Merry Christmas & Healthy Prosperous New Year

          Embossed and Gilt Cover. Published by J.J.Little & Co., New York 1908 

                                  Merry Christmas

                          Healthy & Prosperous 2017.

                                                   to our global readership.




A big thank you to all those who have made the blog such a great success, especially those who contributed data, photography and made this forum an organic site.


During 2017 we will be adding yet more to this blog. The information already listed is free and has been built from not only from my own research but from many other collectors and able researchers. Where possible these have all been accredited.  Others wishing to remain anonymous.


Although this research centres predominantly on the gunmaker's Ireland we are always pleased to look at material relating to any aspect of the early Irish guntrade.


                             Thanks again and enjoy a peaceful Festive Season.


                                          Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk  

Michael Murphy Gunmaker/Inventor

Michael Murphy

Gunmaker/Inventor

2 Essex Quay

Dublin

                 Michael Murphy noted as the inventor of the Rotary "Top Hat" Multi Shot Pistol.

                              This style of pistol produced predominantly by W& J Rigby   possibly under licence or the Rigby's having bought the rights to produce this style of pistol.

    Inscriptions reads: "Invented by M. Murphy" 

This pistol registered in Dublin City."DC 5307".

We are always interested in knowing of other multi-shot weapons utilising the rotary "Top Hat" percussion ignition system.

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

Michael Murphy originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

                                                    Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

1776 Dublin trades directory.

                         Dublin trades directory 

                                      1776.

                                                     Gun-smiths


                               Alley Lewis 15 Cork Hill
                               Dalton Edward College Green
                               Devine Thomas 3 Abbey St
                               Hutchinson Michael 40 Dame st
                               Morton William 31 Skinner Row
                               Rainsford James 29 Dame st
                               Thorp Thomas Darby Sq
                               Wheeler Oliver Lower Castle Yard

          We are always interested in material related to any of the above gunsmiths.

                                  Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wm & Jn Rigby. Featured Pistol.

Wm & Jn Rigby
Dublin
Featured Pistol

(All Metal)

                                           Rotary "Top Hat" 4 Shot Percussion Pistol c.1829

                                      This weapon registered in County Wexford WX-5589

                                                                      Reverse side

                                                               Barrel & Nipple Key.

                                              Rotary hammer raised in firing postion.
                       
                          Our special thanks to the owner for photography and permission to publish.

For further details relating to this style of pistol please refer to Great Irish Gunmakers Messrs Rigby
1760-1869 by D.H.L.Back. 1992, Historical Firearms.
                                                   
                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Irish Metal Industries Ltd. Galway.

Eley Grand Prix Cartridge
Irish Metal Industries
Galway.

                              Photography courtesy of Country Sports, Newtownards.

              We are always interested in material related to Irish cartridge manufacture/retail.

                                                  Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Gartnetts & Keegan's

Garnetts & Keegan's
Limited
Dublin

        Advertisement courtesy of "Irish Fieldsports and Angling Handbook" Appletree Press.               1984. Compiled by Albert Titterington, B.Sc., M.B.A..
                           
                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRLhLQG6o-U
                             Garnett and Keegan's went into liquidation in 1989.

                    We are always interested in material related to the gunmakers of Ireland.

                                               Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

1856 Dublin Trades Directory

1856 

Dublin Trades Directory.

We are always pleased to receive information related to any of the above gunmakers/gunpowder merchants.

                                           Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Londonderry. Gunsmiths.

Londonderry
Gunsmiths
1824

                                                 The 1824 Pigot's Directory of Ireland 

                                   Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Limerick.

            We are always interested in any material related to the early gunmakers of Ireland

                                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

W&J Rigby converted Kuchenreuter pistols.

Wm & Jn Rigby
converted
Johan Andre Kuchenreuter
pistols.

 

18th century German pistols by Kuchenreuter converted c.1830 and later cased by W&J Rigby 

   Cased with later accoutrements. Other features to this pair. Set Triggers and Rear Leaf Sights              

Blued and silver inlaid round tapered fine rifled barrels with flat top sighting rib. Classic Rigby reversed "C" hammers c.1830  

Internal lock work. 

The Kuchenreuter family of gunmakers were noted by Stockel no less than nineteen times (1). Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries this gunmaking dynasty were renown for their high quality barrel making,rifling and accuracy.

Photography and permission to publish courtesy of John Such.

References:

 (1). The Handgun by Geoffrey Boothroyd, Cassel 1970.

We are always interested in material related to Irish gunmakers.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

"Kilmore" Cartridge Box. Belfast.

D.E & L. Greenaway.
Belfast.
"Kilmore"

                                       Photography courtesy of Country Sports, Newtownards.

    We are always interested in information related to cartridge manufacture/retail within Ireland.

                                                         Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Henry Dowling, Gunmaker Dublin.

Henry Dowling

Gunmaker

Dublin.

             Henry Dowling, Gun & Pistol Manufacturer, 78 Dame Street, Dublin. 1838-1844.

    Known trading dates and addresses:

Dowling	1840	Fownes's Street
Dowling, Henry	1838-1844	78 Dame Street
Dowling,Henry	1845-1848	66 Dame Street
Dowling,Henry	1849/75	67 Dame Street

    We are always pleased to know of and we buy original early Irish gunmakers trade cards/labels.

        A pair of cased travelling pistols by Henry Dowling can be viewed at www.HorstHeld.com

                Our sincere thanks to Horst Held at http://www.horstheld.com/0-Dowling.html
                                           
                  Please refer to our "older post" dated 17/10/2015 with regard to this gunmaker                                                    
                                              Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

A Snapshot of the Dublin guntrade.

                                               

                       A Snapshot of the Dublin guntrade.

                                  Nicholas Clarke eleven inch barrelled duelling pistol.

                     


                        
                           As published by Irish Countrysports Country Life Magazine in 2011.

                                                        Written by David Stroud
                                                          Edited by Paul Pringle.

               http://www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com/pdf/magazine/Winter2011.pdf

                                         Above photography courtesy Rex Pope.
                                      
                                            Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

William Gurd. Gunsmith.

William Gurd
Gunsmith
Fermoy

                                        Taken from the 1824 Pigot's Directory of Ireland.
                          Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Michael Street, Limerick.

                         We are always interested in the early gunmaker's from County Cork.

                                              Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

John Langson. Blunderbuss.

John Langson/Langston/Langton

Gunmaker

Dublin

Brass barrelled blunderbuss c.1800

Langson to sideplate. 

"Gen'l Post Office" to trigger guard.

Known trading dates and addresses: 

Langson,John	d.1813	22 Eustace Street
Langton/Langston,Jo	1795-1798	22 Eustace Street
Langton/Langston,Jo	1808-1810	22 Eustace Street
Langston, John	1768

Others Listed:-

Benjamin Langson 1815/1816. 20 Greek Street, Dublin. Nephew of John Langson.

Langson/John Langton originally listed by 

M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA.

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

                                                                      Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lady's Newspaper. Comments Ireland 1848.

Lady's Newspaper
1848

               The above just confirms the precarious position Ireland was in politically during 1848.

                               The Dublin Gun Trade 1848.

Bassett	Edward		21 Parliament Street
Calderwood	James		22 Duke Street
Calderwood	Thomas		14 Earl Street. N.
Cheetham	Samuel		3 Camden Row
Clarke	William		207 Britain Street Gt.
Dowling	Henry		66 Dame Street
Dowling	William		31 Bishop Street
Holland	William		46 Capel Street
Kavanagh	James		4 Ormond Quay Lower
Kavanagh	William Jun.		11 Dame Street
Parkinson	John		17 Arran Quay
Pattison	M.J		18 Crampton Court
Pattison	Robert		18 Aughrim Street
Rigby	William & John		24 Suffolk Street
Truelock E & Son			9 Dawson Street
Turner	Thomas		184 King Street. North
Walsh	John		29 Ormond Quay

The above companies would have been regularly visited by the authorities in order to ensure they were not supplying arms to the "freedom fighters".

As can be seen from previous blogs robberies and visitations were common place. Refer to "older posts" dated 11/11/2015 & 5/8/2016.

                                             Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Armed Robbery: Croom, County Limerick

Armed Robbery

                                         Croom

County Limerick

1783.

                                       Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Limerick.
                             
We are always interested in social history such as the above especially when named guns/pistols
are noted. Unfortunately, in this robbery the fact that a gun and pistols were used is the only relevant
details applicable to this study.

                   Watch collectors could be interested in the reference to Samuel Atkins. London?

Samuel Atkins is recorded in Baillie, G. H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as an 'eminent' maker born in 1697 and working from Temple Bar until his death in 1768.
                                                                                           
                                                Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

The Early 19th Century Dublin Guntrade Soldiers On.

                        The Dublin Guntrade Soldiers On.

                                  A pair of duelling pistols by Thomas Haskey, Dublin


                    An article written for the Irish Countrysports and Country Life Magazine.
                                                 Written by Dave Stroud.
                                                   Edited by Paul Pringle.


             http://www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com/pdf/magazine/Winter2012.pdf

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

                                          Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Whitesmiths & Gunsmiths. Strabane.

Whitesmiths & Gunsmiths
Strabane.

                                                           Pigot's Directory of 1824
                Of the four "smiths" listed above, only one has previously been listed as a gunsmith. i.e.,
                Charles Boyd of Meeting-house-st.. Please refer below.

                                     https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whitesmith

 Charles Boyd originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

W. Kavanagh & Son. Dublin.

W. Kavanagh & Son.
Dublin

                                             "Kynoch", Dublin. Brass Base & Primer.

     We are always interested in any material related to Irish manufactured/retailed shotgun cartridges

                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Dublin Guntrade 1846.

The Dublin Guntrade
1846.

                                                 
The unusual entry to this directory is the inclusion of "Patrick Masterson", 12 Fleet Street, Dublin.
We would be pleased to know of any weapons recorded by this gunsmith.

                                                    Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Michael Fallon. Gun Maker.

Michael Fallon
Gun Maker
Galway

Michael Fallon's entry in the 1824 Pigot's Directory.

Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Limerick.

   We are always interested in information related to the gunmakers of Galway.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Vampire Slaying Kit. Calderwood & Son. Dublin.

Calderwood & Son
Featured Pistol.

                                                                      Location

                                              Victoria Police Museum & Historical Unit.

                                                             Melbourne Australia.

 Silver Balls, Holy Water Bottle, Crucifix, Wooden Stake and Calderwood & Son Percussion Pistol.

                                                All photography courtesy of Victoria Police.
                                         Special thanks to Caroline Oxley, Research Officer,
                                               Victoria Police Museum & Historical Unit.

The above, was part of a larger article written for and published by Irish Countrysports & Country Life Magazine in 2012, edited by Paul Pringle. see attached link:                                                                      http://www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com/pdf/magazine/Autumn2012.pdf

             We sincerely thank all those who assisted in the production of the original article.

                                               Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Joseph Braddell & Son. Belfast.

Joseph Braddell & Son
Gunmakers
Belfast.

                         We are always interested in Irish shotgun cartridge related material.
                                                Our appreciation for use of photography.
                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

William Pattison. Gunsmith.

William Pattison
Gunsmith
Newtown Limavady.

                   William Pattison's entry in the Pigot's Directory of Ireland 1824.
                           Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Limerick.

                     Please refer to our earlier blog dated 6/3/2016 relating this gunmaker.

      We are always interested in receiving information with respect to the gunmakers of Ireland.

                                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk