doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Major players in Birmingham?

Posted by Mr. Standfast on the Purdey knife line which one suspects gets closer to the truth in 19th century England and in Belgium:

"The Birmingham and Li�ge trade operated by an immensely complex network of the firm's factory work, subcontractors, outworkers etc. A self-employed tradesman might rent bench space etc. in the factory, and sell anything from all to none of his product to his host. I may have scratched the surface of the complexities which existed."

So, as a follow up question, who was building boxlocks for Westley Richards in the 1960s? I have one with no other markings except Westley Richards, but it lacks the traditionally styled wide WR top lever. I'm curious who might actually have constructed it for them.

Sounds like you have the "new Model" Rem. Westley built plenty of guns using both methods. Best regards,
Steve

I had a Field SLE (Baker ejectors) that has "J.A." stamped on the underside of the barrels as well.

Steve:

It's a lovely gun, scalloped action, fully engraved and very nice wood. I just had never seen a WR without the wide top lever and wondered if it was something they'd had made for them.

I actually found it in England and had it imported. Was my 60th birthday present to myself (being single at the time allowed me to do such things without having to explain to anyone).

Rem

S Wright and Sons, Was a major player in the English/Birmingham Guntrade,1919-1972.
Here are some of their customers as taken from their ledgers!
W.J,Jeffery, E.J.Churchill,[Regal boxlock], Gallyon and Sons, R.B.Rodda and Sons, Holland & Holland[Northwood Boxlock],
Cogswell & Harrison, [Various box locks], Blanton,
George Hinton and Sons, Charles Hellis and Sons, Russell Hillsdon, John Dickson[Capital and Caledonian models],K.D Ratcliffe,
Salter & Varge, B.E.Chaplin Ltd.
I visited Wright's .in 1970's and was very impressed with the high standard of their work. At that time they were owned by, Harris and Sheldon Group; who also owned, Webley and Scott, W.& C.Scott and Churchill.

P.S.[Ref Recent post; Kirk Merrington]
Wright's/Churchill is where Kirk Merrington started his very successful gun making career. [See page 439, The house of Churchill by Don Masters]]
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