Anyone know of an free online source for a comprehensive list of all the British gun makers past and present? Or can someone PM me a list? Need some info, but not going to buy right now the series of books on the subject.

There is a 'sticky' thread about this at NitroExpress in the doubles area with most of the names you want.

Thx

Yes, and I go there but came here first. Not in order, nor all the new ones doing biz now.

James Purdey & Sons

Holland & Holland

John Rigby

Westley Richards

E.J. Churchill

Cogswell & Harrison

William Evans

David McKay Brown

W W Greener

J Roberts & Son

W.J. Jeffery (Paul Roberts)

Watson Bros

John Dickson

James McNaughton

Charles Lancaster

John Wilkes

Alexander Henry

William Douglas

Peter V Nelson

Boss & Co

G. Little & Co

J.Bourne

Army & Navy

W&C Scott

J Woodward & Sons

Symes & Wright

F. Beesley

Daniel Fraser

Hartmann & Weiss

William & Son

Asprey & Garrard

Manton & Co

Henry Atkin

Joseph Lang (Atkin, Grant & Lang)

Stephen Grant

Thomas Bland

Wm Powell

Thomas Horsley

Chas Osborne

I. Hollis

A. Hollis

Leonard

John Lyell

Webley & Scott

Rodda

Harkom & Son

William Horton

John Saunders

J&W Tolley

TT Procter

John Rigby

I. Hollis

A. Hollis

Leonard

John Lyell

Are you after Gunmakers or Gun Retailers ?

Anyway, here's some more.

Webley & Scott (and the various incarnation of those two names over the years.)

Rodda

Harkom (I think it was Joseph Harkom)

Copying & pasting.

Most of the Major names in the British Gun Trades were just store front operations. Most the completed double rifles were bought from Trade Makers in Birmingham, such a Leonard.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Most of the Major names in the British Gun Trades were just store front operations. Most the completed double rifles were bought from Trade Makers in Birmingham, such a Leonard.

And John Saunders.

And as far as any distinction goes, many of the unsung referred to themselves, and their business as Gunsmith, with or without Gunmaker.
All very confusing.

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Most of the Major names in the British Gun Trades were just store front operations. Most the completed double rifles were bought from Trade Makers in Birmingham, such a Leonard.

And John Saunders.

And as far as any distinction goes, many of the unsung referred to themselves, and their business as Gunsmith, with or without Gunmaker.
All very confusing.

Agreed, hence my question above.


I've already put it but of course Webley & Scott (and the various incarnation of those two names over the years.) were the other great providers to the trade and of course maker of Holland & Holland guns before H&H took over making guns themselves.

.

This list must include J&W Tolley, makers of the big stomper bore-rifles, Ubique Ball&Shot guns, and big-charge express rifles.

They held many patents and produced work to a very high standard.



Cheers
Tinker

Active today making exquisite rifles, SxS
and bolt action is www.ttproctor.com !

Although this thread is titled "British Gun Makers", this is the DR forum. I like to see that Showbart listed Boss. Many people don't know that they did build a few double rifles. According to the Boss rep at DSC, they only built around 70 total. My friend has a 1878 Boss in .577 Snyder. It is simply beautiful and was built for a British Military Officer... Don't remember the rank. I would bet it is the only Boss ever chambered in this round. It is a blast to shoot! Very mild recoil.
It's also nice to see the Edinburgh builders included. I would rate the workmanship, fit, finish, of the Scottish builders, as good as any...and better than most.
ND

British Gunmakers by Nigel Brown, Quiller Press, three volumes. A google search will give you the ISBN N°.

Hartmann & Weiss

Thats german, not british.