doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Army & Navy Shotguns prior to 1899

Does anyone have information as to the maker of shotguns for the Army & Navy label prior to 1899? I have read that W&C Scott made a number of guns under the A&N label at one time. Thanks. Gil

The University of Glasgow has the A&N records. If I recall correctly, they'll provide basic data on A&N shotguns for free, and will send you the pertinent page from the order book plus other A&N information from the period in question, for a fee.

Thanks for the information. I am interested in a gun that I probably won't be able to see photos for a week or so or receive info from the UK before a decision is made. Were any made in Belgium for A&N or were they all made by Birmingham makers? Thanks. Gil

There is a fair amount of info on Army Navy Cooperative Society in Nigel Brown's books. (including serial number info)

You might want to check there. Dramatic differences in quality exist between guns. If you can find a best quality gun the lack of appeal of ANCS will make it quite a bargain compared to its worth if the actual maker's name was applied to the gun.

I believe Webley, Osborne and Rogers were suppliers to ANCS pre-1899 but this is only going back to foggy memory from things once read.

I'm pretty sure that all A&N guns (or at least shotguns) were British.

I sent for my gun info. several years ago from University of Glasgow,It did not reveal the maker of the gun.From memory there was a box with sort of a small amount of "company" shorthand, therein possibly would be the answer.On the page I received were a number of Colt Lightning (again from memory)rifles.And the name of the purchaser of my 12 bore hammergun, (Hawker) would have to look again for his initials,would sure like to know who Mr.Hawker was related to,
this was 1887

My letter provided name of buyer and price but not maker.

I looked up my A&N sidelock gun up many years ago and the kind people at the University sent me a copy of the ledger. Luckily it showed everything - it came from a batch of 8 identical guns ordered from P. Webley & son, showed the buyers name and the store it was retailed from which was the Victoria address in London.

The ledger will show the maker, but it will be a "shorthand" version, if I recall correctly. (My information went with the guns when I sold them.) I recall mine being "W&S" for Webley & Scott. They also sent me a copy of the A&N catalog pages which showed my gun.

Webley or Scott in 1899 doesn't equal Webley AND Scott.

They were separate with Scott arguably making more best guns but both were capable.