Branding is simply a shortcut for consumers to understand the attributes the brand stands for. Some are quite willing to pay lots for the shortcut. Others, who usually dont need the short cut because of knowledge, wont pay the brand premium.

Shotgunlover gets it. A few others dont, or they want to talk about their opinion of specific brands or some subject other than the OPs question.

He didnt ask who made the best gun or what are the attributes of a best gun or whether certain makers could make best guns or even if best gun makers made lower quality guns.

He asked for a ranking of the top pre WWII English makers by reputation. Reputation ( brand value) can be quantitatively measured by the premium paid for the name. Easy peasy.

The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia