Robert Symes
Proof Master
Dublin.
Dublin Intelligence 6th May 1712.
Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.
Transcript of above:"Whereas several Gentlemen have of late been wounded and in danger of their lives, by firing Guns made up by unexpert Gunsmiths, for prevention of the like evil Accidents, The Master -Gunsmiths of the City of Dublin have come to a Resolution that all their Gun and Pistol Barrels before fix'd up and exposed to sale shall be examined, tried and proved with a full Charge of Powder and Ball, by a sworn Proof-Master by them appointed for that purpose, as in London and Holland, & c. These are therefore to give Notice to all Gentlemen and Others, that all Guns and Pistols now and thus hereafter shall be sold by any of the said Gunsmiths are proved, and stamp;near the britch (breech) by the Proof-Master, with the stamps of the Harp and Crown and Hammer, and that all Guns or Pistols not having the said Impressions are not proved, but are Dangerous and Unmerchantable, for that all Persons who have Guns or Pistols to Sell have liberty to Prove them by the said Proof-Master, Mr Robert Symes Gunsmith in Big Ship Street".
As we later learn the above proof marks of the Harp, Crown and Hammer (? ) were deemed unuseable due to them already being the property of the Dublin Goldsmiths Corporation.
Due to this legal matter it would appear that, bearing in mind barrels had been produced in Dublin throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the onus fell upon the gunmakers themselves to
mark weapons as proofed sometime after 1712. This, it is believed, was administered by one of the following options.
It is evident that prior to 1712 there was no requirement or legislation in place to cover barrel proof in Ireland. Indeed following the Act of Union in 1801 it could be surmised that all barrels would be subject to British proof, either by the Birmingham or London Proof Houses. However, this obviously did not occur but barrels were often imported from the aforementioned cities and marked with the relevant British proofs.
From proof marks found today for the period 1712 through to 1800 it would appear that the individual Irish "Master Gunsmiths" marked their barrels with their own private proof. This was made up of a crowned "V" & "P" or in many cases a double "P" which could also include their monogram within a rectangle. (Fig.1). The punched crowns were very crude in many cases but did show allegiance to the Crown (The British Establishment) and mirrored compliance to proof in other parts of the British Isles.
Fig.1. Crowned "P" & "V" with Lewis Alleys Gunmakers mark "LA".
James Frith in 1946 published "Pistols Their History and Development" which included various proof marks as well as the attached marks which are often encountered on Irish firearms and sometimes include the gunmakers monogram in a rectangle.
Alternatively, the barrel top flat included in a gold poincoin with the "Master Gunsmiths" name and city of manufacture and in many a cases a crown (fig.2)....or the name would be simply engraved on the top flat along with the city of manufacture. This action was considered evidence enough that the barrel had been deemed safe as the "Master Gunsmith" had put his name to it and could be traced should the barrel fail. This being only in the event of the barrel not being blown to smithereens*
Fig.2 Example of a gold poincoin of Wisdom, Drogheda with crown.
Therefore it would appear that each individual "Master Gunsmith" would make up their own punches as per illustrations 32 & 33 above and mark their barrels accordingly. It should also be remembered that gunsmiths were licenced in Ireland and the authorities may well have issued the punches to "Master Gunsmiths". This leaves us with the possiblity that barrels, made by the known barrel makers in Dublin, having been sold to the guntrade unproved, could have found their way to less scrupulous and unlicensed "gunmakers" who could have sold them without having them proofed?
The prestigious William & John Rigby and Trulock & Son were making their own barrels commercially by 1830, and prior to this Rigby had developed the deeply etched damascus barrel by the year before his death in 1818. All these noted barrels never show proof marks, merely the manufacturers name either on the barrel, lock or "Dublin" to the top flat. .
This weight of evidence somewhat crushes the idea of there being a Proof House in Ireland, the nearest Ireland came to this was nominating Robert Symes as the Proof Master but this was a short lived phase in Irish gunmaking history. It should also be remembered that both London and Birmingham were very proud of their proof houses and their presence gave added credibility to the indigenous gunmakers. It is believed Dublin would have shouted from the rafters had a proof house been sanctioned by the British Government. Bearing in mind the hostility that existed between the London and Birmingham guntrades a third option for proofing arms would have been considered an insensitive and inflamatory measure.
Dublin Castle had always been the main area of assembly for military arms and the Irish Board of Ordnance was abolished in 1801 due to price differentials and logistics. However, it is possible that within the Pigeon House or Dublin Castle there was a military "finished view room" where completed weapons were overseen and passed fit for use. The evidence from weapons found is that the military barrels were imported only, thereby obviating the need for proof in Ireland.
*"Smithereens" is a word of Irish origin.
We are always keen to know of any additional material related to the proofing of gun barrels in Ireland.
Please refer to:
British Military Firearms 1650-1850 by Howard L. Blackmore published 1961. Herbert Jenkins. pgs. 268 & 269.
Pistols Their History and Development by James Frith. Published 1946.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
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