Thursday 30 June 2016

Ballincollig Royal Gunpowder Mills.



Ballincollig 
  Royal Gunpowder Mills


                  The history of this establishment can be found under the following Wikipedia link:
                         
                           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballincollig_Royal_Gunpowder_Mills.
Our appreciation to the above wikipedia link.    

                                              Cork advertisement placed in March 1835.


        Ballincollig Royal Mills Company,
           Dublin trades directory entry for 1872.  

This appears to be the first office this company opened within Dublin at 58 Townsend Street c. 1871.

       
                 We are always interested in any advertising material related to the Irish guntrade.

                                                    Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Jos. Braddell & Son. Belfast.



Joseph Braddell & Son
Gun,Rifle and Fishing Tackle Makers.
Belfast.

                                            Jos. Braddell & Son trade card/label for c.1910.



This unaddressed trade label was for the period just prior to their move to Arthur Square in 1915 and could have covered both premises.

                                                Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk








Tuesday 28 June 2016

Samuel Wallace.




Samuel Wallace

Gunmaker
Dublin.




                                Converted brass barrelled blunderbuss by Samuel Wallace


          Drum & nipple conversion.  Brass barrel with top folding bayonet and slide release.

                                       Engraved "Dublin".  Crowned "V" & "P" Proofs 
                                          and registered in County Fermanagh (F 7883 )
                                                  
                                                      Trading dates and addresses:

Wallace, Samuel
Dublin
1782
Became a Freeman.
Wallace, Samuel
Dublin
1784-1788
2 William Street
Wallace, Samuel
Dublin
1789-1798
22 Eustace Street


               Please refer to our "older posts" dated  16/1/2016, 24/12/2015 & 7/10/2015

It would appear that Samuel Wallace died in the year of the Rebellion, 1798  and this always casts certain suspicions over what role he may have taken during this difficult time in Irish history. As noted by M.S. Dudley Westropp many gunmakers were taken to the Pigeon House within Dublin Castle and were never to reappear!!

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

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







Monday 27 June 2016

Martin Freeney, Galway.



Martin Freeney

Cartridges

Galway.

                               The "Atom" Smokeless Cartridges. Martin Freeney, Galway.
                                              Photography courtesy of Mark O'Brien.

We are always interested in vintage advertising material related to Irish gunmakers and cartridge makers/retailers.

                                              Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sunday 26 June 2016

County Monaghan. Irish Registration Act 1843.

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

Licence to Keep Arms.

                                        

                                          County Monaghan

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 Monaghan between 1843-1846.

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


Monaghan Registered Weapons.


MN 826/827
Flk Holster Pistols. 9" Barrels.
Gray
MN 1307/1308
22 Bore Percussion Target/Duelling Pistols.
Fowler
MN 1503
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Ketland
MN 1607
Flk Service Pistol

MN 1554
Flk Officer/Holster Pistol. Spring Bayonet.
Mc Dermott
MN 1664

Perc' Pocket Pistol. 3 bents. 7" Overall. 3" Barrel.
W&J Rigby

MN 1724
Flk India Pattern Brownbess. 39.5"Barrel..

MN 2009
Perc'B/A.D/B.O/U. Eliptical Bore Blunderbuss
Holland
MN 2035
S/B Shotgun No8030 sold in 1837. 14g.
W&J Rigby
MN 2036
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss
Henshaw
MN 3680
Flk India Pattern.
Tower
MN 3793
Flk Manstopper/Travelling Pistol. .67".
Spencer
MN 4095/4096
Pair Perc' Overcoat Pistols
Mc Daniel
MN 5143
Flk Steel Barrelled Blunderbuss
Nicholson
MN 5435
Percussion Pistol
Mc Daniel
MN 5479
Flk India Pattern Bess

MN 6485
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss

MN 6649
Converted Holster Pistol. C.1760. Liege proofs.
Claude Micquet
MN 6693
Flk Blunderbuss Pistol. 10" . 17" overall.
Geo Alley.
MN 6847
Percussion Police carbine
Rigby
MN 6922/6923
Pair  Converted Travelling Pistols. 14 Bore.
Willett              
A pair of percussion overcoat pistols by John McDaniel of Monaghan

Side of the octagonal barrel registered 4096

Ditto 4095


Mc Daniel,John
Monaghan
1824
Back Street.
Slater's Directory. 

Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.


Returns listed Qty 6709 




We are always interested in weapons registered in County Monaghan.

 John McDaniel originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 
Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

Dave Stroud.ramrodantiques.co.uk

Saturday 25 June 2016

Watts Bros Ltd..


Watts Brothers Ltd..
Upper Ormond Quay
Dublin 


The Hanging Sign of Watts Bros in 1998.




                                   Watts Bros, 18 Upper Ormond Quay. Shopfront 1998.





Watts Bros Ltd
1969-1999
              18 Upper Ormond Quay

This company was founded by Paddy, Johnny and Billy Watts at 4 Upper Abbey Street in 1940.
In 1942 they gained their full Firearms Dealer Licence. Paddy and Johnny having been associated with Larry "Old Pops" Keegan (Gunmakers)  at 3 Inns Quay from the 1920's.
Please refer to our "Older Posts"with respect to this company.

Watts Bros were one of the last "old time" gunsmiths to finish trading in central Dublin and I have fond memories visiting this shop.

                     We are always interested in any material related to this company.

                                            Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk





Friday 24 June 2016

Thomas Read. Licence


Thomas Read
Cutler
Dublin.




The above licence enacted in the 33rd year of George III reign is a form of protectionism that
thwarted the importation of weapons into Ireland unless the said fee of three shillings was paid to the Crown ( Majesty).
Here we see Thomas Read of Parliament Street, Dublin being allowed to deal in "Swords, Explosives? and Halbery?" (Halberds) dated 12th April 1793.

Please refer to the link below. A very charming video showing Mr Read-Cowell. (1983)
http://www.politicalworld.org/showthread.php?15677-Thomas-Read-Cutlers-of-Dublin-(1675-1997)#.V20L2LgrLIU

Our sincere appreciation for the use of the above link.

We are always interested in early material related to the licensing of weapons in Ireland prior to 1900.

                                                Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 23 June 2016

Wm & Jn Rigby Percussion Cap Tin


Wm & Jno Rigby

Improv'd Anticorrosive Copper Cap Tin.

Dublin


                                             Embossed percussion cap tin c.1830



                                          
                                             Please refer to our "older posts" related to the Rigby's
                                                     In addition, refer to our blog of 20/11/2015.

        We are always interested in purchasing items such as the above related to any gunmakers
                                but especially those connected to the Irish guntrade.

                       Our appreciation to the owner for photography and permission to publish.
                                                       
                                                       Dave Stroud.ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wednesday 22 June 2016

1857 Dublin Trades Directory


 Dublin 

Trades Directory

1857

                                                    Gunsmiths & Gunpowder Merchants.

The compositor had a bad few seconds while setting up line 8.
"Parkinson Joh"u" and "10" should have  read 17 Arran Quay.

However, in the compositors defence there were many distractions in 1857 i.e., The Indian Mutiny, The Second Opium War and two massive earthquakes in both China and California. 

Please refer to our "older posts" with regard to John Parkinson and the other gunmaker's listed here.

http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1857

The John Parkinson company traded at this address 1845-1916.

This company commenced trading from c.1825 through to 1916. Entries in the Dublin trades directories include James Parkinson who is noted through the 1880's at the above address. 
Yet to be confirmed but it looks to be that two sons i.e., James and John succeeded their father but never traded as "& Sons"?

We are always pleased to receive material related to the above gunmakers or merchants.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk


Tuesday 21 June 2016

Licence For Keeping Arms.Tyrone.


    Licence For Keeping Arms.

issued

Omagh
County Tyrone

 16th June 1837.




The above legislation was the forerunner to the 1843 Registration Act. In reality all the gun laws applicable to Ireland and dating back to the late 17th century had the effect of gradually corralling all  weapons in private hands. However, under the above law there was no need to "brand" the weapons but merely register them. As can be seen the description of the weapons are very loose and moreover differ from the upper and lower entries in this case? 

The initial entry appears to to state: Four Guns. Two Blunderbusses, One Fowling Piece, Two Swords. One Brace of Pistols?
In the lower entry the fowling piece is omitted?

It would also appear that "the brace of pistols" was considered one stand of arms?


We are always interested in material related to the licensing of weapons in Ireland prior to 1900. 

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Monday 20 June 2016

County Meath. Irish Registration Act 1843.

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

Licence to Keep Arms.

                                        

                                          County Meath

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 Meath between 1843-1846.

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



A Six Shot Pepperbox Revolver Barrel Cluster Marked (ME 3158). 



County Meath Registered Weapons.


ME 56/57
Pair of Rifled Holster Pistols
Francis Lord
ME 62
Flk Dueller. Marked on stock. Barrels refinished faint remnant.
Wogdon
ME 64/65
Flk Holster Pistols.25 Bore.
J Finch
ME 306
Flk Greatcoat Pistol
Forsyth & Co
ME 834
Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
Archer
ME 1130/1131
Pair Greatcoat Pistols

ME 1428
26 bore Holster Pistol. Brass Barrel.
Ketland.
ME 1811
Perc' Turnover 2 Shot Pistol.
Kavanagh
ME 1880
Converted Pistol Flk to Perc'
Wallars
ME 1920
Perc' Pocket Pistol. Magazine Stock. Sidehammer See Below.
W&J Rigby
ME 1921
Percussion Pocket Pistol
W&J Rigby
ME 2018
Flk Brownbess. 41" Barrel.

ME 2019
Flk Sporting Gun. 8 Bore 36" Barrel.
Ryan
ME 2022
Flk Dragoon Type Pistol.
Ketland & Co
ME 2140
Flk Holster Pistol . Brass Mounts.
Morton
ME 2692
Perc' Pistol. Magazine Butt. Captive Ramrod.3 bents
Lanigan
ME2878
Blunderbuss
Thomas
ME 3158
Percussion 6 Shot Pepperbox Revolver. 120 bore.
Kavanagh
ME3352

Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.Andw Keary. Coaching Agent? AAA 2014


ME 3359
Scottish All Steel Flk Pistol. Rams Horn Butt.Acorn Trigger.Belt Hk

ME 3367
Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
J Gray
ME 4063/4064
Pair Flk Light Dragoon Pistols
stolen
ME 4132
Flk Travelling Pistol. 16 bore. Broken Cock. Victoria Museum.
Kennan ?
ME 5210
Flk Brass barrelled Blunderbuss.
G. Ryan
ME 5364
Flk Pistol. Brass Barrel
Ransford
ME 5503
Flk Steel barrelled Blunderbuss.



Throughout this survey it has been noticeable just how few pepperbox revolvers were actually registered under the Act between 1843-1846. Although they were popular in the America prior to these dates the Rigby's first mention of a 6 shot revolver occurred in 1843*

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

(page 97. serial no. 9029)

Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.




Total returns listed. Qty 4772






Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk