Lewis Alley.Gun Maker.

Lewis Alley
Gun Maker
Dublin

 c.1769- d.1783 

                          Advertisement from the Dublin Chronicle dated January 1770.

Transcript of above:

 " LEWIS ALLEY GUN MAKER, Having commenced business in Great Ship Street, thinks
 it incumbent on him to acknowledge the obligations he is under to those Noblemen and 
Gentlemen ,who so greatly encouraged him during his residence in Kilkenny. He hopes for 
a continuance of their protection and that of the nobility gentry, and public in general which 
he will endeavor to merit by faithful attention to their commands . He begs to inform them that
he has by considerable expense and long residence in London and other parts of England 
acquired a knowledge of several methods practised by the ablest masters there which he has
 formed such a plan for the construction of his work,as he thinks is calculated to make neatness
 and elegance entirely confident with what shall be in every respect most serviceable.
 A good first and second floor to be let. 
................................................................................................................................................                                       
The above transcript details "Lew" Alley's early entry into the Irish guntrade and his time
spent in England with the "ablest masters". He cites "London" and "other parts of England".
The reference to Kilkenny is of note as two other gunmakers with the Alley name traded
there, namely Peter d.1779 and William. The latter having traded in Kilkenny & Dublin for
the period c.1788-1802.

                                                
Lewis Alleys first trades directory entry 1771.

Alley	Lewis		Gt Ship St
Divine	Thomas		Abbey St
Gelous	Robert		Francis St
Govers	John		Dame St
Lord	Francis		Dame st
Rainsford	James		Dame St
Thorp	Thomas		Darby Sq
Truelock	Thomas		Dame st

    Lewis Alley makers mark "LA"  
Photography courtesy John Slough.

Lewis Alley known trading dates and addresses:

c.1769-1775	17 Great Ship Street
1776-1780	15 Cork Hill
1781-1783	2 Palace Street .   Died April 29th 1783, By the fall from a horse.

NB: Great Ship Street was also known as Big Ship Street.

Lewis Alley was not only a very good gunmaker but also a keen horseman and rode to
hounds. Unfortunately, his passion for the hunt would cost him his life in 1783.

Lewis Alleys work is some of the finest produced in Ireland at this time.

An exquisite fowling piece c.1774 by Lewis Alley can be viewed in, Great British Gunmakers 
1740-1790:The history of John Twigg and the Packington Guns. Plates 484 & 485.

Lewis Alley originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

An illustrated article, "The Alleys of Dublin & Kilkenny: Gunmakers" written by David Stroud for the 89th London Arms Fair catalogue is a available from ramrodantiques.co.uk @ £5.00 + postage.
07818 470123.

                                        Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Cavan County: 1843 Registration Act.

    

 The Irish Registration Act of 1843

      Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

                                       County Cavan.

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 County Cavan between 1843-1846.

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

CN 264	Flk Blunderbuss Pistol
CN 2211	Flk Holster Pistol	D.Egg
CN 2729	Flk Light Dragoon Pistol	Dublin Castle
CN 3235	Percussion D/B/ Pistol	Irwin
CN 4346	Flk converted to cap lock. D/B Shotgun	Jos Manton
CN 4556	Pair Perc' Travelling Pistols. Magazine Hinged Stock.	W & J Rigby
CN 5038	Perc' Fish Tailed Stock.  Steel Straps to Stock.	Andrews
CN 5249	Flk Blunderbuss.	Mc Daniel
CN 6249	Perc' Round Frame Pkt Pistol. Nipple Retainer.	Calderwood
CN 6154	Flk Brass Barrelled Blunderbuss.
CN 7033/7034	Cased Percussion Travelling Pistols	Trulock & Son
CN 8620	Cased 32 bore perc' pistol.saw hand.s/trig.o/u.No 9585	W&J Rigby. 1846

County Cavan registration C-N 5038                                      Official House of Commons Returns 8th May 1846.  Please refer to our earlier blogs: 27/12/2015 21/12/2015 15/12/2015 28/11/2015 18/11/2015 21/10/2015  10/9/2015 We are always interested in other weapons registered in this County and any of the other 39 areas under this Act.             Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

18th Century Game Preservation: Islandmagee.

Game Preservation
Islandmagee

                                         County Antrim

                                      Advertisement dated 5th September 1785.

                                          Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Joseph Braddell & Son. Belfast

Joseph Braddell & Son

                              Gun & Rifle Manufacturers

Arthur Street/Square.
Belfast

William Clarke, proprietor outside Braddells premises in Arthur Square. C.1930

                  Joseph Braddell & Son were located at this address for the period 1915-1975.

               For additional information related to this company please refer to our blogs of:

12/12/2015

5/12/2015

22/10/2015

1/9/2015

26/8/2015

We are always pleased to receive details relating to this company.

  Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

William Cox.Gunmaker

William Cox

Gunmaker

Waterford

              Flintlock half stocked duelling pistol by William Cox, Waterford. c.1810

William Cox       c.1796-1820.	William Street      Waterford.

Very little is known of William Cox, however, he had approximately twenty four years in the guntrade in Waterford.

John Cox is also listed and he traded for a short period prior to William in Waterford. If they were father and son we are not certain but highly probable. (research ongoing).

    John Cox.  John Street, Waterford          c.1772-1788.

The above pistol being registered under the 1843 Act in Leitrim Borough (LB 50).


We are always pleased to know of other pistols produced by either of these gunmakers.

William & John Cox originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Robert Rogers. Gun-maker

Robert Rogers
Gun-maker
Patrick Street
Cork

c.1805-1817

                             Robert Rogers advertisement from May 15th 1817.


      In the above advertisement Robert Rogers not only informs his clients of the weaponry
      available but he also has a promotional price selling items at 11s.4.1/2d each or Three for £1-12s.

                                        Advertisement from 15th September 1817

                             Robert Rogers notifying his clients of his pending retirement.
            This he achieved by March 1818 having sold his business interest to Joseph Bowls.

             In future blogs we will cover the work of both Robert Rogers and Joseph Bowls.

Robert Rogers originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

We are always interested to know of or receive information related to the gunmakers of Cork.

                                                Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sheehan's Cutlery Manufactory:Cork.

Sheehan's Cutlery Manufactory
Cork

                                             Mid 18th century advertisement.

Interestingly, Sheehan's mention the cleaning of Arms and Repairs at the shortest notice. This in all probability edged weapons but pistols and guns may well have been included in the mix?

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk