Oliver Richards. Gunsmith.

Oliver Richards

Gun Smith

Great Ship Street

Dublin

Dublin Trades Directory 

1860.

Oliver Richards was employed by William & John Rigby for the period (1841- 1845) and continued in the employ of William Rigby (1845-1847) following the death of Williams brother John,  in 1845.*

It is unclear where Oliver Richards was trading for the period 1848-1858? Research ongoing.

However, he first appears in the Dublin trades directory in 1860 therefore we can assume he was trading alone circa 1859.

Oliver Richards final entry in the Dublin trades directory appears in 1878 when he was still trading from his original address of 21 Great Ship Street.

We are always interested in guns or pistols produced by this gunmaker.

* Great British Gunmakers Messrs Rigby 1760-1869 by D.H.L Back..1992.

                                     Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

W.Kavanagh & Son. "Mirus"

W. Kavanagh & Son
Dublin

"Mirus" Cartridge.

                                    Sketch courtesy of Mark O'Brien.

                         We are always interested in shotgun cartridges
                 produced by Irish gunmakers or cartridges retailed in Ireland.
                                 

                                 Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Wm & Jn Rigby. Featured Pistol No 9331.

Wm & Jn Rigby

Gunmakers

Dublin

Featured Pistol.

No. 9331

This cased double action six shot revolver was sold to Sir R. Blosse in 1844 for £12.12.00 *

Revolver with brass six shot loader.

This early model produced having a one piece wooden grip.

                                 The nipple shield an integral part of the action body.                                                                                      Later versions were made detachable.

This featured pistol being one of 54 sold cased with all accoutrements.

Between 1843-1857 Wm & Jn Rigby officially, by their dated register,* produced 152 of these pepperbox revolvers. They appeared in different variants and were a huge success at the 1851 Great Exhibition, if somewhat over shadowed by the Adams and the Colt revolvers.

During 1851 a total of 14 pistols were sold. Following the Great Exhibition the sales nearly doubled to 27. In 1853 sales returned to 14 pistols. Thereafter a decline until in 1857 only 1 was sold through the Rigby's.*
  
Following further research it has been found that unmarked examples were produced.  These possibly produced by "outworkers" or "satellite houses" under licence to the Rigby's. These do not comply with the Rigby serial number sequence. 

We would be very interested in knowing of any others that are either numbered or unnamed and unnumbered.

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

NB: The full article on the Rigby pepperbox production (1843-1857) written for the Bisley Antique Arms Fair brochure is available from ramrodantiques.co.uk. Price £5.00 + pp

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

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Kilkenny Borough. The Irish Registration Act of 1843.

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms

                                     Kilkenny Borough

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 Kilkenny Borough between 1843-1846.

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

A Pair of Percussion Back Action Lock Overcoat Pistols
by Richardson.

Kilkenny Borough Registration Numbers

KB 191	12 bore Shotgun	M&J Pattison
KB 419/420	Perc' Overcoat Pistols	Richardson

Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.

Barrels faintly stamped KB 419/420 in the sighting channels

Kilkenny Borough being one of the smallest and lowest recorded areas in this survey.

We are always interested in other weapons registered in this location.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

John Green: Gunsmith.

John Green
Gunsmith
Mallow

Co: Cork

   Percussion Back Action Lock Overcoat Pistol c.1825 

Back Action Lock with quick release lockplate screw. Wide rectangular section hammer with beautifully figured dolphin hammer.  

   Octagonal Barrel Top flat clearly engraved "Mallow".

                                        Reverse side with single lockplate retaining screw. 

  

John Green     Main Street,   Mallow  c. 1824

Material courtesy of The Granary Library, Limerick.

 John Green originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

 Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

                         Our sincere thanks to The Lanes Armoury, Brighton for photography and                                                                                 permission to publish.

                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Joseph Braddell & Son.

Joseph Braddell & Son

Gun Manufacturers

21 Castle Place

Belfast.

                                                           
                                                          An advertisement from 1894.

                                                      Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Belfast U.F.Os

Joseph Braddell & Son

Gunmakers

   Belfast &
  U.F.Os?

                                                                           
                                          Back Action Lock engraved J. Braddell & Son.

21mm long tapered swivel pins  

                                                 Showing the approximate 45% pin movement. 

                                                            "Unidentified Firing Objects"

                                         Does anyone know what these locks were used on?

                       The answer to this question has been kindly answered by Mr Tony Murray.
                                                Please refer our blog dated 12/10/2016.
                                                 
                                                   Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk