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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3 |
Any info on this gunmaker would be appreciated. I have a 16ga. boxlock built by or for him. Would like to know their history.
Sam
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
George Gale established his firm in 1869 at 6 Joy Street, Barnstaple, Devonshire. In the mid-1870s he moved to 20 Joy Street. He died in the mid-1880s and the firm traded as Annie Gale (presumably his wife) until about 1904.
In about 1905 the firm's name changed to Edward Gale (son?). Reportedly, Edward Gale was apprenticed with James Purdey.
The firm is known to have bought guns at this time from Birmingham (Midland Gun Co) and London makers.
Between about 1936 and 1938 the firm was re-named Edward Gale & Son, and by 1948 it was named E Gale & Son Ltd. The directors were G E Gale and E Gale.
In the early 1970s the company moved to 59 High Street, and in 1984 they moved to 2-3 Mill Street.
Increasingly, the firm became a sports shop also selling games and toys, and reportedly by 1988 they had ceased trading in guns and were selling men's clothing, but the firm only closed in the mid-1990s.
As E Gale & Sons (Ltd), the firm sold cartridges under the names "The Flag", "The Field", "The County" and "The X L".
Pete
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,377 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,377 Likes: 105 |
I had a Hinton from the same part of the country. Bought it from Cape Outfitters, and it came in a Gale hardcase. Later on, a friend of mine had a Gale 12 bore BLNE. Unfortunately, by then I no longer had the Gale case.
Imatger, I'd guess that the gun was actually built in Birmingham for Gale, or perhaps finished by Gale. That's the case with most of those provincial "gunmakers".
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 667
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 667 |
Wish I had some Devonshire cream for my tea this snowy afternoon!
Craig
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3 |
Larry, The gun was imported from John Powell Gunmakers to British Game Guns in Kent Wa in 1993. I bought it from a man in Texas in 2005. A member on the 16 ga. board knew Dale Tate, who co-owned BGG and confirmed it. I thought it was most likely a "trade gun" because of so few E.Gale's around. I would really love to know who really made it.
Sam
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 326 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 326 Likes: 7 |
Hi Imatger have you got some pictures I would like to see the gun Pete m is spot on with the info, I live in the town where gales had their shop and new them well my grandfather finished their barrels for years I have seen many gale guns but only one Anie Gale, one of the family is still around in the area and I am in the process of making contact with them, hopefully the records may still be around I will update when I get more info Hinton I think was in the taunton or exeter area and the guns were simmilar to gales, its about an hour from here, you do also see muzzle loaders with the Hinton name on in fact I believe one was listed on guntrader
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202 |
There was a Beesley overunder, one of two, which was the actual first Beesley overunder [pre shotover] started in 1911 or so. It was so expensive to make and finish and was eventually sold to an American in 1921 or so at way over the price of a new Purdey. The second of these two guns was eventually finished up by Gale about two decades later. They must have been good gunsmiths.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,754 Likes: 29
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,754 Likes: 29 |
I have an E. Gale 12 Ga 2" BLE. Nice gun.
Brian LTC, USA Ret. NRA Patron Member AHFGCA Life Member USPSA Life Member
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