doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best British Game Gun Porn

There are some great guns being made these days no doubt - great craftsmanship. Some guns are made to use and some are made that may never see the field - probably museum pieces.

Even the best guns look better with a little patina from honest and careful use.

Such as this? By Agnew & Son, well cared, well used and well photographed by Matt Brown.

Tim

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I think this one also deserves place among these best guns,a round action SLE Westley Richards,

TRW/Tim, I had never heard of Agnew & Son but yes I really like the looks of that one. Looks very classy to me.

Here is some info from IGC on Agnew:

Name Agnew & Son
Other Names Agnew & Sons; A Agnew; Agnew & Son
Address1 68 South Street
Address2 79 South Street
City/Town Exeter
County Devonshire
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun makers
Other Address
Dates 1875?-1924
Notes

Arthur Agnew established his business as a gun maker in 1844 in Severn Street, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1818. He may have been the same person as or, more likely, the son of A W Agnew of 63 Princes Street, Edinburgh (1841-1849) and Wallace & Agnew of 63 Princes Street, Edinburgh (1841). In 1841 Arthur married Sarah (b.1817 in Guilsfield, near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire), and in the following years they had two sons both born in Edinburgh, John P (b.1842) and Samuel Arthur (b.1843). In the five years following the move to Welshpool three more children were born, Mary Ann (b.1845), William (b.1846) and Joanna P (b.1849). The 1851 census records The family living in Severn Street. The 1861 census records the family still living in Severn Street but three more sons had been born, Arthur G W (b.1853), Joseph (b.1855) and Thomas (b.1859). Arthur described himself as a master gun maker and John as an assistant gun maker.

On 29 August 1863 A Agnew registered patent No. 2139 for a forward under-lever breech loader.In 1868 John P Agnew was recorded in business as a gun maker at 56 Edward Street, Broughton Lane, Manchester. This was not a branch of the Welshpool business, it may be that his father had financed John's business. The 1871 census records John living at 25 Elton Street, Salford, Manchester, with his wife, Mary (b.1838 in Scotland) and two daughters, Annie F B (b.1867), and Louise T (b.1870). In the 1871 census Arthur, Sarah, William and Joseph were recorded living at 28 Severn Street, both William and Joseph were described as gun makers. Samuel was recorded in the census living in Little Dark Gate Street, Aberystwyth, where Arthur had opened a branch. This traded under the name of Arthur Agnew. Samuel's sister, Mary Ann acted as his housekeeper and Thomas, aged 12, lived with them. Samuel married Margaret Elizabeth (b.1851 in Aberystwyth) in 1873 and they had a daughter, Ada, in 1874. In 1877 Arthur decided to close the business in Aberystwyth and move to Exeter, Devonshire, where he bought the business of W J Harvey (formerly John Harvey at 79 South Street. William remained in Welshpool to run the business there.

The 1881 census records Arthur, Sarah, Mary Ann and Thomas (described as a watchmaker) living at 11 Salutary Mount, Exeter, whilst Samuel and Margaret were living with Ada above the shop at 79 South Street. By this time they had a son named Arthur who was born in 1877 in Exeter. The same census records John living as a boarder at 20 Parliament Place, Liverpool, but Mary and the two daughters were not recorded. John described himself as a foreman gunmaker, obviously employed but by whom is not known.
The 1881 census records Joseph living as a lodger in Denmark Street Colchester, Essex. He described himself as a gunmaker's general shop assistant. He was working for Mrs Philip Hast. Between 1883 and 1886 Arthur bought the business which traded as Arthur Agnew & Son and was managed by Joseph. In about 1885 the shop in Welshpool moved it to 14 Berriew Street where it traded under the name of William Agnew. It appears to have closed a year or two later.


In the 1891 census Arthur was recorded as a retired gunsmith living at 1 Colwell Cottages, Exeter, with Sarah, Mary, Joanna (Joanna Knight living on own means), Jane Agnew (John's daughter b.1874 in Liverpool) and Winifred (grand-daughter b.1877 possibly also John's daughter). Samuel and Margaret were still living at 79 South Street with Ada and Arthur. In this census Samuel described himself as a gun and rifle maker. John was recorded as a widower living at 14 Sutton Street, West Derby, Liverpool, with a son named Paul (b.1883 in Didsbury, Manchester). Joseph was recorded as an unmarried gunmaker living at 118 High Street, Colchester, Essex. At some time after 1891 Arthur died. In about 1895 Joseph's business in Colchester closed.

The 1901 census records Samuel, Margaret and Ada at 79 South Street, but not their son Arthur who, if alive, would have been 24 years old. It may be that Samuel continued the business until about 1924, when he would have been 81 years old and the business was last recorded.

Internet Gun Club has some details of serial numbers. Please send details of your gun or your query by email to archives@internetgunclub.com.

Other Info
The firm sold an Eley Brass 12 bore cartridge (post 1900) and a "Smokeless" cartridge (post 1920).

Tim

These are all gorgeous guns but if I had to choose just one, that round action WR is stunning.

The Westley Richards round action would be my choice. While Rose and Scroll is okay, there are only about 5 million of them out there. I would prefer something with a little higher level of art work such as the Westley Richards and as seen in some of the Bulino and bold scroll of the Italian engravers. (no nudes please).

Do you think Agnew "Made" the Gun?...I',m guessing probably not?
But man it's sweet, who ever made it!
I would love to have such a fine "West Country" Gun, having been born n raised just over the border in Somerset.
What super guns, & very fine pics..awesome stuff lads
cheers
franc

Love this thread!