George McKnight. Gunmaker, Dublin 1815.

George McKnight

Gunmaker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 5th September 1815. Dublin Evening Post.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive. 

Please refer to our older posts with respect to this gunmaker dated; 30/3/2018, 28/3/2018, 27/3/2018 & 24/3/2018.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

 

George Mc Knight. Gunmaker. 1822

George McKnight.

Gun-Maker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 20th September 1822: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

  McKnight listed by Ian Glendenning in British Pistols & Guns 1640-1840 

and H.Ingram in his "Notes on Irish Gunsmiths" (edited by O.Snoddy).

also  A.M.Carey, English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers.

London 1954. 

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

 

George McKnight. Cased Duelling Pistols. c.1820.

George McKnight

Gunmaker

Dublin

Cased set of Flintlock Duelling Pistols by George McKnight c. 1820.

Image courtesy of Sotherby's.

Saw Handled/Orphodedic Grips. Figured Walnut Half Stocks with Silver Fore-End Caps. French Cocks. Full Rainproof Pans. Spur Trigger Guards. Set Triggers. Roller Frizzen Springs. Sighted Octagonal Barrels with two gold bands to breeches and gold vents. Signed in Gold.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

George McKnight. Sale. 1827.

George McKnight

Gunmaker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 18th January 1827: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Please refer to our "older posts" related to George McKnight dated, 24/3/2018 

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

George McKnight. Gun-Maker. 1820

Advertisement dated 13th January 1820: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive. 

George McKnight notifying his clients of his move from 14 Wood Street, Dublin. 

Mc Knight, George	c.1815/1819	14 Wood Street
Mc Knight, George	1820-1827	27 Exchequer Street.
Mc Knight, George*	1835-1855*	14 Wood Street*

* It would appear McKnight used both addresses from 1820?... although he does use the term "removed". Research ongoing.

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

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Mr Fowler. Gun-maker. 1795.

 

Mr. Thomas Fowler

Gun-maker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 12th May 1795 : Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Please refer to our "Older Posts" with respect to Thomas Fowler dated 22/11/2015 & 29/11/2015.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lanigan Gunmaker. Dublin.

John Lanigan

Gunsmith

Dublin

Freemans Journal: 23rd September 1831.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Please refer to our "older post" with respect to this gunmaker dated; 2/10/2015.

We are always interested in any snippets of information related to the gunmakers of Ireland.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sligo Duel. 1794

                                                Early 19th Century Cruikshank Cartoon.

Sligo March 25th, 1794.
Yesterday morning a duel was fought in Boyle, Co: Roscommon between John Taafe, Esq of Kingsfort and James Bridgeham Esq, of Carrowcawley both of this county. After discharging two shots each the matter was happily terminated by the interference of the seconds and a number of friends.
{Faulkner's Journal}

                   We are always interested in any material related to duelling in Ireland.
                                          Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Robert Tomlinson Gun-maker retiring.

Robert Tomlinson

Gun-maker

Dublin

Advertisement 20th April 1805: Saunders Newsletter. 
Image Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to Robert Tomlinson dated. 19/3/2018, 17/3/2018, 14/3/2018 & 26/4/2016.

Crowned cartouche " Tomlinson, Dublin".

Image courtesy of Henry Adams Aucioneers.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Robert Tomlinson, Gunmaker. Ill health.

Robert Tomlinson

Gun-maker

Dublin

Advertisement 22nd November 1804: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Our blogs of the 14/3/2018 & 17/3/2018  inform the public of Robert Tomlinson's entry into the Dublin guntrade and twenty-two years later we find him, through ill health, deciding to retire from his trade. 

Please refer to our "older post" with respect to Robert Tomlinson dated 26/4/2016

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

The Whitworth Rifle Company.

The Whitworth Rifle Company

Manchester.

Saunders Newsletter, 4th December 1860.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

In such high regard were Dublin gunmakers held at this time it was thought expedient to advertise for their services. Barrel borers, riflers (screwing) and barrel making being the particular skills sought. 

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Robert Tomlinson. Gun-maker. Alley

Robert Tomlinson

Gun-maker

Dublin.

Advertisement dated 12th November 1782: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

 Robert Tomlinson altering his advertisement from the June edition (Blog dated 14/3/2018).  Saunders Newsletter. In this new advertisement he emphasises his new trading address rather than his association with Lewis Alley.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

John Grey ( sic) Gunsmith.

John Gray

Gunsmith

Dublin

Advertisement 3rd October 1776 : Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

The spelling of Gray (Grey) this advertisement being an error. Yet another gunsmith from the Lewis Alley school of gunmaking. The JACK that Gray "invented" was an early form of rotisserie. Please refer to the attached link to see an example of this device. Many inventors have claimed this invention, even the great Leonado di Vinci.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdD1ZmqwgWM.

Our thanks for the use of this link.

 Please refer to our "older post" with respect to this gunmaker dated 12/1/2016.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk  

Robert Tomlinson. Gun-Maker. Apprentice wanted.

 

Robert Tomlinson

Gun Maker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 25th June 1782: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Robert Tomlinson entering the Dublin guntrade in his own right having served his apprenticeship with Lewis "Lew" Alley. Also taking this opportunity to advertise for an apprentice himself.

Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to these gunmakers.

Robert Tomlinson blog dated 26th April 2016.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lewis "Lew" Alley. Gunmaker. Dublin 1780

Lewis "Lew"Alley

Gunmaker

Dublin

                         Advertisement dated 20th May 1780: Saunders Newsletter.
                               Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.         


                         Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to Lewis Alley dated;

                                            9/3/2018, 7/3/2018   3/3/2018, 1/3/2018, 28/2/2018,
                                                    27/2/2018, 24/2/2018, 3/1/2016.

                            We are always interested in material related to this gunmaker.

                                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Mr. Alley Dublin 1773.

 

Mr Lewis " Lew" Alley

Gunmaker

Dublin

                            Advertisement dated 3rd May 1773: Saunders Newsletter
                                 Image Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Transcript of above advertisement:
"Lost on the Road between Naas and Dublin, on Monday the 26th April 1773, a flat Machine Pocket Pistol, made by Collins*, with a Silver Cap, and the Stock inlaid with Silver. Whoever brings it to Mr Alley, Gunmaker, Ship Street, shall receive half a guinea. If offered to Sale, 'tis requested it may be stopped , and Information given to said Alley, who has the Fellow to it".

        Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to Lewis Alley dated: 7/3/2018, 3/3/2018,            1/3/2018, 28/2/2018, 27/2/2018, 24/2/2018 & 3/1/2016.

* The pistol lost would have been made by Matthew Collins,another first class Dublin gunmaker.
     Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to Matt Collins dated 21/8/2016 & 4/11/2015
                      
                   We are always interested in material related to either of these gunmakers.
                                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lewis "Lew" Alley. Gunmaker. 1782.

 

Lewis "Lew" Alley

Gun-Maker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 20th April 1782: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Lewis Alley advertising his wares and skills. In addition, also requesting a new apprentice as both John Gray and Robert Tomlinson had recently left Alleys employ and had both set-up in Dublin in their own right. 

Please refer to our "older posts" with respect to this gunmaker dated: 3/3/2018, 1/3/2018, 28/2/2018,
27/2/2018, 24/2/2018, 3/1/2016.

We are always pleased to receive additional data regarding this gunmaker.

Dave Stroud.ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lewis "Lew" Alley. Gunmaker. Dublin.

Lewis "Lew" Alley

Gunmaker

Dublin

A very fine and rare 16 bore sporting gun by Lewis Alley

Image courtesy of Bonhams.  

Bonhams full description from "Fine Antique Firearms from the W.Keith Neal Collection.

Thursday 10th November 2005. Knightsbridge:

A fine and very rare 16 bore Irish silver mounted Flintlock Sporting Gun by Lewis Alley, Dublin. Silver hallmarks c.1774.

With swamped rebrowned two- stage twist barrel ( some minor surface pitting) with silver spider fore-sight and turned and beaded girdle, the octagonal breech section with two gold-lined stamps "Alley" under an Irish harp. and "Dublin" in a rectangle( gold incomplete), the touch-hole with large gold lining (replaced), shaped tang grooved for sighting and finely engraved with rococo flowers and foliage framing a bird, flat lock signed in cursive script (scattered minor surface pitting), retained from the right side by a single screw and with moulded border, engraved stepped tail , engraved safety- catch, unusual anti friction link between the steel-spring and the tail of the pan-cover, and broad shallow gold- lined pan, slender figured walnut full stock (minor bruising) with take down fore-end, chequered grip with with a dimple and two dots in the centre od each diamond, finely pierced and engraved silver mounts of highly unusual design decorated with strapwork,flowers, foliage, birds and architectural details, the butt-plate with a sportsman loading his gun in a landscape accompanied by his dog, the side-plate with dummy side-nails and involving a sportsman shooting a bird, again with his dog in a landscape, silver trigger-plate, the finial formed as a trophy of hanging game, padded leather-covered cheek-piece(worn), three silver ramrod-pipes, and silver- bound horn ramrod (shortened) with worm. Tower private proof marks, barrel forger's mark of Joseph Griffin.  
-

                              Reverse side showing exquisite silver sideplate as described above.
                                                     Image courtesy of Bonhams. 

It is well recorded that Lewis Alley travelled extensively in order to improve his skills as a gunmaker. The two gunmakers linked to Alley are the Gray family of gunmakers in Edinburgh and the other as described here namely Joseph Griffin (barrel mark). It is highly probable that he worked with these makers. Lewis Alley was later to employ John Gray, a well documented Dublin gunmaker, who was in fact Scottish and no doubt from the aforementioned family of Edinburgh gunmakers.

                               Our appreciation to Bonhams for photography and description.

  Please refer to our older posts with respect to this gunmaker dated, 

    3/1/2016, 24/2/2018, 27/2/2018, 28/2/2018 & 1/3/2018

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Lewis Alley House Sale.1781.

Lewis " Lew" Alley

Gun-maker

Dublin

Advertisement dated 12th December 1781: Saunders Newsletter.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

                  Please refer to our "older post" with respect to this gunmaker dated 3/1/2016,  24/2/2018,  27/2/2018, 28/2/2018.

                                                  Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk