Ok, I have been trying to find out if this shotgun that was passdown to me by my grandfather as a vaule to it. I've done some reading on this web page about it but the names done make since The gun I have is just like this picture I have seen but it has G.W.Golcher on it andunder the barrels it as 2187 stamp in it along with twon pistols cross with a crown above it can any one help me please. my email is rw951@bellsouth.net
Walt

Walt notes it is similar to the T.L. Golcher here:

http://www.antiqueguns.com/phorum/read.php?10,11875,11875 (copy & paste)

Any initials or stamps on the watertable/frame and ahead of the flats on the underside of either tube would be of interest.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Part of the Golcher family , the GW marked gun is sourced from H. Lindner. Similar guns sourced from Lindner have T. Golcher, Overbaugh, Jakob, Donn, and quite a few other names. Of course Daly, too. All good quality German sourced guns. It is hard to tell how much work was done in the U.S. and what was done in Germany.

George Golcher was born in Darlaston, Staffordshire, England, 1842.

He came here with his father William (born 1 April 1801, in Darlaston, Staffordshire, England) the brother of James Golcher.

George lived in Philadelphia where he worked as a gunsmith and later as a blacksmith. He held several patents related to lanterns, etc. He served in the Union Army for a brief time. They had formed an emergency regiment when they held Lee was near Gettysburg. In fact, all the Golcher's of military age enlisted in that unit if they lived in Philadelphia.

His cousin Thomas Lingard Golcher, (born 1842 in Philadelphia) son of James (the brother to George's father William), also sold Daly-Lindner guns. It can be assumed they were all using the same source.

T.L. Golcher also had a brother William (born 1834 in Darlaston, Staffordshire, England). It was this William Golcher that had a business in St. Paul and eventually bought out the Clabrough business in San Francisco.

Guns marked G.W. Golcher are very rare. If you could post some photos, it would be appreciated by many here.

Before you believe anything about the Golcher's you find on the web, check here. The family was very big. They were in the gun business for at least 6 generations. The 1st names kept repeating through the generations. I have compiled the complete family tree....
http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Golcher/pedigree2.htm#2.INDI27.14

Pete

Pete, it'd be great to see a Golcher article in DGJ!

Larry,

You and a few others agree. I keep starting it, but get lost recounting the family history. There was a John Golcher, who taught Philadelphia gunsmiths how to make barrels during the revolutionary war. Each generation has a story or two to be told, all the way into the 1940's. It is a case of too much information. I will give it another try. Just have to figure a way to tell it all.

I have been in contact with the Golcher family in this country, England, Germany, Sweden and Guatemala. They would like to see more written as well.

Pete

The book,Clabrough,Golcher and Co;by Lawrence P Shelton, contains a chapter on William Golcher,[Born 1834 in Darlaston,U.K.].This book also contains photographs of William Golcher, Golcher guns made in Philadelphia and a great deal of info on the Golcher/Clabrough partnership. It is my understanding that Mr Shelton is preparing a second edition of this book for publication.

Roy,

I know Larry. We have had some very nice conversations. He really has specialised on the Clabrough side of the relationship. He had no idea why William Golcher was in England when he met with Clabrough. He was in contact with the Golcher family at one point. Last I spoke with him, he plans on adding more information on Clabrough. William was in England to visit with his mother, who had left his father James, once again. While he was in England, his mother died. Also, unknown to William, his recently married daughter died back in St Paul.

Larry Shelton published a very nice article on William Golcher in the The Gun Report Nov 1977. There was an article about John Golcher in the The Gun Report Nov 1974 by Frank Russell. Also one about the Kennedy shotguns, which mentions a William Golcher connection in the The Gun Report Oct 1996 by Jeffery Tordoff. Larry Schuknecht gives a thumbnail on William in his Two Shots.

Pete

1934 Frankford Avenue Phila PA







With just the "Crown" over "Crossed Pistols" hallmark, does this give some insight to it's meaning? I wonder why the tubes are devoid of any initials or are they hidden? Does the serial number sequence fall in Lindner's overall production?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Pete M
I read yours of 18/07/2010.
I live in the UK and was born in Darlaston Staffordshire.
My maternal grand mother was a Golcher and a descendent of the Golchers who moved to USA. You mention a family tree and would ask if you can tell me how to find it please ? Does this tree relate to the UK or USA branch of the family.
Best Regards
John Hubbard

Posted a question on Golchers

John Hubbard

Here it is:
http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Golcher/pedigree2.htm#2.INDI27.14

The Golchers started off as nail makers in Darlaston. I begin the tree with William Golcher, b 1770, a gunlock maker. There was a John Golcher, possibly his uncle, a gunsmith in Philadelphia in 1775. This John Golcher became an early legend. He is included in several works of fiction. Most of the Golchers in England during the 1st half of 19th century were gunlock makers as far I can tell.

The tree focuses on the American branches of the family. However, you may find it of some use. I know one of the English Golchers died as an ambulance driver in France during the 1st war. One of them immigrated to Germany. His descendent moved to Sweden. From there, some moved to Central America. So the family became very diverse. There were some here in the states a few years ago. I had some contact with them, but Larry Shelton has a better relationship with them, than I do.

Pete