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Forums10
Topics39,488
Posts561,964
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 69 |
Wm Powell, of Birmingham, has been sold. It was the oldest British gunmaker still operating in same family hands (since the early 19th Century).
Rumour has it that they will no longer be operating out of central Birmingham and I'm to understand it that someone connected with Churchill's, or formerly so, was the purchaser. (Neither confirmed)
The new owners may achieve great success with the name, but it is sad to see the family lose it after two centuries. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone as dedicated to the trade as Peter Powell.
End of an era, for sure.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 335
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 335 |
Too bad. They had a wonderful history and contributed many patents to the industry. Here's a gun with a Powell patent or two. One lovely detail is the firing pins showing the word "Loaded" in gold when , in fact, there were unfired shells in the chambers. Approx 1874 as I recall. 
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 977
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 977 |
But what about Myrna Loy and Asta?
Sorry.
That's a bar-in-wood beauty, Daryl!
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,935
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,935 |
Oh, who cares? I hope they were bought by an investment group that will blow the dust off that stodgy old firm and increase their shareholder and earnings. There's no reason they can't have those guns, a simple mechanism really, produced for a fraction of the cost in China. It's the modern way.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250 |
Were the last of the Powell's made elsewhere?
Maybe A&S!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,074 Likes: 377
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,074 Likes: 377 |
Mr. Hallquist:
Would that happen to be a Powell Lifter-action? I have a well worn 10 bore on the lifter action with a "Powells 1773 Patent" stamp on the watertable. With your post & pic and with the aide of a glass I too can see the word "loaded" on the strikers. Are there bypass ports in the fences?
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
Last edited by ellenbr; 02/14/08 09:17 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 229
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 229 |
Lowell
I drop in Powells every year when visiting my mother in Birmingham. Last year they told me they were bringing guns in, in the white From I think they said Arrietta? not familiar with A&S.
Sad Day for all us Brummies.
Pedler
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4 |
This is my favorite old Powell with Hare's Ears Hammers and the Hares Eye where the pivotpin goes through. Earlier , I believe than Daryls. My serial # is 5059 [img]  [/img]
Last edited by Stallones; 02/15/08 06:42 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,160 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,160 Likes: 3 |
Maybe this will be the making of an old firm. Not surprising as the current Powells weren't getting any younger in a business largely based outside their country. Considering the huge number of people who have seemingly worked for Churchill, this should be interesting.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 335
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,457 Likes: 335 |
Raimey, yes it is a lifter action much like Stallone's. I like that Hares Eye term Stallone uses, too. As I remember, my gun dates to 1874. Powell's Patent 1710 is on the watertable and "Powell's Patent" is inscribed around the screw hole that pierces the top leve. Serial No. is in the 5700s.
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