Monday 29 February 2016

Cork & Fermoy Day Coach.




The

Cork & Fermoy 

Day Coach.




The expansion of the coaching services in the late 18th and early 19th centuries offered very good business opportunities to the gunmakers of Ireland. Even more so the Royal Mail Coaches that required constant protection.

The above service appears almost like the shopping excursion of the well to do. These would still have offered rich pickings for the footpad's and highwaymen although these services emphasize
the use of day-light thereby offering some slight improvement in safety from ambush and road accidents.

  We are always interested in Pistols/Guns associated with the coaching services within Ireland.

                                 Please refer to our earlier blogs dated:-
                                                25/11/2015
                                                22/11/2015
                                                19/10/2015
                                                 27/9/2015
                                                 25/9/2105
                                       
                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk



Sunday 28 February 2016

John Silk. Gunmaker



John Silk
Gun Maker
Dublin

John Silk trade card/label advertising Nock's patent breech.
Our sincere thanks to the owner for photography.

John Silk and the Earl of Clanricarde are covered in Duelling Pistols and some of the affairs they settled by John A. Atkinson. Cassell & Co Ltd., London. 1964. 
Pages 76,77 & 78..


Refer to previous blogs related to Dublin gunmakers using Nock patent trade card/label

9/1/2016
29/11/2015
27/11/2015

                  Trading dates and addresses for John Silk.

            1800                 Leinster Street.  (F. Carroll)* see below.     
            1801-1802         Abbey Street.
            1803-1805         195 Abbey Street.

       
John Silks first known trades directory entry for 1802


Alley  William 6 Abbey Street
Blackall Eliza 40 Fishamble Street
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 Thomas 60 Abbey Street
Fowler Thomas 14 Capel Street
Gray John 1 Bride Street
Haskey Thomas 16 Upper Ormond Quay
Hutchinson Michael 8 Dame Street
Mc Dermott Farrell 2 Abbey Street
Meredith Charles 16 Fishamble Street
Morton William 28 Castle Street
Muley Daniel 28 Parliament Street
Pattison Thomas 1 Clarence Street,Nth Strand
Quinlan Daniel 10 Werburgh Street
Rigby John 19 Suffolk Street
Rumbold William 17 Lwr Ormond Quay
Silk John Abbey Street
Tomlinson Robert 123 Capel Street
Trulock Thomas 50 Barrack Street
Wheeler Oliver 5 Gt Ship Street
Willett Robert 23 Eustace Street
       

 John Silk originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.
* John Silk  listed F. Carroll. Irish Gunsmiths and Sword Cutlers. The Irish
Sword Vol.III No.10 1957.

In a future blog we will look at this gunmakers work.

We are always interested in any information related to this gunmaker.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk 

Saturday 27 February 2016

Connell & Co.. Cork



  Connell & Co.,
Cork.

Retailer?

Connell & Co., Percussion Travelling Pistol c. 1840

                                Registered in East Cork under the 1843 Act ( EC 1536)

This pistol with backaction lock, a bun-nut retaining the hammer (hammer a replacement). Captive ramrod held under a round barrel with flat top rib that steps to an octagonal? breech. The question mark is added due to this pistol having not been seen by the author. An unusual barrel configuration.

A percussion pistol marked Connel & Co., is noted by Richard J. Garrett in " Irish Gunmakers" privately published 2008. page 22.  This booklet available from ramrodantiques.co.uk

                                               

                                                  Connell & Co., listed by Richard J. Garrett
                                                                     "Irish Gunmakers"
                                                                        Published 2008.

                                                      Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
  

Friday 26 February 2016

County Down. Irish Registration Act 1843



The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

Licence to Keep Arms.

                                          County Down

                                                       



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 Down between 1843-1846.

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


              Flintlock brass barrelled blunderbuss registered in County Down (D-N 7324)

DN 28
Flk Wall Gun. 6 Bore. 55" Barrel Weight 20lbs. Merz

DN 261
14 bore Flk Travelling Pistol
N. Booth?
DN 310
Converted Musket
Brander & Potts
DN 675
Flk pistol converted to percussion.
William Pattison
DN 775
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
Patrick
DN 776/777
Pair Flk Pistols
H.Nock
DN 805
Flk Fully Stocked Dueller. Muley to Lock. Wheeler to Barrel

DN 9608
Flk India Pattern Brownbess. 79th 2. Batt..
Tower
DN 1126/1127
Flk Queen Anne Boxlock Holster Pistol
F. Trulock ?
DN 1142
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
James Eames
DN 1143/1144
Pair Flk Duelling Pistols 10" Swamped Barrels.
Eames.
DN 1628
Flk Elliott Carbine.
Simmonds
DN 1667/1668

Flk Silver Mounted Holster Pistols. 10" barrels (RT)? C 1775.
Lewis Alley

DN 2621
Perc' Pistol.
W. Cole
DN 2911
Flk Sporting Gun. S/B.
Ketland
DN 2947
Converted S/B Sporting Gun.

DN 3001
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
W Ketland
DN 3050/3051
Pair Perc' Pkt Pistols.

DN 3231/3232
Pair Flk Duelling Pistols. Fully Stocked Late 18thc.
Wheeler
DN 3378
India Pattern Brownbess 39" Barrel

DN 3548
Percussion Fowling Piece. Single Barrelled.
Peters
DN 3549
Percussion Fowling Piece. Single Barrelled.

DN 3700
Short Land Pattern Brownbess 40" Barrel

DN 4485
Light small bore perc'shotgun.silver mounts.

DN 4586
Flk 10 Bore Manstopper/Overcoat Pistol. 3" Sighting Channel barrel
Holland
DN 5131
Converted Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Robert Tomlinson
DN 5397/98

Pair of Flk 4 Barrelled Brass Tap Action Pistols. Silver Mounts 1782
Durs Egg

DN 5669
India Pattern BrownBess.

DN 6433/6434
Pair Perc'duelling pistols.saw handled grips
Cole
DN 6787
Brown Bess

DN 6971
Flk Holster Pistol. Brass Mounts.

DN 7210
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
McCormick
DN 7217
Flk Pkt Pistol.
D.Egg
DN 7289
Converted. Manstopper
Fowler
DN 7324
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
Cole
DN 7797
16 Bore Flk Carbine
W & J Rigby
DN 7801
Flk 16 Bore Service Pistol
W & J Rigby
DN 8390/8391
FLk Cannon Barrelled Pistol
Walsingham
DN 8757
Percussion Pistol with spring bayonet

DN 8892
Flk Duelling Pistol
Robert Wogdon
DN 8993
Flk Pistol
Twigg
DN 9335
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss

DN 9915
Flk D/B Coaching Pistol
Fowler
DN 10040
Queen Anne Pistol
Dylaney
DN 10079
Converted Queen Anne/coaching pistol
De… Devine?
DN 10715
Flk Boxlock Blunderbuss Pistol with Bayonet.
Doidge
DN 11114
Perc' Carbine.Side Swung Bayonet.
W & J Rigby
DN 11591
Flk post 1809 India Pattern Brownbess
Tower

DN 11828/11829
Cased Pair of Percussion ( converted ) Duelling Pistols 40 Bore.
H.W. Mortimer

DN 11910
Flk India Pattern Brownbess.. Sligo Militia.

DN 11933
Brownbess Musket 42" Barrel

DN 12071
Percussion Holster Pistol
Barton
DN 12372
Flk O/U Pistol. "Fecit" Dublin,Clarke.
Clarke
DN 12921
Flk or Percussion Pocket Pistol?
W Cole
DN 13161
Flk India Pattern.
Tower
DN 13325
India Pattern Brown Bess. Seago F49.

DN 13408
P Lederer Article No other details

DN 13621
Flk Pocket pistol
Ashford & Co
DN 13789
Converted Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Alley
DN 14053
Flk Duelling pistol. Saw Handled
Murphy
DN 14120
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss with under bayonet.
Rigby
DN 15074
India Pattern Brownbess. Butt plate only. 









County Down currently holds the accolade of having the highest number of licences issued (15074). County Tyrone being a respectable second with (12284).

As previously stated the "6 counties" averaged over (10.000) licences
per county whereas the other 34 counties/boroughs averaged a mere (3800).
  
                                                Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.





                  We are always interested in any weapons registered in this county.

                                         Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk




Thursday 25 February 2016

Cartridge: Trulock & Harriss



Trulock & Harriss
9 Dawson Street
Dublin


Nobel's Empire Powder Cartridge loaded by Trulock & Harriss.
Information courtesy of the United Kingdom Cartridge Club.

We are always interested in any Irish shotgun cartridge material.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Anglin Cork


                                         

                                         Joseph Anglin                  

         Gunsmith

                Cork.



Mid 18th Century Pocket Pistol by Anglin.

Although the name Anglin is strongly linked with the later 19th century Wexford guntrade it is our belief that the above weapon was produced in Cork by Joseph Anglin, who is noted as trading in this city c.1757.

We are always interested in weapons manufactured by any of the Anglin family of gunmakers.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Farrell McDermott.


  Farrell  McDermott 

1 Abbey Street

Dublin


Duelling Pistols
c.1825


A pair of percussion duelling pistols made c.1825 for 
George Bury Esq. Cott.



McDermott half stocked percussion duelling pistols with 11.75" octagonal sighted barrels. 


Many duelling pistols for this period were made in that transitional period where
flintlock parts such as side plates and barrels were altered and adapted to use the "new" detonating system. The large nipple bolsters on these pistols sitting in the pan location. The typically Irish wide collar percussion hammers sitting just proud of the fences. The 11.75" Barrels would have originally been more suited for use with the flintlock ignition where the ignition of the powder was slower and the extra length to the barrel gave time for the powder to burn and develop maximum pressure.

Lt Col. Peter Hawker in:  Instructions to Young Sportsmen, 4th ed 1825., 5th ed., 1826 & 6th ed., .,1830relates a very contemporary view of the new "detonating system" and also discusses the benefits and draw backs of both ignition systems and emphasises the importance of correct barrel boring to suit.
The above volumes are very informative read and insight into the workings of the UK gun trade in the early part of the nineteenth century.


   
Copper & Brass Powder Flask engraved to the owner George Bury Esqr Cott?

To date it has not been possible to find the meaning of "Cott"? Any ideas would be gratefully received.
                Powder Flask and Escutcheon engraved to the owner. George Bury Esqr.. Cott?


Dublin trades directory entry for Farrel McDermott, 1825.


Calderwood Thomas 14 N. Earl St
Dempsey William 192 Gt Britain St
Fowler Thomas 33 Capel St
Gallagher Henry 206 Gt Britain St
Gray John 46 Moore St
Herbert John 17 Phoenix St
Kavanagh William Upp Ormond Quay
Mc Dermott Farrell 1 Abbey St
Muley Daniel 32 Townsend St
Murphy John 190 Gt Britain St
Pattison John 157 Capel St
Rigby William 19 Suffolk St
Ryan Michael 15 Fishamble St
Truelock Thomas 50 Barrack St
Truelock William & Son 152 Capel St
Turner George 154 Capel St
Wilson James 43 w. New Row.



Note;

Charles William George Bury, 2nd Earl of Charleville. Family seat Charleville Forest, County
Offaly, Ireland.

Our sincere thanks to Michael F. Carrick for photography and details relating to this superb pair of McDermott duelling pistols.



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

  Dave Stroud.  ramrodantiques.co.uk




Monday 22 February 2016

18th & 19th Century Magazine Self Primers.

 Magazine Self Primers.

                                   

  A ratchet assisted magazine self primer by John Connel c.1745

John Connel
is not listed as an Irish gunmaker by any of the recognised authorities and therefore research is ongoing. Although operating on differing systems both the inventions below have the same purpose in mind i.e.,that of reducing the loading time. The frizzen seen here is also the powder hopper. The ratchet mechanism operating the closure thereby isolating the charge in the hopper from the charged pan prior to ignition.

                   Ratchet assisted magazine self primer showing rectangular dispensing aperture
                               

                                     John Connel to magazine self primer lockplate c.1745


19th Century Magazine self primer.


                           This magazine self primer manufactured by Dublin gunmaker 
                Thomas Pattison ( 1799-1811), who claims to be the inventor of this system.


A safety feature added to this invention is the sprung loaded cap in the event of a spark igniting the whole hopper. This aperture also used for loading.

An example of the above can also be seen in "The Price Guide to Antique Guns & Pistols by Peter Hawkins. Published by Antique Collectors Club. 1973. Page 123. This cited example having been manufactured by Dublin gunmaker Robert Tomlinson. (1783-1805). It is possible that Tomlinson
trained Pattison. If not,  some other form of business association may have existed?

Oliver Wheeler, is also listed as a maker of this type of mechanism. "12 shots with one loading" Fin's Leinster Journal 22/8/1787*. This statements can be misleading as it infers that the gun is firing 12 times with only one loading but in fact the barrel still had to be loaded with powder and ball but the "priming hopper" gave 12 dispenses of priming powder to the pan.

Our sincere appreciation to both collectors of the above items for photography and permission to publish.

                                                    As stated John Connel not listed.

                                    Oliver Wheeler, Robert Tomlinson & Thomas Pattison
 originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.

                                                     Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk