Rawbone South Africa - 07/02/07 01:40 PM
Anybody have any information on this dealer and/or maker of Double Rifles.
Re: Rawbone South Africa - 07/05/07 05:14 AM
As far as I know Rawbone was a retailer not a maker. May have done some repairs but the few guns I have seen wher proofed in Birmingham.
I have a PD Farquharson made in Birmingham by Thomas Turnner with the barrel marked Rawbone.
Cheers,
fallingblock
I have a PD Farquharson made in Birmingham by Thomas Turnner with the barrel marked Rawbone.
Cheers,
fallingblock
Re: Rawbone South Africa - 09/06/07 02:34 PM
MickeyD,
Sorry to be so late replying here, but I'm just back from seven weeks in South Africa and Namibia. Used a double in .375H&H to hunt gemsbok, kudu and duiker (solids).
Believe you will find that Rawbone, with offices in Cape Town, was bought by City Guns in Cape Town. Give Terry Harrison a call at 27-21-4230465 and see whether he has records or can clarify things.
Regards, Tim
Sorry to be so late replying here, but I'm just back from seven weeks in South Africa and Namibia. Used a double in .375H&H to hunt gemsbok, kudu and duiker (solids).
Believe you will find that Rawbone, with offices in Cape Town, was bought by City Guns in Cape Town. Give Terry Harrison a call at 27-21-4230465 and see whether he has records or can clarify things.
Regards, Tim
Re: Rawbone South Africa - 09/06/07 10:40 PM
From IGC:
William George Rawbone was born in London in 1809. It is believed he trained in gun making in Birmingham.
He appears to have married in 1831 and his first son, William, was probably born in Birmingham in 1832. The second son, John William was certainly born in Birmingham in 1834. There was a third son, Henry.
In about 1838 it is believed he moved to London because William was educated there.
In 1848 he took his wife and five children to Cape town, South Africa.
He is recorded as having established his own firm at 7 Zieke Street by 1852, but he probably opened for business at an earlier date. He moved to 8 Ziekie Street a short time later.
By 1855 the firm had moved to 7 Burg Street, corner of Hout Street.
In 1860 Prince Alfred visited South Africa, it was at this time that John William and William Rawbone took over the management of the business, but the name remained W & G Rawbone. W G Rawbone and the third son, Henry, returned to England where they opened a buying office / factory at Back of 21 Lower Loveday Street in 1861.
In 1862 W G Rawbone patented sporting rifle sights (No. 2530).
In that year John Rawbone left the family firm in Cape Town and opened in competition with William John Rawbone at 13 Burg Street.
In 1865 the Birmingham factory was moved to Hope Works, Theodore Street where it was recorded until 1869.
In 1868 John Rawbone closed his firm at 13 Burg Street and re-joined William to trade as W & J Rawbone.
In 1869 W G Rawbone reportedly retired and the the Birmingham factory was taken over by Joseph Loxton Rawbone (brother?). It is believed W G Rawbone and possibly Henry Rawbone travelled around the United States and Canada and in 1873 established the "Rawbone Gun and Manufacturing Co" in Toronto, Canada. W G Rawbone may have returned to England or Cape Town in 1877.
In 1874 in Cape Town John Rawbone died, and in 1875 the firm was re-named William Rawbone & Co and moved to 14 Burg Street.
At about this time the firm were appointed gunmakers to the Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1893 W G Rawbone died, where is unknown.
In about 1900 William Rawbone retired and his son, T M Rawbone took over.
In 1837 the Cape Town firm was sold to M Klein.
William Rawbone died in 1920 having spent his retirement as a member of the Cape Town Municipal Council.
Here are a couple photos of my Westley Richards built, Rawbone labled 10 gauge.
Mark
William George Rawbone was born in London in 1809. It is believed he trained in gun making in Birmingham.
He appears to have married in 1831 and his first son, William, was probably born in Birmingham in 1832. The second son, John William was certainly born in Birmingham in 1834. There was a third son, Henry.
In about 1838 it is believed he moved to London because William was educated there.
In 1848 he took his wife and five children to Cape town, South Africa.
He is recorded as having established his own firm at 7 Zieke Street by 1852, but he probably opened for business at an earlier date. He moved to 8 Ziekie Street a short time later.
By 1855 the firm had moved to 7 Burg Street, corner of Hout Street.
In 1860 Prince Alfred visited South Africa, it was at this time that John William and William Rawbone took over the management of the business, but the name remained W & G Rawbone. W G Rawbone and the third son, Henry, returned to England where they opened a buying office / factory at Back of 21 Lower Loveday Street in 1861.
In 1862 W G Rawbone patented sporting rifle sights (No. 2530).
In that year John Rawbone left the family firm in Cape Town and opened in competition with William John Rawbone at 13 Burg Street.
In 1865 the Birmingham factory was moved to Hope Works, Theodore Street where it was recorded until 1869.
In 1868 John Rawbone closed his firm at 13 Burg Street and re-joined William to trade as W & J Rawbone.
In 1869 W G Rawbone reportedly retired and the the Birmingham factory was taken over by Joseph Loxton Rawbone (brother?). It is believed W G Rawbone and possibly Henry Rawbone travelled around the United States and Canada and in 1873 established the "Rawbone Gun and Manufacturing Co" in Toronto, Canada. W G Rawbone may have returned to England or Cape Town in 1877.
In 1874 in Cape Town John Rawbone died, and in 1875 the firm was re-named William Rawbone & Co and moved to 14 Burg Street.
At about this time the firm were appointed gunmakers to the Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1893 W G Rawbone died, where is unknown.
In about 1900 William Rawbone retired and his son, T M Rawbone took over.
In 1837 the Cape Town firm was sold to M Klein.
William Rawbone died in 1920 having spent his retirement as a member of the Cape Town Municipal Council.
Here are a couple photos of my Westley Richards built, Rawbone labled 10 gauge.
Mark
Re: Rawbone South Africa - 09/11/07 07:04 PM
He who snoozes loses. I waited too long on deciding. Gun sold before I could make up my mind.
Re: Rawbone South Africa - 09/14/07 09:30 PM
I've got a W.G. Rawbone 14 gauge percussion SxS. It has Birmingham proof marks. The barrel rib is inscribed "LONDON IMPROVED PATENT CHAIN TWIST BARRELS (VERY SAFE". The only number that might be a serial number is 7. No mention of a country it was originally sold in, but I bought it in Canada.