Saturday 30 November 2019

Dublin Trades Directory 1831. Gunmakers


                      Dublin  Trades Directory (Gunmakers) 1831










Bales & King


28 Nassua St. Gun & Pistol Makers


Calderwood
Thomas

14 Earl Street N.



Dempsey
William

192 Gt Britain Street



Donough
Thomas

2 Essex Quay



Gallagher
Henry

207 Gt Britain Street



Kavanagh
William

4 Ormond Quay Upper.



Lanigan
John

17 Nassau Street.



Murphy
John

190 Gt Britain Street
Gun Barrel Manufacturer.

Parkinson
John

22 Arran Quay



Pattison
Mark & John
17 Crampton Quay



Pepper
George

1 Abbey Street



Rigby
William & John
24 Suffolk Street



Truelock
Thomas

50 Barrack St



Truelock
William & Son
152 Capel Street



Wilson
James

45 W. New Row


Thursday 28 November 2019

Dublin Trades Directory. Gunmakers. 1817

 

                                 Dublin Trades Directory Gunmakers

            


 1817






Birch
Eyland

2 Clarks Court



Byrne
Mark

4 Clarks Court



Calderwood
Thomas

14 Earl Street North



Dempsey
William

12 Swifts Row



Fowler
Thomas

29 Capel Street



Gallagher
Henry

207 Gt Britain Street



Gray
John

46 Moore Street



Holland
William

20 Bishop Street



Kavanagh
William

6 Andersons Court. Greek Street


Mc Dermott
Farrell

1 Abbey Street



Muley
Daniel

32 Townsend Street



Murphy
John

190 Gt Britain Street



Pattison
John

112 Capel Street. Gun & Pistol Manufacturer

Rigby
John

19 Suffolk Street



Truelock
William

10 Little Britain Street



Turner
George

154 Capel Street


Wednesday 27 November 2019

Rigby Flintlock Overcoat Pistols.


Rigby

Gunmaker

Dublin


                                   A pair of flintlock overcoat pistols by Rigby, Dublin.
Image courtesy of Christie's 
17th December 2008.

These pistols 8.5" Overall. French Cocks. c.1815. Stocks stamped with Longford registration numbers. (LD). Numbers not recorded. The marking of stocks on pistols with the 1843 registration numbers was a rare alternative from the normal barrel markings and on long guns the barrel and buttplate marking.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Tuesday 26 November 2019

John Gray, Gunmaker. Dublin.

 

John Gray

Gunmaker

Dublin


Image courtesy of Thomas Del Mar Ltd..
 26/6/2009

 A Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss. Registered under the 1843 Act in Meath (ME 3367).

Please refer to our older post with respect to John Gray.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Monday 25 November 2019

Wm & Jn Rigby Percussion Target/Officers Pistols. 1836. Ser. No 7990/7991.

 

Wm & Jn Rigby

Percussion 36 Bore Target/Officers Pistols


 A Pair of Percussion Saw Handled Target/Officers Pistols.
Image courtesy of Thomas Del Mar Auctioneers.
www.invaluable.com/catalog/igs33jzx5l?size=200&page=3&categories


These pistols being the sole pair, of this type, produced by the Rigbys in 1836. 

          Please refer to: Great Irish Gunmakers, Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 by D.H.L Back.pge 79.
                                   In addtion, please refer to our older post dated 13/7/2016.

                                                     Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Saturday 23 November 2019

Wm & Jn Rigby Revolver Production 1843- 1857.



Wm & Jn Rigby

Gunmakers

Dublin




 Image courtesy of Thomas Del Mar Ltd..
28/6/2011

The above revolver being serial 10471 produced in 1853. This 80 bore, six-shot was originally sold to H.Donavan*
It's other main features being the two-piece grip and quick release barrel cluster buttons.This feature being introduced in 1846.

From D.H.L Backs fine title; Great Irish Gunmakers Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 * it is evident that the Rigby's officially produced only 152 of this style of revolver, be it in various formats between 1843 -1857.  However, a number of these revolvers are to be found without serial numbers. These un-numbered pieces, it is believed, were assembled from parts supplied by the Rigby's 24 Suffolk Street manufactory to ex employees of the Rigbys. 

Interestingly the 1835 Dublin Trades Directory lists no less than nine ex employees (gunmakers) of Wm & Jn Rigby who were now in business in their own right. These being: Joseph Anglin, John Aston, Martin Flanagan, Henry Harris, Edward Mc Laughlin, Thomas Quinlan, George Smith, Richard Tuite and Robert Willett.

In addition, other large gun manfactory's at this time were buying in high quality barrels and parts from the Rigbys. These included such doyens of the trade as the Calderwoods, Trulock & Son ,  Kavanagh's and many others who produced "Rigby" style and pattern weapons. Hence, we find so many guns that at first glance look to be Rigby's.

                              Please refer to our older post with respect to Rigby revolvers.

                                                Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Friday 22 November 2019

John Gardner. Gunmaker. Belfast.


John Gardner

Gunmaker

Belfast




Image courtesy of Sotherby's
15/7/1996

A D/B 16 Bore Flintlock Sporting  Gun by Gardner of Belfast.
33" Barrels signed by William Cole.

John Gardner/Gardiner/Gardener (all three spellings are noted) first appears at 10 Rosemary Street, Belfast in c.1800. By 1805 he had relocated to Ann Street, Belfast and remained in business there until c.1820. At some stage between 1800-1810 William Cole was either apprenticed to Gardner or they were in a short partnership together. The author is aware of another gun bearing the names
" Gardner & Cole"
 William Cole would untimately trade in his own name from 1811 until his death in 1835 when his wife Sarah Cole took on the business. 
William Cole's stepson,  Joseph Braddell, would finally inherit the business from his mother Sarah Cole in 1838.
For the history of Joseph Braddell & Son please refer to our older post.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Thursday 21 November 2019

Kavanagh. Called as Witness 1842.



Kavanagh

Gunmaker

Dublin

1842

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

 The above case highlights two points; Firstly, the fact that the Birmingham trade were actively 
in Ireland promoting their trade and secondly, the Irish guntrade were, in part , trying to protect the home guntrade. However, commercial temptation led to many of the Irish gunmakers importing and merely adding their names to "foreign" made weapons. In addition to these issues the fact that Ironmongers and Merchants were importing arms put even greater pressure on the Irish trade.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk 

 

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Wm & John Rigby. Gunmakers. Dublin


Wm & Jn Rigby

Gunmakers

Dublin

          A brace of 16 bore Police/Customs/Post Office Flintlock Pistols by Wm & Jn Rigby.
                                       Image courtesy of Thomas Del Mar Ltd.. 
26/6/2013
The above pistols marked under the 1843 Registration Act, WB 164 and WB 166 ( Waterford Borough). This possibly indicating the missing WB 165 could have been an associated blunderbuss?
                                                       This brace with 9.25" barrels.

Please refer to: D.H.L Back. Great Irish Gunmakers Messrs Rigby. 1760-1869.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk


Tuesday 19 November 2019

George Armstrong Gunmaker. Clonmel.

 

George Armstrong

Gunmaker

Clonmel



Known Trading dates: 
George Armstrong.... 58 Main Street, Clonmel c.1820/1824.
George Armstrong .... Westgate, Clonmel         c.1845/1848.

Please refer to our older post with respect to this gunmaker.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Monday 18 November 2019

George Turner. Gunmaker. Dublin. c.1820



George Turner

Gunmaker

Dublin

A Pair of Officers/Target Pistols by George Turner. 

Twin gold lines to breeches and platinum vents.

Image courtesy of Thomas Del Mar Ltd..

14/12/2005. 

 Please refer to our older post with respect to this gunmaker.

Today's blog is the 1000th published. A big thank you to all those who have contributed.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

 

Wednesday 13 November 2019

John Gray Article written for the 101st & 102nd London Antique Arms Fairs.



John Gray

Gunmaker

Edinburgh & Dublin

Please follow the attached link:

 file:///C:/Users/Dave%20Stroud/Pictures/Show%20Guide%20Arms%20Fair%20April%202019%20R1.pdf

A pair of flintlock Officers/Duelling pistols by John Gray

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

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Percussion 6 Bore Rifle by W & J Rigby. 1858.


Wm & Jn Rigby

6 Bore Percussion Rifle




Image and details courtesy of West Street Antiques.
www.antiquearmsandarmour.com
A very rare 6 bore percussion sporting gun by William & John Rigby 58.1/2" Overall with a browned 42.1/4" twist round barrel. London Proofed. Single platinum line to breech and platinum plug.Walnut half stock. German silver mounts. Triggerguard tang engraved with serial number 10889 for 1858.

 Dave Stroud ramrodantiquesco.uk