Saturday 30 April 2016

Early 17th & 18th Century Dublin Gunmakers.

     

 17th & 18th Century Gunmakers

Dame Street & Cork Hill Area
Dublin



                                                                    Dublin c. 1752.

Many Irish gunmakers would have traded in Dame Street and Cork Hill but in this blog we will note only those that are definitely attributed to this location and the approximate term they spent there.


Lewis Alley 15 Cork Hill 1776-1780
Matthew Collins Dame Street 1748 - d.1770
Roger Evans Cork Hill 1710-1711
Richard Fagan Castle Street 1746
Thomas Fitzpatrick Church Street 1690-1722
John Govers Dame Street 1759-d.1774
Hutchinson & Lord 40 Dame Street 1771-1775
Michael Hutchinson 40 Dame Street 1776-1784
Michael Hutchinson 8 Dame Street 1785-1811
Benjamin Lord Dame Street 1755-1758
Benjamin & Francis Lord Dame Street 1761
Francis Lord Dame Street 1761-1771
Francis Maddox/Maddocks Castle Yard 1685-1707
Oldberry Dame Street d.1778
Michael Rainsford/Ransford Castle Yard 1730/1751
Michael Rainsford/Ransford Dame Street 1752-d.1757
Henry Rainsford Castle Lane 1759-1760
James Rainsford Castle Lane 1760-1761
James Rainsford Dame Street 1761-1774
James Rainsford 29 Dame Street 1775-1782
Charles Tailsford Castle Street 1761-1770
Thomas Thorpe Castle Street 1752
James Trulock Castle Street 1760
John Trulock Castle Street/Castle Yard 1680-1721/1725
Thomas Trulock Dame Street 1762-1763
Thomas Trulock Dame Street 1766-1767
Thomas Truelock 28 Dame Street 1770-1774
Oliver Wheeler Cork Hill/Dame Street 1772/1773





        We are always pleased to receive any information related to the early gunmakers of Dublin.

                                                Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk


Friday 29 April 2016

Bryan Farrelly & Sons. Cartridge.


Bryan Farrelly & Sons
"Kenlis" Cartridge.
Kells.


                                 Sketch courtesy of The United Kingdom Cartridge Club.

                                                Photography courtesy of Mark O' Brien
                                             

                                                    Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 28 April 2016

William Truelock & Son. Dublin.


William Truelock & Son
Gunmakers
Dublin


The Dublin Guntrade

1839


                                 Trulock & Son trade label/card for the period 1832-1842.
                                    Photography courtesy of the late Geoffrey Boothroyd. 
As can be seen from the Directory entry for 1839 and trade label/card the spelling of Trulock
varied between Trulock & Truelock throughout this period.

           We are always interested in details relating to the Trulock family of gunmakers.

                           Please refer to our "older posts" relating to this company.
                                          
                                              Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Leitrim. The Irish Registration Act of 1843

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

                                       County Leitrim



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 Leitrim between 1843-1846.

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

County Leitrim
LE 182
Flk Blunderbuss
Trulock
LE1140
Police carbine converted.
W&J Rigby
LE 1457/1458
Pair Flk Duelling Pistols. Cased. Mc Dermott label to lid.
Lanigan
LE 1559
Police Constabulary Carbine converted
W. Rigby?



Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.




Total returns Qty 2681



W & J Rigby police constabulary converted carbine marked (LE 1140) on butt tang.

We are always interested in weapons registered in this county.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk


Tuesday 26 April 2016

Robert Tomlinson Gunmaker


Robert Tomlinson
Gunmaker
Dublin 

Robert Tomlinson Flintlock 
Overcoat/Travelling Pistols c.1795





Trading dates and Addresses for Robert Tomlinson.

1782-1783 11 Liffey Street
1784-1804  d.1805 123 Capel Street.

Robert Tomlinson gunmakers mark is a "R.T" within a rectangle.


Robert Tomlinson's final trades directory entry for 1804.

Clarke Nicholas 35 Capel Street
Devereux Michael 3 Blackall Row
Edwards Thomas 190 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
Muley Daniel 28 Parliament Street
Pattison Thomas 1 Clarence Street. Nth Strand
Quinlan Daniel 10 Werburgh Street
Rigby John 19 Suffolk Street
Silk John 195 Abbey Street
Tomlinson Robert 123 Capel Street
Trulock Thomas 23 Barrack Street

Robert Tomlinson originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.
Vol.11. No 1.
                                                    Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Monday 25 April 2016

Hunters & Son. Cartridge.


Hunters & Son
Gunmakers
Belfast.

                            Sketch courtesy of The United Kingdom Cartridge Club.

                                         Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sunday 24 April 2016

William Kavanagh Jnr, Dublin



   William Kavanagh Jnr..
11 Dame Street
Dublin

                                                                     Featured Pistol.

 An absolutely superb 120 bore pepperbox revolver by Wiilliam Kavanagh Jnr..
 Beautifully scroll engraved frame with 11 Dame Street, Dublin.
                                          Most original blue to trigger guard and frame.
Bar hammer with top sliding safety. Integral nipple shield. Two piece walnut grips.

Kavanagh trading dates and addresses 


Kavanagh,William.
c.1816-1821
6 Anderson Court.Greek St.
Kavanagh,William.
1822-1837
4 Upper Ormond Quay
Kavanagh, William.
1838
4 Upper Ormond Quay & 11 Dame Street
Kavanagh, William & Sons
1839
4 Upper Ormond Quay & 11 Dame Street
Kavanagh,William.
1840-1842
4 Upper Ormond Quay
Kavanagh, William jnr.
1840-1842
11 Dame Street
Kavanagh, William & James
1843-1849
4 Ormond Quay Lower
Kavanagh, William jnr
1843-1849
11 Dame Street
Kavanagh,James
1850-1852
4 Ormond Quay Lower
Kavanagh, Williiam jun.
1850-1852
12 Dame Street
Kavanagh, James
1853-1863
12 Dame Street
Kavanagh, William Jnr
1853-1863
12 Dame Street
Kavanagh,William&James
1864-1870
12 Dame Street
Kavanagh,William.
1871-1882
12 Dame Street
Kavanagh,William & Son
1883-1923
12 Dame Street


Please refer to our "older posts"  relating to the Kavanagh dynasty of gunmakers.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Saturday 23 April 2016

Joseph Braddell & Son, Belfast.




Joseph Braddell & Son
Gun Manufacturers
Castle Place
Belfast


Joseph Braddell & Son trade label for 21 Castle Place.
Contained within an oak cartridge revolver case. c.1885


Joseph Braddell & Son traded at this location:


1868-1915




21 Castle Place.


Please refer to our "Older Posts"related to this company: 
                                                                              13/4/2016
                                                                               5/1/2016
                                                                             31/12/2015 
                                                                             12/12/2015,
                                                                             5/12/2015,
                                                                             22/10/2015
                                                                               1/9/2015


We are always pleased to receive information related to this period of Braddell's
history.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk


Friday 22 April 2016

Dublin Guntrade 1838.



The Dublin Guntrade
1838


                                                   

Of the gunmakers listed in the 1838 trades directory, four were subtracting work from Wm & Jn Rigby and were in all probability ex-employees of the Rigby house.

John Acton, Edward McLaughlin, James Pattison and Thomas Quinlan are all noted in, D.H.L Backs  Great Irish Gunmakers, Messrs Rigby 1760-1869. published 1992, as Rigby's staff. Moreover, it would appear that the Rigby's expansion programme included using "outside" workers and their workshops. These workshops possibly being supplied or subsidised by the Rigby's.


                                                     Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 21 April 2016

Kings County. (Offaly). Irish Registration Act of 1843

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

                                     Kings County (Offaly)



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 Kings County between 1843-1846.

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

(2 K-S 1510) marked on the bottom rib of a duelling pistol by O'Neill. 


O'Neill duelling pistol c.1795

KINGS( Offaly)





1 KS-55
Brownbess. Dublin Castle.

5 KS 54
Flk Carbine.
W & J Rigby
2 KS 82
Flk Fowling Piece. Silver Mounted.
Rigby
5 KS 1--
Flk Light Dragoon Pistol
Dublin Castle
KS 128
Converted Holster Pistol C.1775. Brass Barrel. 20 Bore

3 KS 369
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss. 14.1/2 barrel. 30" Overall
G Turner
2 KS 640
Flk Police 16 Bore Carbine. Kings Co Ballyboy No2.
Mc Knight
3 KS 659
Flk Blunderbuss. Brass Barrelled.
Trulock & Son
1 KS 715
Flk 4 Barrelled Pocket Pistol
D Egg
3 KS 889
Flk brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
Egan
2 KS 915
Flk Blunderbuss..

1 KS 928
Flk Officers Pistol with Skeleton Shoulder Stock.
Egan
1KS 1010
Perc' Target Pistol. Manton Patent.
Manton
2 KS 1230
Blunderbuss
J.O'Brien
3 KS 1230
Perc' Pepperbox Revolver. 120 bore
Charles Jones
1KS 1309/2KS1309
Flk Duelling Pistols. 28 Bore. Cased. Bonhams 30/4/2014.
Wogdon & Barton
2 KS 1359
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
Wilson

6 K-S 1507/ 7 K-S 1507
Flintlock Duellers.  No 6 & 7 on licence KS 1507
H.W. Mortimer




2 K-S 1510
Flk Dueller. Slotted for shoulder stock. Roller to frizzen.
O'Neill
KS 1724
Blunderbuss
Morton


Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.






 Kings County were unique in the manner in which they registered their arms. 
The county prefix (KS) includes an additional number which indicates the number of weapons
on the licence being issued. If we look at the H.W.Mortimer pair of duelling pistols in the above list,these would in most other counties be consecutively numbered i.e., 1507/ 1508. However,
under the Kings County police interpretation of the legislation they are given the same licence number 1507 and each pistol  a number i.e., 6 & 7. Hence 6 K-S 1507 & 7 KS 1507.

In other counties/boroughs are found pairs of pistols with the same licence number for both
pistols. Just one of the many confusing issues arising with this law.

Our sincere thanks to the owner for photography and permission to publish.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk



Wednesday 20 April 2016

Richard Skelton. Gunsmith.



   Richard Skelton
Gunsmith
Monaghan




           Very unusual serrated edged hammers. "Skelton" to back action lockplates.
                                                        Double Gold Lined Breeches.
                                              "Monaghan" within sighting channel.
        Polished and engraved steel mounts. 
White metal forend bands.Very functional waisted ramrod stirrups.


Approximate trading dates and addresses:

Skelton, Richard
Monaghan
1824-1861
Back St / Market Square?                                    



                                                          Crest to date not attributed.
                                                                  Monogram "J.H" ?

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

                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Tuesday 19 April 2016

John Herbert. Gun Barrel Maker.


John Herbert
Gun Barrel Maker 

Dublin

1840




John Herbert was one of a number of gun barrel makers who traded within Dublin in the early part of the 19th century.  Refer to "older posts" related to; Samuel Cheetham , John Walsh & John Murphy.  Two of the larger gunmaking houses i.e., Wm & Jn Rigby and Trulock & Son were also producing their own barrels at this time.

Trading dates and addresses for John Herbert.

Herbert,John
Dublin
1818-1830
17 Phoenix Street
Herbert,John  
1831-1839? 
Herbert,John
Dublin
1840-1841
38 Montgomery Street
Herbert,John
Dublin
1847
5 Frederick Lane. South.

It is unclear why there appears a break in the trading dates for John Herbert? It just could be that John Herbert was employed by the Wm & Jn Rigby following their move to 24 Suffolk Street (1830)... when they proudly announce the inclusion of barrel making to their new manufactory?

In future blogs we will review some of the earlier 18th century gun barrel makers and the relevant proof marks found.

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

                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk