn Rigby letter dated 10th August 1857.
                                             Photography courtesy Leslie Martin.
Transcript:

August 10th 1857.

Albert H Knox Esq..
Sir, We thankfully acknowledge your favour enclosing half of £5.
On receipt of the balance of a/c we will forward stamped receipt.
The proper charge for the Rifle is 7/8 ths of a drahm or 24.900 avoir..of No 3 powder
(coarse grain).We are Sir your ob'd servants, Wm & Jno Rigby for Geo. Harris.



                                                   

                 This case being from the period in question (1838)... but made for gun No. 8148
                 a 12 bore shotgun with 29" barrels.*

The above letter is related to a percussion rifle originally sold by William & John Rigby to a Mr J. Wood in 1834. The gun being serial No 7585. A second best rifle with a 31" barrel. This gun
having retailed at £15-15-00*. During the guns life it acquired a second barrel which would have been interchangable. During the Registration Act of 1843 this rifle was registered in County Sligo. (S 6354).

This Rifle was, by the tenure of the above letter, being sold on from Geo Harris via the Rigby's to
Mr Albert H. Knox Esq..

The above letter kindly supplied by Leslie Martin.

                                                  Photography courtesy Leslie Martin

Details related to the Rigby Rifle No 7585 & Shotgun No 8148 courtesy of;-

* Great British Gunmakers Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 by D.H.L Back..


                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk



Saturday 30 January 2016

Wimbledon: John Rigby.



Wimbledon Common

Shooting Range

1864



                           Courtesy The London Illustrated News July 1864.

This being the year John Rigby won " Wimbledon 1864 Prize" refer to:
Great British Gunmakers Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 by D.H.L.Back. pages 156-158.

      Three years later Ireland would send their first team to compete at this venue.

                                    Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Friday 29 January 2016

John Rigby & Co:Advertisement/Target.


John Rigby & Co..

24 Suffolk Street & 72 St James' Street
Dublin                           London

Advertisement/Target.


                                Gallery Practice Target as sold and used by John Rigby & Co..
                                                                     1869-1898

                                  The above target mentions Wimbledon and 200yds and 1883?
                                       
                                         We are always looking to buy items like the above.

                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 28 January 2016

Playing to the Gallery. Dublin.


Playing to the Gallery:
Shooting Galleries
of
Dublin.

With the decline of duelling and the duelling pistol came the hybrid target pistol and the growth of target shooting. Two Dublin gunmakers were one step ahead of the market and offered shooting ranges for their clients during this transitional period.


Both William & John Rigby and Trulock & Son were advertising their shooting galleries in 1830 and 1832 respectively. See below.



William & John Rigby advertising their new sixty feet Shooting Gallery. 

                  William Trulock & Son advertising their "extensive" Shooting Gallery. 1832

                      In France as late as 1910 the famous Gastine-Renette's on the Champs Elysees
                      were offering a shooting school where "heavy duelling pistols" were shot. The
                      targets being white painted steel life size silhouettes of a man.**    

                ** Wings over the Marshes by Robert Erskine Ross. published 1948. Pages 90-93.

                          We are always interested in any information related to the above.

                                                      Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Anti-Duelling Association.Dublin.


Anti-Duelling Association
Society Offices
No.7 Lower Abbey Street
Dublin


The folly of the duel was for a long time a concern to the general public, yet the duel was seen
as a integral part of military life, especially for those of rank and of high society. Queen Victoria
had mooted that she was not over keen on her top military brass depleting their numbers on
home soil and her support assisted in the final abolition of the duel.

As can be seen from the above advertisement the public, prior to Queen Victoria's reign, were bringing the matter to the fore and calling for the abolition of the Anti- Christian practice of Duelling.

These protests would not have been music the ears of the gunmaker but the duel and duelling pistol were in decline and were to be superseded by the target pistol which were at this time in demand for use in the newly formed public shooting galleries.

In our next blog we will look at the two major shooting galleries in Dublin.

                                             Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk


T

Tuesday 26 January 2016

West Cork 1843 Registration Act.

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

                                       County West Cork.


The following entries have been collected over a number years by myself, fellow collectors and dealers. In total over 1100 registrations from the 40 areas have been collated which is a very small sample of the 300.000 weapons the authorities had calculated were in circulation in private hands
at this time.

The list below gives all those weapons found registered in County West Cork between 1843-1846.

Listed are the county prefix, licence number, description of weapon/s and where possible the maker/retailer.





WC 468
Flk Light Dragoon Pistol. Crowned GR.
Ketland & Co
WC 615
Percussion Backaction Pistol
Bowls
WC 629
Flk Overcoat Pistol. Cock replaced.
Bryan
WC 717/718
Pair Flk Silver Mounted Holster Pistols
Joseph Griffin
WC 719/720
Pair Flk Duellers. Stepped Bolted Locks.
Wogdon
WC 967
40 Bore Boxlock Travelling Pistol

WC 1008
Bronze Cannon. 13" Overall. Barrel 11.5"

WC 1181
Percussion Turnover Pocket Pistol
W & J Rigby
WC 1312
Perc' Travelling Pistol.Captive Ramrod.
Crispin
WC 1468
Pair Flk Trav' Pistols

WC 1621
Pocket Pistol.
Crispin
WC 1789
Flk Travelling Pistol.
Clark
WC 1911
Military Musket converted to Perc' French. Napoleonic

WC 1935
Percussion Musket

WC 2360
Perc' Belt Pistol. .50 Cal..
Allport
WC 2520
4 bore B/action long barrelled sporting gun

WC 3051/3052
Cased Pair D/B Pistols
Bird & Ashmore




Flintlock Light Dragoon Pistol registered (WC 468).
Photography courtesy Steve Collward

Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846. 



We are always pleased to know of weapons registered in this county or any of the other 39 areas
within this Act.

Dave Stroud.ramrodantiques.co.uk

Monday 25 January 2016

Joseph Braddell & Son



Joseph Braddell & Son
Gun & Rifle Manufacturers
Mayfair
Arthur Square
Belfast.



                                                  Trade card/label for JB&S.  
                         Showing their monogrammed trademark within the red hand of Ulster.


William J. Clarke can be seen standing outside the above premises in our earlier blog of:- 31/12/2015.

The company at this time in their history having dropped the mention to revolver manufacture,
a trade in which they had excelled when producing the "Bulldog" revolver.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sunday 24 January 2016

Farrell McDermott. Gunmaker.




Farrell McDermott

Gunmaker

2 Abbey Street.

                                                 Dublin



Remnants of a small pot lid label for Farrell Mc Dermott. 2 Abbey Street, Dublin. 

Farrell McDermott was one of the most prolific manufacturers of duelling pistols of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

       Farrell Mc Dermott trading dates:

       St Mary's Abbey     1795 - 1796
     2 Abbey Street          1797 - 1810
       1 Abbey Street        1811 - 1827


Mc Dermott sideplate with only one "T". This is a spelling often found. Speculation has arisen that this form of spelling is attributed to Henry Mc Dermot, gunmaker. (circa 1800)?
Research ongoing.

Farrell McDermott's first trades directory entry for 1796


Clarke Nicholas 35 Capel Street
Devereux Michael 3 Blackall Row
Devine Thomas 194 Abbey Street
Dobson James 32 Skinner Row
Eames Elizabeth 1 Duke Street
Edwards William 1 Palace Street
Fowler Thomas 121 Capel Street
Gray John 2 Bride Street
Guinness Richard 107 James's Street
Hutchinson Michael 8 Dame Street
Kinder Matthew 81 Camden Street
Langston John 22 Eustace Street
Mc Cormick Robert 23 Abbey Street
Mc Dermott Farrell 35 Mary's Abbey
Meredith Charles 45 Fishamble Street
Morton William 28 Castle Street
Muley Daniel 28 Parliament Street
Phillips Thomas 43 Gt Ship Street
Powell Benjamin 159 Abbey Street
Rigby John 19 Suffolk Street
Tomlinson Robert 123 Capel Street
Trulock Thomas 50 Barrack Street
Wallace Samuel 22 Eustace Street


We are always pleased to discuss pistols/guns manufactured by Mc Dermott or Mc Dermot!

Please refer to our earlier blog of 11/1/2016

Henry & Farrell McDermott originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, M.R.I.A.. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.


Dave Stroud. R.A..







Saturday 23 January 2016

William & John Brown. Belfast.


William & John Brown
Merchants

Belfast


Advertisement Belfast 13th December 1773.

Barrels and Kegs of Gunpowder and Shot sold at the lowest prices!



Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk 





Friday 22 January 2016

George Turner. Gunmaker.




George Turner
Gunmaker
Dublin


Duelling pistol lockplate with "French Cock", Sliding Safety, Rainproof pan,Gold touch hole, Roller frizzen spring. c.1815

                                  Pair of saw-handled duelling pistols by George Turner c.1815


George Turner was one of the most prolific manufacturers of duelling pistols in Dublin.

George Turner first trades directory entry for 1811.


Calderwood Thomas 22 Little Mary Street
Clarke Nicholas 35 Capel Street
Edwards Thomas 13 Abbey Street
Fowler Thomas 18 Capel Street
Hutchinson Michael 8 Dame street
Meredith Charles 5 Smock Alley
Muley Daniel 28 Parliament Street
Murphy John 190 Gt Britain Street.
Pattison Thomas 154 Capel Street
Rigby John 13 Suffolk Street
Trulock Thomas 53 Barrack Street
Turner George 137 Capel Street


Known trading dates and addresses.


1810-1813 137 Capel Street     Turner,George
1814-1826 154 Capel Street     Turner, George
1848-1849 84 Capel Street       G. Turner & Son.
1862 ....................................................................

Lower Dominick Street. (Abode) Listed in Irish Times, 28th May 1862 as insolvent.


George Turner originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.

                                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 21 January 2016

Benjamin Lord. Gunsmith



Benjamin Lord
Gunsmith
Dame Street.
Dublin

Flintlock brass barrelled holster pistol
engraved "B. Lord". c. 1760
Photography courtesy Jim Horne.


               Benjamin Lords only trades directory entry for 1761

Collins Matthew Dame St
Govers John Dame St
Lord Benjamin Dame st
Lord Francis Dame St
Rainsford James Castle Lane
Thorp Thomas Darby Sq
Trulock Thomas Castle Yard

M.S. Dudley Westropp lists Benjamin Lord for both 1755 & 1758.


Benjamin Lord became a Freeman of Dublin in Midsummer 1749. He is noted to be the son of
 a Francis Lord? Whether this is the gunmaker Francis Lord it is not clear. Gunmakers Benjamin and Francis could both be sons of this Francis Lord mentioned in the Dublin City Library and Archive Ancient Freemen of Dublin.

Benjamin Lord originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.

         Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 20 January 2016

East Cork: 1843 Registration Act.

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

                                       County East Cork.


The following entries have been collected over a number years by myself, fellow collectors and dealers. In total over 1100 registrations from the 40 areas have been collated which is a very small sample of the 300.000 weapons the authorities had calculated were in circulation in private hands
at this time.

The list below gives all those weapons found registered in County East Cork between 1843-1846.

Listed are the county prefix, licence number, description of weapon/s and where possible the maker/retailer.


EC 72
Pair Duelling Pistols
Wogdon
EC 91
Pocket pistol. Converted to Perc'
Bryan
EC 112
Pair Flk Duelling Pistols
Whitney
EC 175
Converted Boarding Pistol.Spring Bayonet.
Bennett
EC 177
Flk Pistol
Griffin
EC 184
Flk Blunderbuss. Brass barrel
Henry Nock
EC 220
Flk Blunderbuss. 3 stage barrel.
T Hughes
EC 262
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Ketland & Co
EC 286
Flk Blunderbuss. Brass barrel
Whitney
EC 336
Perc' 4 Barrelled. Rotary Hammer Pistol.
M & J Pattison
EC 423
Flk 16 bore Duelling Pistols
P Whitney
EC 423
Dutch/Irish Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss

EC 482
Flk Duelling Pistols. 24 Bore.
Blackwell
EC 508
Percussion Officers Pistol
D.Egg
EC 641
Perc' Travelling Pistol. No Lock. PCBassett.

EC 736
40 bore perc'boxlock sidehammer pistol

EC 792
Percussion Pistol
Bachman
EC 884
Perc' Trav' Pistol
Hutchinson
EC 914
Converted Pkt Pistol.
Bryan
EC 945
Pair Silver Mounted Holster Pistols
Edwards
EC 947
Flk 18 bore Pocket Pistol.
Bryan
EC 1001
Cased Pair Duelling/Holster Pistols
Mc Dermott
EC 1069
Flk Duelling /Holster Pistols.Cased
Theo Richards
EC 1150
Flk Pistol.
Prosser
EC 1166/1167
Flk Cannon Barrelled Pistols
T Hughes
EC 1207
Flk Travelling Pistol
Fowler
EC 1211
Flk Cannon Barrelled Holster Pistol
T. Hughes
EC 1216
Flk Duelling Pistol. With shortened barrel.
Mills
EC 1220
Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Whitney
EC 1225
Flk Duelling Pistol. 10.5/8" barrel. TH on barrel.
P.Whitney
EC 1225
25 Bore Duelling Pistol. H.Hayes. Vernon mt JR. 54 Strand.
J Richards
EC 1242
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss. Cork No2 Mail.
Bryan
EC 1260
Flk Blunderbuss..
Hall
EC 1272
Flk Blunderbuss. Brass lock. 2 stage barrel.
Westerman
EC 1273
Flk Repeating Pistol
Lorenzoni
EC 1282
Flk Blunderbuss
Ketland
EC 1282
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss..
Edwards
EC 1332
Flk Heavy Calvary Pistol. 10 Bore. Birmingham Proof 1813.
Tower
EC 1536
Percussion Pistol.
Connel & Co
EC 1621
Perc' Travelling Pistol. ( Conversion). 16 bore. 4.5" Barrel
Tyner?
EC 1717
Pair Perc' Turnover Pocket Pistols. Birm.Proof.
Allport
EC 1717
Flk Light Dragoon Pistol. 9" Barrel.

EC 2057
28 Bore Miquelet Rifle

EC 2210
Flk Pistol . Silver Mounts.
Bourdiec
EC 2339
Flk Converted Caplock. D/B Shotgun
Manton
EC 2344
Flk Converted Caplock. D/B Shotgun
J Manton & Son
EC 2399
Cased Pair Perc' Duelling Pistols 1988. Now reconverted
Durs Egg
EC 2416
Pair Flk Holster Pistols
Harrison
EC 2466
Flk Light Dragoon Pistol.
Ketland
EC 2789
Flk Blunderbuss pistol. Steel Barrel. 10"
T.Hughes
EC 2925
Flk Silver Mounted Holster Pistol. 1777
Wilson
EC 2892
Pair Flk Belt Pistols. 
Bass
EC 3675
Perc'Boxlock Pkt Pistol
Westley Richards



                             


          A pair of Bass belt pistols both marked  EC- 2892
                             Authors photography


As will be seen through these lists the majority of pairs of pistols are consecutively numbered. 
There was considerable confusion and many anomalies exist within the marking of weapons but these are normally easily explained.  County Louth did appear to have a number of issues and weapons  have been found marked "DR" (Drogheda). In another instance four different weapons were issued with the same licence number viz.  LH 1257. We will deal with other instances in later blogs.
                                          
                                   Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846. 




We are always pleased to know of other weapons registered in East Cork or any of the other 39 areas
under this Act.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk